The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-09-25

down. The Congress Of Berlin Cl878)
resulted, BY the provisions OF the
Treaty OF Berlin, Turkey retained Con-
stantinople by paying Russia war
Indemnity; and Bosnia and Herzegov-
ina were placed under the protectorate
OF Austria they still remained Turk
ish possessions but Austrian troops
were to maintain order. incidentally,
Seryia and Montenegro emerged as in
dependent states. In 1909. Austria vio-
lated the Treaty of Berlin by selling
Bosnia and Herzegovina from en-
feebled Turkey. Russia protested, but
Germany ratified its sword and stood
back OF Austria's steai--whereby Ger
many also broke the Treaty Of Berlin.
This increased the pans Serb move
ment, for Bosnia and Herzegovina are
peopled by Serbs and the Seryians
want them in their proposed Servian
Empire
The powers are Tired up in two great
groups, with smaller allies The Triple
Alliance had its beginning in 1879 as
dual alliance between Germany and
Austria aimed against Russia, 1t
pledged mutual assistance in case OF
an attack by Russia, and friendly neu-
trality In case of attack by any other
power. Italy came into the Alliance
In 1888 by separate treaties with both
Germany and Austria. The treaty
with Germany provided for common
action in case OF offensive acts by
France against either power: the treaty
with Austria provided for friendly
neutrality in the event Of war between
Italy and France or between Austria
and Russia, Italy refused to help
Germany when the war broke out, on
the grounds that France was defensive,
not offensive.
The Triple Entente is an unwritten
agreement. In 1890 the Three Emper-
ors' League Germany, Austria and
Russia) broke up. It's purpose had
been TO Isolate France. France and
Russia in 1893 signed diplomatic pro-
tocol and later a military convention in
case Of great war, as a protection
against the Triple Alliance. Russia's
war with Japan drained her resources
and weakened her diplomatic influence
In Europe. France became afraid Rus
STA might sell out of the Entente
rather than seek an alliance with Ger
many which would have meant aban-
donment of the hope Of some day re-
covering Alsace- Lorraine, France in
500 agreed to give England a free
hand in Egypt, in return for which
France was to have a free hand in
Morocco. The Kaiser instantly roared
and mobilized his War Machine to
avenge the Moroccan episode-but dip
lomatic maneuvering soon Gained him.
That England's compact with France
was primarily to keep Germanys naval
power subordinate was proven by
Great Britain's promptly withdrawing
its fleet from the Mediterranean, leaY-
ing the French fleet on guard. England
and Russia reached a secret agreement
In 1907, 10 keep Germany away from
Constautinople and the Mediterranean.
and the Triple Entente was completed.
The strength OF the Triple Alliance
and Of the Triple Entente was demon
strated by the consistent way in which
they lined up against each other in the
Balkan difficulties which finally cul-
minated in the world war now in pro-
gress,r
Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland
the three buffer" states or fences of
Europe constitute a highly important
factor In the war, along with Alsace-
Lorraine, which has been the prize OF
war for more than a thousand years,
Europe at one time was single
kingdom under Charlemagne. His three
grandchildren had "A falling out and in
the year SAB divided large part of
Europe among them. The strongest,
Louis the German, took Germany as
his share; Charles the Bold became
King of the Franks, the ancestors of
the French; the third and weakest
brother, Lothaire, was given the scraps
that were Holland, Belgium,
Switzerland, Alsace, Lorraine, and a
small strip of northern Italy.
Louis the German and Charles the
Bold each wanted possession of Lo-
thaire's kingdom, but neither would
allow the other to seize any OF it. So,
with the exception of Alsace Lorraine,
they finally allowed their weaker
brothers territory to become indepen
dent countries which served as fences
between the two rivals.
Switzerland won its freedom from
Lothaire's kingdom and be7ame lie
public in the 18th century. William of
Orange led the Hollanders to indepen
dence and a republic in 1913; the
French later conquered and held them
until 1915 when they became indepen-
dent again. Holland then included
Belgium, making it too powerful for a
buffer state, SO the powers separated
the two In 1888.
Belgium, Luxembourg and Holland
have retained their individuality mere
ly because one wolf wouldn't grab them
for fear of the other wolf Switzer-
land has been in less danger it being
understood among all the World Pow
ers that the little country is not to be
molested Germany wants Hollands
ports on the North Sea. Luxembourg
was promised by Prussia to Napoleon
III for France If the French would not
jump on Prussias back during the
Prussian Austrian war of 1866; but
Bismarck broke the bargain, for the
successors of Louis the German could
not stand to see Luxembourg go to the
successors of Charles the Bold. They
compromised by making Luxembourg
independent, dismantling its fortresses
so 1t could not take sides in a war.
Lothaire's strip of land in Italy very
naturally fitted into the union OF Ital-
ian states
Alsace- Lorraine shifted back and
forth Sweden defeated Germany and
Austria In the Thirty Years War.
France, which had been Sweden's
banker took Alsace as a bankers
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