The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-20
~ uLAtaERT CANTON.

one occasion the scabhard was nearly
thrown away but no actual break came
and International relations were ami
cable. on the surface least.
France had some minor wars Of con-
quest in distant colonies and went
through the Drcyfus scandal. which
stirred the nation to n danger point.
England had Egyptian troubles and Its
TWO Bocr wars and the RUSSIAN empire
contested with Japan the mastery Of tho
Fast.
italy. Ike other ovcrpopula ted" coun-
tries nf Europe. embarked between 1870
and 1850 upon q policy Of Colonization.
In the latter year 1t occupied some
territory on the Rcd Sea with the tacit
consent of Great Britain and the Portn,
After some explorers had been killed by
natives and Italian troops had gone 20
the locality. partly TO help pacify the
sudan, hostilities between Italy and the
Negus OF Ahysslnia broke out which
lasted several wears because Of Italy's
attempt 10 extend her zone Of occupa-
ION.
The war OF Abyssinian succession IN
yolved Italy still deeper and war went
on intermittently, the natives being
generally successful They greatly out
numbered ,hn Italians and on several
occasions their Wet )rles reSj,lted in
'uassacrcs, the Italians heing Killed
almost to a man. *. -,
Finally IN 1895 terrific batIie TOOK
place NJ Adowa, where 100 ,oN0 nf Ras
MenelelGs troops fell upon $4,000 sol
derS Italians and their native allies.
The total fatalities were 1000 killed
and more than 10 000 wounded. TIE
result was the dcllmitaton 4 the Italo-
Abyssinian boundary, and Italy was left
with an insignificant holding there.
Three wears ago Italy declared war
upon Turkey because of disorder in
Tripoli .,aud its provinces which the
Turkish Government would not control
and because " the alleged wrongs 10
about 5000 Italians living there. The
war was condemned IN many. quarters,
hut Italy at once b-mbardsd Tr!poli
and drove its garrison inland. She then
landed $4,000 troops and fought several
hard battles with tho Arlh defenders.
II was charged that the Italians .massa-
cred the enemy. not even splr!ag women
and children. bat the Rome Governments
denied this.
The war lasted year and by the
treaty signed IN October. l9l2. Turkey
granted autonomy To the l.ibyan PROV
uce and consented that Italy establish
her own system NJ government there,
with Italian soNcrriguty recognized. Had
% not been Tor the Balkan States at
lacking her e. this tine she undoubtedly
would have Wagcd more successful
struggle against Italy
Austria Hungary made surprising
progress considering its previous re-
dictionary reputation. In the early
wars of the present period there was
much fractional and racial dissension,
but agitation seemed to have been sub
sututcd for revolution and the results
were much more satisfactory while less
violent
There was great Inequality in the
voting system under the constitution Of
1867. and tn, advantage wax generally
with the privileged classes. but grad
ually the necessities " the Government
caused a revision OF the electoral sys-
tenn and little by little it was modified
and improved. until finally IN 1907 suf-
frage was made universal.
Following the Pruss1an triumph over
Austria, Hungary had received recog-
milton of its importance and the En-
peror had been crowned King Of Hun
gary. The influence Of the German Aus
trians had prevented Bohemia from OBJ
tanning similar honor. Bad feeling
epsued. but this largely disappeared ow-
ing to other advantages accorded the
ruling races.
AN this time there was steadily grow
ing in Austria-liungary, a. there was
also In the German Empire. strong
Socialist party. Under constantly en-
tended suffrage the Socialists increased
their representation in Parliament. Just
as was the case in Germany. When
suffrage was made universal this party
elected no less than cighty-seven mem
beers.
The old Emperor has been singuarly
unfortunate personally. The Crown
Prince Rudolph was murdered; the En-
press Elizabeth. wife of the Emperor,
died by an asSassins hand and several
heirs apparent or presumptive re-
nodhced their right OF succession. Arch
duke John, a brother, better known as
John Orth. disappeared and was never
heard of, and IN June of this year the
heir to the throne, Archduke Franz
Ferdinand the Emperor's nephew. also
was assassnated while visiting in
Bosnia
Since the treaty Of Berlin. Austria had
occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, the
provinces formerly belonging to Tur-
Key. This fact was the cause of great
resentment on the part of the Balkan
states and OF Russia, for a large part of
the people of those provinces were
Slavs.
In 1908 Austria formally annexed the
provinces. promising them a constitu-
ton and declaring the sanjak OF Novi-
bazaar would be given back to Turkey.
She also paid Turkey about 62,500,000
francs. Servia made great objection to
the annexation, and for a time both
countries were on the verge of war.
The great Powers, however. consented
10 abroGate section 25 OF the Berlin
trcaty, thus giving Austria a free hand
in the two provinces, and. to the
astonishment of the Balkans. Russia
agreed to THIS. 1t is believed that she
was obliged to do so because Germany
threatened to mobilize her troops on the
Russian border unless she consented
From that time until the great Balkan
war there was nervous suspense in all
Europe.
II Will he necessary, however, to eS-
plain more about the Balkan situation.
one of the most complicated questions
which have ever veNed the political
World The story goes hack TO the