New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-03
Entered at IN. Postomoe at New YORK IS s''0".
Mail Matter
Wars Circle Widens.


The circle Of European strife widened YESTERDAY
v,hout declaration Of war Germany began nos
,uities AGAINST France, invading French territory
Russian Patrols crossed the eastern border oil Frus
-. vrsnco and Russia are now both at war with
Germany through the lstters initiative But neither
has come into collision as yet with Austria-hun-
cary whose invasion Of Seryis was the originating
cause of the complications which drove Germany to
challenge first Russia and then France
The attitude Of Great Britain up to late hour
last night had not been clearly defined What
Great Britain does will really determine the char
actcr Of the European war. If she participates AT
once with her controlling sea strength there may
be some hope Of limiting the appalling losses Win
which the world is now threatened Her nee's
combined with those Of France can probably block
ado Germany and confine the real struggle TO the
land. Her participation from the outset would Sc
cure the neutrality Of Italy, which cannot afford to
risk a collision with the sea power of the Triple
Entente. Her troops could maintain the neutrality
Of Belgium and Holland and aid France to repel
German invasion.
If she heeds the counsels Of the Lloyd George
group OF advocates of peace at any price she Will
lose the greatest opportunity she has had in many
wears TO reduce Germany to minor sea power
She might even be forced, when it is too late, to
cast her lot with France il order to try to main
tain the territorial integrity of Western Europe.
automatically speaking, Germany and Austria
Hungary have been so far outgeneralled They
have not been able to put themselves before the
world in the light Of powers coerced into war
Austria Hungary did > foolbardy thing in insisting
on dealing with Seryia by force instead of obtain
ing what she wanted by diplomatic means. The
Vienna government undoubtedly took Berlin by
7 aIrprisc, and Germany hesitated too long about
brncipc pressure Oh Austria Hungary to compel the
! latter to recede
The stability of the Triple Alliance was shaken
when the Dual Monarchy and Germany both en-
gagged in offensive war, since their taking the
initiative gave Italy welcome excuse for slipping
out of the Triple Alliance compact Bismarck is
dead and he has not left apt successors in Berch-
thold and Bethmann-Hollweg
Germany also offended international opinion
when she violated yesterday the neutrality Of Lux
emburg In order TO gain military advantage
she risked offending Belgium and Holland and
irritating Great Britain If Luxemburg's neu-
trality is not secure why should Begiums be in
violable? Both are guaranteed by international
treaties the violation of which by belliserent
must put that belligerent on the defensive in the
Great tribunal Of world opinion.
The diplomacy which left Italy ioophole
through which to escape from the burdens Of the
Triple Alliance and which outraged the neutrality
If Luxembourg in order to strike a sudden blow
NJ France. is not the diplomacy Of far-seeins
craftsmanship.
Germany doubtless hopes to repeat the thunder
bolt campaign Of 1870 Her policy is evidently to
hold the slower moving Russians in check on the
east while making rush for Paris. France can
nav big indemnity. If crushed. while it would be
hard 70 collect anything out Of Russia. A success
fnI invasion of France would also give immense
prestige TO German arms and greatly discourage
Russia. Paris is worth a gamble in the game OF
war But Louis Napoleon and Bazalne are both
doad So is Moltke. German military genius must
10 Ear more alert than German diplomacy as
sbovn itself in the Austro- Servian crisis TO make
another easy march to Paris possible.