The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1914-10-02
BULLET FROM HIGH
SCHOOL BOY CAUSE
OF PRESENT WAR
By William G. SHEPPARD

hiOA oiC ilh0u up W XIII edCl OLu6T ,
that the civilization which Europe has
been slowly building up since the
dark ages has been thrown to the
winds and that the situation is too
big to either write or talk about,
intelligently. 1t will take hundred
years for history books to give the
news. AS General Fred Funston told
me, just as | was hurrying away
from Vera Cruz, for London: There's
only one bigger newspaper story that
could happen on this earth and that
would be another planet approaching
ours with an inevitable collision two
weeks ristant." What started this
biggest event the world has ever
known?
One Little Bullet Caused War
The answer is: One little lead bull
let from the revolver in the hand of a
Srvian high school boy. And this bull
let probably would never have been
fired if an ordinary chauffeur had not
lost his way in little town in Bosn-
ia. One little twist of chauffeur
wrist, as he turned an automobile into
a side street, when he should have
a remained on the main road; one lit
tie tWitch of the right index lnger
on the trigger of revolver in the
hands of high school boy-they
started this war in Europe.
Brought Sorrow and Death
It's hard to find enough to say
about this one lead bullet. 1t went
into the head of an archduke, as he
rode inhis automobile. 1t sped
through the chancellories of Europe.
1t circled about thrones. 1t entered
the bed chambers of the world s
kings, emperors or cZars and drove
sleep from the eyes fstatesmen. 1t
sped into millions of homes and
brought sorrow and death. Oceans
of tears of women and little children
it created. 1t flew into the bourses
and money markets of the world and
cut their nerves. To understand the
situation in Europe before this bullet
was fired imagine, if you can, that
every item of civilization-everything
that is good-homes, science, art,
music, surgery, education, culture,
peace-had all been done up into
one huge package and hung, by a
slender thread over deep precipice
For years this package has swung this
way. The winds of war have often
threnatened it, but the statesmen of
Europe have steadied it and have
strengthened the hold and the storm
has passed, time after time And then
along speeds this one lead bullet,
fired by a high school boy named
Gabriel PrinZip. 1t cuts the rope.
The crash will be heard throughout
centuries.
Assassin Has Disappeared
Where Prinzip is now is a secret.
Most probably he is dead. From the
day he was seized by the crowds in
the streets of the little town Of
Serajevo and dragged off to Jail he
has been out O fsight. Austrian CEN
sorship kept back the news; his pun
ishment is mystery to the courts
of Europe. 1t all happened on Sun
day morning, June 20. Cling George
of England was living in Bucking-
ham Palace, in London, enjoying the
social season. In far away st. Peters
burg the Car of Russia was enter
tanning Poincare, the president Of
France. The emperor of Austria had
gone to his summer home for his
vacation. Emperor William of Ger
many, was playing on his yacht at
KEEL 1t was playtime for the lords
of Europe and they were making the
most of it. But, lords as they were,
of various sections of mankind, their
sight did not reach to that little far
away town in Bosnia. Chauffeurs
and high school boys don't often top
pie thrones and there are so many
of them and they are so common
that they cannot all be watched. But
it would have we'll pal these lords
of creation and it would have well
paid all humanity this bright Sun
day morning to have kept their eyes
on Serajevo.
Out on a Regal Jaunt
What's happening there seems
small enought at first. A little crowd
of citizens go down to the depot to
see a special train come in; It bears
the Archduke Francis Ferdinand,
who. If he lives, will some day be
emperor of Austria and king Of
Hungary. He won't live three hours
longer, but the crowds don't know
that, neither do the kings and czars
and emperors of the world. With
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