The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26

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would be promoted by Austrian disrup-
ton. Greece. too, excluded from North
Epirus by Italy, had been driven to
the Entente and possessed fleet and
an army to be reckoned with.
At home Austria faced growing
disorder. Her Slav populations. their
racial pride and confidence reused by
Servian and Bulgarian victories, no
longer endured with patience the
prosecutions Of Germans and Hun
gariafns. Disloyalty was on the in
crease on all sides. and Austria
seemed about to succeed Turkey as
'the Sick Man Of Europe"
In this situation German news
papers and public men began to de-
mand that the clash between the
Triple Alliance and the Triple En-
tente should be postponed no longer.
Time plainly was with the enemy.
Austria was growing weaker. Austro-
Italian rivalry In Albania as well as
secular rivalry In Trieste and the
Trentino plainly promised future quar-
rels which might destroy the fight
ing value of the Triple Alliance and
leave Germany alone between France
and Russia.
1t Is. the German temper which
makes the present crisis serious. At
the time of the Bosnian clash no ma
ton in Europe desired war, and only
Germany was ready. At the moment Of
the Moroccan dispute Germany backed
down because she found France, Eng
land and Russia ready and the pos
sible gain incommcnsurate with the
possible loss a great war might bring.
To-day a very considerable faction of
German official life believes that only
by war can Germany maintain her pre-
dominance in Europe and that a few
years more of peace will leave her far
behind Russia in strength, in resources
and in allies To-day she can count on
Austria and probably Italy. Tomorrow
Austria may have fallen apart, but
Russia, England and France are not
likely to grow weaker.
The challenge Austria has issued TO
Russia, then, is Germany's challenge.
1t is also her own declaration of de-
termination to fight for her existence.
Russia has enlisted Servia and Rumania
on her southern boundary. Russia has
promoted Slav aspirations and disloy-
atty in Austria. Now Russia must
leave Seryia to her fate. abandon her
schemes to destroy Austria within and
without. she must publicly confess she
carnot aid her weaker Slav allies, or
she must fight. Austria prefers to be
destroyed by war rather than by the
attrltion of intrigue.
If France and Great Britain stand
with Russia her decision cannot be
mistaken. If France and Russia are
agreed to resist. the result will hardly
he different. But British statesmen
are unlikely to run the risk of Ger.
man victory which will leave Germany
with her hands free 20 fight for naval
supremacy.
The worst phase Of the present crisis
Is that neither Alliance nor Entente can
now escape war without tremcndou,
loss Of prestige. The challenge OF Aus
tria has been made in such fashion thai
! IL leaves Russia no visible choice he
tween war and dishonor. German officln
utterance gives the thing the value OF
an issue between the Triple Allianc,
and the Triple Entente.
1t is the combination Of all Of these
circumstances which makes the pres
ent crisis seem the most serious Europ,
has known since BISMARCK edited tn,
fateful Ems despatch and the Franco
Prussian war resulted.