The Washington herald., 1914-07-28
IMMEDIATE WAR
ALMOST CERTAIN
Russia viii Send Ultimatum
to Austria After First
Gun Is Fired.
CONFLICT IS INEVITABLE
Even if England Succeeds in Prevent
ing Bloodshed. Fighting Must
Come Sooner or Later.
CONFLICT Is INEVITABLE
by C. F. BERTELLI.

Paris, July H.-The shadow of a, gen.
eral war hovers over Europe, as black
today as yesterday, despite the frantic
efforts of Sir Edward Grey to bring
France, Germany, and Italy into line
with England to mediate in the Austro-
Servian dispute.
Italy Immediately signified her willing
ness to support England in this plan, and
France and Germany followed suit.
The French attitude in this matter is
significant, as France is governed by
Russia's wishes and is interpreted as
temporizing in a move that is designed
to give Austria a few days wherein to
depart from its present obstinacy. The
drastic conditions precedent to the ac-
ceptance of mediation laid down by Aus
tria today render the success Of the
movement highly improbable.
Austria Refuses Mediation.
Austria verbally refuses mediation un-
less il is understood that the pressure
Of the mediatory powers will be brought
to bear solely upon Servia, not only to
accept unreservedly every stipulation set
forth in Count Berchtold's brutal ulu-
matum, but also to pay the cost Of the
Austrian army mobilization. which Aus
tria boldly estimates at sS0Oooooo.
1t is obvious that this would amount
to nothing less than a complete surrender
on the part of Servia, without an at
tempt to defend herself.
1t will also imply that thereafter
Servia would be more or less under the
suzerainty of the Hapsburg nations. Rus
sia seems resolved not to tolerate such
an abject surrender on the part Of the
Slav ally.
Meanwhile mobilization Of troops in
Austria is proceeding with feverish ac-
tivity.
In the various chancelIeries today the
inclination is to interpret Austria's un-
compromising attitude as an indication
that she is bent upon an appeal to arms
and will take her first active military
measures against Servia within twenty
four hours. At the termination Of that
time her mobilization will be complete.
1 am in position to state tonight that
immediate conflict cannot be avoided and
that after the first gun has been fired
Russia will send an ultimatum 10 Austria
to a declaration OF war.
EngIand's Efforts Doubtful.
Whether the efforts Of pacific England
are to be crowned with success or not, |
there is no diplomat in Europe who is |
not convinced that a peaceful settlement |
now would only mean a postponement of
the inevitable war between Teuton and
Slav.
These races are bound. sooner or later, |
to come into a mighty clash that will in
volve the whole of Europe.
Already this crisis has revealed to the |
world in a most dnmistakable manner a |
fact of most extreme Importance, namely, |
a radical change has come over the atti- |
tude Of Europe toward the distribution |
of the power and influence Of nations, |
individually and as a whole. Il
The Triple Alliance no longer exists in |
reality. The attitude of Italy since FRI |
day merely shows that despite her as |
surance Of her loyalty to that contract, |
she would not take the side of Austria |
In the present confiagration. The new |
position OF the powers is therefore for |
all practical purposes. Germany and Aus
tria against England, France and Rus |
sis, with Italy hold a sympathetic ten
iency toward the latter group. This OBJ
Eiously means an overwhelming prepon-
ierance against the Germanic forces
which might result at least in a serious
heck to the economic program of ex-
pansion which has Characterized Germany
n the last fifty years.