The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-14
WHAT THEY WOULD
BE FIGHTING FOR.

Editorial in The Springfield Repub-
lican: A general war at this Gay OF
civilization and enlightenment would
be so prepoSterOus an anaChronlsm
that the peril appears but a night
mare But it is real enough, though
1t may be STAYED off again as in the
past. Nor is it due to a mere ebulli-
ton of 'blood-madness, as many think,
who do not inquire into fundamental
causes. In each case there is a fear
or a hope or a grievance strong
enough to exert a very dangerous in
fuence wherever trouble ariseS.
An attempt has been made of late
to prove that war is becoming impos-
sible because it does not pay, and be-
cause the world is becoming CONNER
cialized. Certainly International CAPT
tai is a powerful agency for peace, ex-
cept when it happens to be interested
in munitions Of war. But 1t seldom
happens that the issue of war or peace
can be stated in terms of dollars and
cents, and in the present case, while
sober business interests will work for
peace, there are Complicating factors
difficult to control. None of the coun-
tries concerned is under the illusion
that war on so ~portentiouS a scale
would pay. It is worth while, then,
to consider what contrains each Of the
nations caught in the devils coil.
Austria would be fighting to crush
pan-SlaviC agitation among her sub
jects and incidentally to extend Aus
TRAN domination on the Balkan PENN
sula.
Servia would be fighting to resist
subjugation by Austria, and incident
ally to release 6.OOO,0 900 Serbs from
Austrian despotism.
Russia would be fighting to main
foiD hnr nNncf;rn os hool nf fIn 1aTy;o
race and incidentally to establish
Russian hegemony in the near east.
Germany would be fighting to fulfil
her treaty obligations to her ally Aus
tria, and incidentally to cripple for a
generation the rising power of Russia,
which is a menace on the Baltic.
France would be fighting as the
ally Of Russia, and incidentally to re-
cover the lost provinces of Alsace-
Lorraine.
Italy would be fighting as the ally
of Germany and Austria, and Incl
dentally to safeguard her interests in
Albania.
England would be fighting to sup
port France and Russia in their effort
to cripple her naval rival Germany,
and incidentally to preserve the bal
ance of power.
IL VA NC SSSu IIldI TIC CLldll STOWS
weaker as it. stretches out: England
and Italy are not involved as deeply as
the powers at the center. Italy is a
member of the triple alliance. but
Austria and Germany have a special
treaty which makes them on this ques-
ton practically one power. England
has case in its fortunes with the triple
entente, but not ir~revocably; there is
no such neXus as between France and
Russia. France looks to Russia as a
protection against the German menace,
therefore, for France to fail in 10y
atty to Russia would be suicidal.
But till war actually comes, France
is free to work for peace, and it's in
huence Is now being cast on that side.
Equally against war are England and
Italy,, and being semi detached mem
bers OF the alliance, with no concern
IN the immediate cause Of war or in
the rivalry between Slav and Teuton,
it would be natural for them to pair
off and remain neutral. Yet Italy
could not with equanimity see the
eastern shore of the Adriatic, includ-
ing southern Albania, fall into the
hands of another power, and might
become involved in case a great war
should once start. Under those con-
ditions England, too, might find It
difficult to hold aloof. In this chain
Of aus and effect lies the danger thai
If war should once start, it would take
in nearly the whole of Europe.