Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-08-18


finally united by the victories over
Turkey in the war Of 1912
In the fall of 1912 the Servians mo.
tiliZed 100000 men in the first three
weeks. and later added $4,000 more to
the number And while their losses
Bulgaria in the summer of 1913 were
heavy. the Servan troops fought bril-.
liantly and proved themselves efficient
and enduring
But the fruits of this war were in
part taken from them by Austria.
whose diplomatic activity was respon
sible for the ruling of the powers.
which compelled the Scrvians to give
up part of tleir conqucsts in Albania.
Thus Servil lost her chance to get Il
seaport and remains Il lundlocked pow
er, her only outlet being through the
friendly Greek ports on the Aegean
seal
But the Scrvan victories in Mace
donna and the Greek capture of Sa-
loniki PIT an unexpected obstacle in
the way of AuStria's march to the
south. No more could the dual mon
archy hope t. inherit Saloniki and the
land between that port and the from
tier of Bosnia on the final downfall OF
Turkey: Servia was now squarely
across her path.
So the IG.:::n wars left the Servians
confident % their military ability. elai
ed by victory determined on complete
national Unity and angered by Aus
tria's continued hold on the northern
part of the nation and by her action in
depriving the nation of an outlet to the
sea. These wars left Austria Hungary
with increased difficulties in dealing
with the Slav tribes particularly the
Servians. now in her dominions. and
convinced that the march to the south
ward must be given up altogether I'M
less Servia could be put out Of the
way.
The conflict among the European
powers. IL n clash cannot be averted.
will bring two great groups into OPP
posing array 1t will be the third
time in FIVE years that the triple al
lance Germany. Austria and italy,
and the triple entente Russia. Grent
Britain and France) have been brought
face to face in hostile attitudes. For
the eternal European issue Of balance
Of power is to the fore again.
Five years ago the triple entente
protested against Austrias annexation
Of Bosnia. asserting that 1t was in
violation of the agreement at the con.
gress OF Berlin following the Russo
Turkish war Austria's move blighted
the racial and political hopes Of small
Slavic state which was closely related
to Russia.
Germany threatened the cars coun-
try in 1909. and two years later pre-
scented to France demand for large
territorial grant in Morocco because
the French protectorate there had been
recognized Russia. France and Great
Britain apparently were ready to con-
test. Germany backed down. Since
then Germany's resentment has been
bitter. Then there is still friction be.
tween France and Germany over Al.
SAGE L orraine. T..
In Tripoli. Italy defeated Turkey. re.
garded as a German ally. Subsequently
came the collap,e Of Turkish power in
Europe and the Increased strength Of
the small Balkan states. Today these
minor states bar Austria from the
Aegean. and Servia threatens Austria
with the union of southern Slavs.
The Balkan alliance was undoubtedly
a Russian move, to counterfeit which
Austria promoted dissension among
the Balkan allies. leading to a second
war among those states. But Servia
defeated Bulgaria. Austria's support
of Bulgaria had alienated Roumania.
Servia began to cast longing eyes on
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Roumania
wanted its millions Of countrymen in
Hungary. In the dual monarchy there
was little national feeling. the diver
sion of races causing dissension and
even threatening the disruption of the
empire.
Austria brought about the creation
Of an Albanian kingdom. The new
kingdom has brought Italy and Austria
into position for battle, both having
designs on the country.
OF the members of the triple alliance
Austria is the weakest in preparedness
for conflict Serbs and Roumanians.
eager to fight are at her southern
border Austrian ruin would mean
their naturalization. Greece. siding
with the triple entente. must be taken
into account.
The Gauntlet to Russia.
Austria has thrown down the gaunt.
let to Russia. Germans feel that they
must stand by the challenge. Servia
and ROumania. seeing greater NIL
tiOnalism in Austrias overthrow, are
eager to fight on the entente's side.
Austria feels that If it must go down 1t
will 60 down fighting. rather than yield
to intrigue.
1t IS the supreme moment for the
test OF power. Behind it all Is the old
issue Of balance Of power. Neither
triple alliance nor triple entente feels
that II can maintain its prestige by
hacking down.