The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1914-09-05
The HAND OF FATE

Lake tribune VentureQ the opinion
that the powers of Europe were the
victims of their own military system
and the alliances thereby made nec-
essary; that they were rushed into
conflict by combination of circum-
stances which no efforts of peaceful
diplomacy could control. The pub
lication of the various white books"
confirms this view.
We may find fault with one nation
for this blunder or that during the
course of the negotiations, but it
would be unjust to condemn any ma
ton out Of hand as wholly respon-
sible for the present situation. Even
Austria, which sent preposterous
ultimatum to Servia and set an even
more preposterous time limit for an
answer, can be excused on the
ground that she did not expect to
cause the confagration which re-
suited. The English white book
shows that at the highest point of
tension in the crisis Austria agreed
to discuss with the powers the sub
stance of her ultimatum to Servia.
The case against Russia is not a
black one when the military exigen-
cies are taken into account. Russia
saw that the Austrian move against
Servia must eventually be directed
against the czar's domain. Russia,
on this account and because she was
the natural protector of the Slavic
nations, announced that she could
not view the crushing of Servia with
indifference. Knowing that the
mobilization of her troops would re-
quire longer period than the mobil-
ization of any of the other armies,
Russia issued orders for a partial
mobilization. 1t is at this point that
the case against Germany weakens.
From the diplomatic point of view
Germany lost her case when she re-
fused to accept Great Britain's pro-
posal for conference of the repre-
sentatives of Great Britain, Ger
many, France and Italy. alleging Sc
her reason that the conference was
not practicable. because Germany
could not call on Austria to appear
before European court in her con-
troversy with Servia." In view of
Russia's mobilization, Germany
might we'll believe that she could no
longer delay ordering her own mobil-
ization. Events have seemed to JUS
tify this position. Apparently Ger
many acted not moment too soon,
if, indeed, she acted soon enough,
for the myriads of Russia are now
pouring through eastern Prussia and
Austria, and Germany has not yet
been able to crush her enemies on
the west.
1t might be argued that Germany
should have coufned her action to
Russia, but this, of course. was i'm
possible because of the alliance be-
tween France and Russia. 1t might
have been better for Germany to
have struck at Russia first and con-
Quoted defensive campaign in the
direction of France, but this was
merely a matter of military expedi-
ency.
Looking at the matter from this
view point, therefore, it impossible
to escape the conclusion that the
war was brought about by military
circumstances in the face of which
diplomacy was powerless.
Some remarks by Samuel Inter
meyer of New York shed valuable
light upon the situation. upon MS
return from Europe a few days ago
he said:
In order that the admirable treat
les negotiated by Mr.. Bryan. the far
reaching Importance of which in the
cause of universal peace is so little
appreciated by his countrymen. shall
fully accomplish their benign pur-
pose, they must be so modified that
the time limit now provided before
there can be declaration of war or
the beginning of hostilities shall also
extend against mobilization. A
study of the complete diplomatic
correspondence between the great
powers from July %. when Austria
determined to chastise Servia, to Au-
gust 3. when the storm broke over