The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1914-09-11

kA~S an ~
spiracy in which the Servian govern
ment was a partner. Hence 1t demand
ed practically the confession OF the
Servian nation that it was responsible
for that murder and then the punish
ment Of those whom the Austrlans
might decide to be guilty.
Failing a complete and groveling con-
sent by the Servians. the immense
TRAN army was hurled ut this little
country. 1t is a fair question whether
the Austrians believe their own charges
and whether II Franz Ferdinand were
today alive and smiling his government
might not have found some other rea-
son for trying to crush the rising power
not only Of Servia, but Of the Slav race
as a whole.
Political observers say it is not be-
cause Franz Ferdinand was killed by
q Serb that Europe went to war, Il
because the .Austrians fear that their
empire would be killed by a Serb en-
pire.
To weigh the value Of these specific
charges one must consider the Servian
character and point Of view upon such
subjects. The Servian people are now
reaping the long delayed harvest OF
the similar assassination Of the king
and queen Of their own country in 1903.
Story Of the Slain Rulers.
1t is 4 grewsome story! Foreigners
in Belgrade tell you how a band of Ser-
Wan officers sworn to fidelity to King
Milan suddenly broke into his little
palace at night. AS they smashed in
the door they put the electric light al-
paratus out Of service, and the king
and Queen Draga in their terror hid in
a dark closet. Then the conspirators
broke into a neighboring shop and car
ried off candles. with which they
searched the building. The queen out
of a window saw the men in Servian
uniform and called upon them to de-
fend their sovereign. That revealed
the hiding place. ana the man and wo-
shambles and thrown u Of the WIN
dow.
Thus was the way prepared for the
present king, Peter, who later reward
ed these murderers with medals. APP
p%ointments and honors. They We're
perfectly we'll known, but the Servian
people let it go at that apparently on
the theory that if you could not remove
both Milan and Peter at the same time
it was still worth while to kill one of
them.
Peter has long been a fgurehead in
his own country. He is sick and lives
III fear of the bullet that may cut shot
his life. But the Servian statesmen
and people are not in a position to say
that the killing Of a lawful sovereign
is outside the habits Of the Servians.
Servia Too Successful.
? Anybody who knows the Balkan con.
ditions must, however, believe that the
crime of Servia, in the eyes Of the
Austrians, is not assassination, bu,
' success. OF all the things that hap
: pened to Austria from the outbreak OF
war in October, 1912. to the partition
+ OF the Balkans among the seven Bal
kan powers in July, 1913. the mos
exasperating was the appearance Of q
strong and victorious Servia.
The Serb race has been looked upor
. US rather mild, not easy to arouse, con
= tent with small things. Servia in 1SS;
was completely thrashed by the Bull
; garians in five days. The Austrian.
e had their ministers. their consuls ant
D their spies throughout the Balkans ant
yet V seem to have suspected thai
the spirit OF the old Servian heroe.
would show itself again.
] The Austrian army Of over 100, OO(