The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-04-28
Naval and Military Prepera-
tions Are In Progress To
Support Her Demands AS
To Scutari.
EUROPE WATCHING
THE LATEST MOVE
Montinegro Stands In the
Path of Austria's Progress
and Trouble Now Appears
To Be Certain.
(Nationa1 News Association)

VIENNA, April 2S.-Threatened
with the gravest possibility of war or
at least by political disruption Europe's
attention today was centered on Aus
tria, the frebrand power in whose
grasp is the torch which might set the
confiagration. Archduke Franz Ferd-
nand, heir to the Austrian throne, held
long conference with Emporer
Francis Josef following a special meet
ing of the cabinet.
Afterwards it was announced that
unless the ambassadorial high court
which is sitting in the foreign Office in
London decides upon energetic and
definite action at once, Austria will
take Independent steps to enforce the
decision of the powers that Monte
negro must not possess Scutari,"
But while this announcement was
being made Austria was busily en-
gagged in independent war prepara-
tions. There was great activity at the
Trieste naval depots it being reported
from there that an American naval
division with 10000 troops had left
there for Antivari, the port of Cettinje,
capital of Montenegro.
A sensational report was circulated
on the Bourse that part of the Aus
trian army massed in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, had already invaded
Montenegrin SOIL but this report was
denied by Gen. Krobatin, the Austrian
minister of war.
Scene of Activity.
There was extreme activity at the
war office. General Won Cotzendorf,
who succeeded to the post of chief of
general staff on January 9, last, is in
charge of the active preparations. 1t
is noticeable fact that practically all
the troops being sent into Hungary
are Austrians while the Slav regu-
lars are being moved to the northern
frontiers of Austria. The government
fears that the Slavic bond might prove
too strong for the loyalty of the Hun
garian troops. The Balkan people are
Slavs.
Further complications have been
added to the situation by the reports
from Belgrade that Essad Pacha, Turk
ish commander of Scutari, who surren-
dered to the Montenegrins, has pro-
claimed himself King of Albania. This
report was accompanied by another to
the effect that the capture of Scutari
was effected by trick.
Apparently Essad Pacha and his ar
my were not made prisoners of war by
the Montenegrins, although last
weeks dispatches from Gettinje stated
that they had been, and that Essed
Pacha had been taken to Cettinje.
With King Nicholas in league with
Essed Pacha, the plans for future
q Albania may be shattered.
In order to understand the general
situation it must be appreciated that
Austria's national ambition is to eX-
tend her possessions southwark along
the Adriatic sea by the annexation of
the Turkish provinces of Bosnia and
Herzegovina. This appetite for terri
torial aggrandizement along the east
ern coast of the Adriatic was whetted
by recent events.
Servia BIuffed Out.
Scutari lies in the way of Austrian
ambition because of the strength and
strategic importance of the city. Du-
razzo was sought by the Servians, but
this city, like Scutari, was too import
ant for Slav power to hold, so Aus
tria brought such pressure to bear up
on Servia that the latter had to give
up her desire for an outlet on the Ad-
riatic.
In spite of Austra's aim and the
hostility of Europe, King Nicholas, is
determined to hold if there is any pos
sible way to do it. Even if Montenegro
were invaded by an overwhelming ar
my, Nicholas would probably fight to
the death to hold the city which was
so nearly won from the Turks
Because of the nearness of Austria
to the Balkans, she has been looked
upon for years as sort of police ma
ton. 1t is through this circumstance
that Austria is now securing the sup
port of all Europe except Russia.
When Austria asked for the support
of the powers in her demands upon
the Balkan League or any single state
in the confederation it had to be given
according to an earlier agreement
Montenegro is Europe's littlest king
dom, having maximum fighting
strength of $4,000 men and a popula-
ton of 225,000. Austria Hungary has a
population of 81 ,340,37S and standing
army of 1,0s5,000.
GLOOM IN GERMANY.
BERLIN. April 2S-German news
papers today printed the most pessi-
mistic reports from London, Paris and