The Washington times., 1914-07-29
AUSTRIA'S RESPONSIBLE.
ITY.

Moscow, st. Petersburg, ana otner
important centers of the Russian
empire were, 4 few days ago, torn
by industrial strife. Widespread
strikes were in progress and their
further spread was seemingly GER
tain.
These strikes have largely been
called off by the working people, as
testimony of their desire to sup
port their government in its vigor-
Gus attitude toward Austria. Rus
STA evidently is prepared to present
a united front against the outside
world, in sustaining the cause Of
Servia.
Much Importance must he attach
ed to these evidences of fundamental
solidarity of the Slnv race. Rus
sia's army has been reorganized and
vastly improved in effectiveness
since the war with Japan. No con-
tinental country, possibly excepting
Britain, is postured to sustain the
economic loss Of great war so well
as Russia; for while Russia is poor
and debtor, yet she has not SO COM
pick an industrial and financial sys-
tenn as the western states. and she
possesses a vast population with a
huge producing capacity.
The blind determination of Aus
tria, and the insistent support of
Germany, seem to suggest nothing
less than a purpose of Emperor
Francis Joseph to let the close of his
reign be marked by the abdication of
the House of Hapsburg. Not an
abdication III form, it is true; but an
amalgamation Of Austrian with Ger
man interests that would bring the
two countries together in COM
n1unity of interest that would likely
mark the beginning Of a political
assimilation of Austria into The
German empire. 1t needs no gift Of
second sight to perceive that the
provision of such a development in
spires the war enthusiasm of Ber-
Inns masses.
-Austria's course is characteristic
ally Austrian. She determined years
ago to involve Europe in general
war if necessary in order to make
good her pretensions in Bosnia
Herzegovina. Europe permitted it
self to be bluffed at that time, be-
cause Russia was weakened from the
disasters inflicted at the hands of
Japan. But Europe saw then that
Austria,s program, together with the
growing pan-Germanic sentiment,
looked to the time when all German
speaking Europe should be brought
together in vast empire reaching
from the Baltic to the Adriatic.
Such an empire would overturn the
balance of power.
Now Austria takes, with equal
recklessness of consequences, the
logical next step. She forces a war
on little Servia that under the rules
of civilized international intercourse
must be held unjustifiable. Servia
was handed an ultimatum that no
nation would dare present to an
equal; and Servia abjectly surren-
dered everything except her right 20
nominal nationality and few shreds
of self-respect. 1t was not enough.
Vienna was determined on war, be-
lieving apparently that Europe
would repeat the manifestation of
impotence that was displayed at the
time of the Bosnia-Herzegovina in
cident. The attitudes of Russia,
France, and Britain now indicate
that Austria has gone too far for
the present temper Of the nations.
The general war is nearer today
than ever before.
"Can anybody put his finger on the
map, at any place, and say, there
Austria has done good?'" once de-
manded William +. Gladstone,
speaking outside the commons and
Welding perhaps 20 a dangerous
temptation of candor. Surely no
body can find, in the Vaccinations by
which Austria has lately sought to
plunge the world into history's most
awful war, a reason to doubt that
Mr.. Gladstone was quite as truthful
as he was inpolitic.