Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-08-19

At this time it is perhaps pertinent
to examine briefly the considerations
In the foreign and domestic conditions
of the six great nations divided into
the triple alliance of Austria. Ger
many and Italy and the triple entente
of Russia, France and Great Britain.
For Austria the die is already cast.
She has accepted all the perils of war:
she has hazarded Armageddon, be-
statesmen war alone can save the
Qua monarchy. Her prestige was
ruined by the Balkan wars. On the
southern frontier there was raised a
Servia in all respects resembling the
Sardinia which in the last century be-
came the corner stone OF united Italy.
And as France stood forth as the
champion of Sardinia and defeated
Austrian armies at Margenta and Sol
ferino. SO Russia is ready to help the
southern Slav risorgimento.
Victorious Austria can n Servia.
unite all the southern Slavs under the
Hapsburg Own perhaps win their
loyalty by transforming the dual mon
archy into a tripartite state. She can.
too, resume her march to the Aegean.
interrupted by Servian success.
Defeated, she is bound to be de-
spoiled. Galicia, Bukovina, Herzego-
vina and Dalmatia may fall to Russia,
Roumania and Servia. But without
war she is. in the view of her rulers,
doomed to cruinble. destined to be torn
by discussions between her many races
until she falls apart automatically
Austria has decided for war as the
price of national existence.
For Russia the problem is different.
Her existence is not at stake. But If
she wins her frontier will infallibly be
carried to the Carpathians on the
southwest, and the Germans believe
she will seize the ancient Polish lands
of Posen and East and West Prussia,
with the port of DanZig and the wall
ley of Nistula. Again. once Austria Is
destroyed and Germany crushed. the
last obstacle to Russian occupation of
Constantinople vanishes M the dream
of centuries of Russian rulers and
statesmen is realiZable.
In the nearer view Russian victory
will rouse the deepest emotions OF the
whole race. Religion quite as much
as race, too. cries out against the
Austrian despoliation of the Serb
states. Should the Romanoffs bring
back a splendid victory now, it might
consolidate Russian internal life,
postpone the revolution SO long
promised. unite all shades of Rus
sian life.
Defeated. Russia annot be dismem-
bered. BY her very bulk h is inn
uiuIlc from tIe hanger tldI threaten
Austria and France. Her progress as
a great power may be delayed for a
little, but nearly 200. O00. 900 of Slavs
cannot be long restrained. Not to de-
fend Servia is to sacrifice prestige at
home and abroad. to lose the support
of the religious and racial emotions of
the Russian people, to become con-
temptible in the eyes of its w sub
jects. This is the Russian choice.
For Germany the choice between
war and peace is only less clear. Vic
torious. Germany will at the very least
have postponed the Slav peril for a
generation. Once and for all h will
have dea with France" and for years
she can expect a free hand in her
struggle with Great Britain for naval
supremacy and for that place in the
SUM- so passionately desired by Ger
man patriots. French colonies will be
the prize of Great Britain will be
left alone to confront Germany as SUI
preme and unchallenged on the cont,
nent as Napoleon after Austerlitz and
the possibilities.
dismemberment; Alsace-Lorraine. Po-
Schleswig will undoubtedly be taken.
German supremacy on the continent
will be destroyed. German unity may
istic forces may be enabled to drive
hands upon the overnment.