The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-26
THE sERno-ALpAS1AN rnorp,p

| The world will not be slow In attrtb-
uting TO the influence and machina-
lions OF Austria Hungary tho frontier
hostilities that have broken out be-
tween the Serbs and the Albanians,
and which threaten n third Balkan
war. And tho attribution will DO JUS
titled by Austria -Hungarys whole
course on tho Balkan issue from tho
beginning of the war between Turkey
and the allies. down through tho Lon
don peace negotiations, and In Vienna's
relations to the second war.
Tho record is continuous ono OF
Austro- Hungarian selRshness, involv-
Ing unscrupulousness in dealing with
tho Balkan allies. and which moro
than once endangered tho peace OF Eu-
ropo. BY raising tho Albanian ques-
tion. and hypocritically chnmpioning
Albania for tho Albanians," which was
mere subtcrfuge to bar Servia from
coming into closer territorial contact
with Bosnia and Herzegovina and
other of her possessions where tho
Serbs predominant. and tho true in
depreciation OF which was Albania
y,
tria Hungary protracted tho London
peace negotiations until she secured,
I'm tho interest of European peace"
the concession that Albania be erected
into an autonomous state. Save the
mark! Yet. thore Austria Hungary
overreached herself
Servia demanded and justly demand
cd. territorial concessions I'm Macedonia
from Bulgaria, in compensation for AL
bantam territory the Serbs had con-
quered but lost By the "indeDendenr
Albania" decision, and. foreseeing that
the granting OF these would strengthen
Servia in population and prestige,
Vienna egged Bulgaria on to tho AFRO
gance and the fragrant breach OF faith
with her allies that provoked tho sec
ond Balkan war. But here again Aus
trin- Hungary reckoned without her
host. Bulgaria was Inundated. The
treaty of Bucharest followed; and Ser
via emerged. not weakened az Austria
Hungary had anticipated and planned,
but stronger.
Now comes the Serbo Albanian clash.
with every indication that 1t is but
the prelude to another act In the bloody
Balkan drama--to a third war, with
Servia and Greece and possibly Mon
tenegro on one side, and Albania on
the other-but also with every indica-
ton, reasoning from Austro-uunra-
rian policies in tho past. that behind
it all moves the hand of Austria Hun
gary. in an effort TO recoup, by bring
ing about II situation that will give
her excuse for armed Intervention, with
tho ultimate design of absorbing All
banln, driving a permanent wedge be-
tween Servia and Bosnia. Herzegovina
and Montenegro, and clearing the way
to Salonica. so long the goal OF her
as respects southwark cxpan !
sion.
What, however will Russia say TO
Austria Hungarys acquisition OF such
4 coign of vantage in the matter of
realizing her, dream of leadership and
domination OF the Southern Slavs? We
can we'll understand that there may be
inuoh in the intimation that the chan
ceiieries are looking anxiously TO ST
Petersburg FOR some signs Of what will
be Russia's answer, and that the new
situation is considered to be as crit
zeal. as bearing on the peace OF Eu-
rope. as my that has developed out
OF the Balkan question since the first
war began, over twelve months ago.