Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-08-25

come of the first great battle of the
| European war now in progress on the
/ Franco German frontier depends the
extention of the conflict to include 9TH
err nations according to information in
official quarters here.
| pronounced victory for either the
Germans or the allies in this battle will
be determining factor in the decisions
| of several other nations upon the ques-
| ton Of joining the struggle.
| Italy, pushing mobilization OF Its
| army, is reported to be awaiting the
| result of this engagement OF the main
| armies of the Germans and allies. II
| the Germans triumph, Italy is expected
| to accede to the influences exerted by
| Great Britain and France to induce it
! to repudiate the triple alliance and join
the allies. The immediate mission OF
Italy, in that event, would be to attack
Austria, with whom it already has
| clashed over the terms OF the triple all
lance.
Italy Spurns Alliance.
Italy has shown it's repugnance to
aiding Germany and Austria. tho they
have called upon it to fulfill it's COM
pact as they construe it, Italy has re-
sponded that theirs is a defensive ALI
ance only and is void III this conflict
because Germany and Austria are
waging an aggressive war.
If the Germans win the battle Great
Britain and France will utter a loud
call for more help in their undertaking
of whipping the kaiser. and Italy is
counted on to respond with alacrity.
oil in, hattie thaV
will feel that they need no more help
at present and Italy will make no move.
A decisive defeat of the Germans on
the French border, with the Russian
winning in the northeast. would indi-
cate an early termination of the war
and other nations would hold their fire.
A signal victory for the Germans,
however, would mean a prolongation OF
the conflict and a scattering Of the war
brands thruout the remnant Of Europe,
which so far has not become involved.
Turks Try to Stir Up War.
An official dispatch to the state de-
partment today described the efforts of
Turkey to bring the Balkan states into
the struggle A Turkish official, It was
stated, has been in Bucharest several
days endeavoring to induce King
the alley of Germany and Austria. Tur-
key promised to join Roumania in this
move.
Turkey apparently has not received
much encouragement from Roumania.
Officials here are inclined to think that
if King Charles gets into the war it will
be on the side Of Russia, whose infiu-
ence is strong at Bucharest.
Ill = D~,r
mania in exchange for assistance might
receive from Russia slice of Bessar-
abba, which is inhabited largerly by
Roumanians.
Roumania would be interested also in
wrestling from Austria Hungary a part
or all of Pennsylvania, the population
of which is preponderantly Rouman-
ian.
Turks Seek Old Possession.
Turkey is interested chiefly in re-
gaining some at least Of the hinterland
of which it was deprived by the recent
Balkan war. If Turkey should declare
war on Russia bulgaria would likely
fly the arms on the side Of the triple
entente, tho it is i'll prepared to do 50
as a result of its exhausting struggle
OF two years ago. 1t is reported that
there are still 100000 wounded Bulgar-
ian soldiers in the hospitals II Bull
garia fights it would devote it's atten-
ton almost exclusively to Turkey.
If Turkey takes the war path Greece
will be sure to join the struggle under
the banner of the entente. The fact is
that an entirely independent war be-
tween Greece and Turkey is likely to
be precipitated at any moment. Re-
ports from the near east picture a
menacing state Of affairs.
In Asia Minor the Turks are clashing
daily with the Greeks and other Chris
tians and charges that the Mohamne-
dams are plotting such massacre as
Frequently has occurred in that quar-
ter have been transmitted to Athens.
An outbreak of this nature undoubted-
ly would bring about war between
Greece and Turkey.