The Detroit times., 1914-08-17
AuSfrid,s Crime

From the America Leader, published
by the American Association OF
Foreign Language Newspapers.
The bloodiest conflict of recorded
history Is now on. Austria-the fer
ret of Europe, the chronic disturber
OF continental peace--has again
plunged the civilized countries OF
Christendom into international war
fare. The great English statesman.
Gladstone, once, asked, Can anyone
put his finger on any spot or the map
where Austria has done any good?'
But Gladstone died 16 years ago.
What would he say Of Austria's role
during these later years? All over
Europe there has been a rapid ad-
vance In civilization In which Aus
tria has not fully participated. In
diplomacy, her ways have been me-
tdieyal, rbarbaric- Her present con-
duct is no exception.
After years OF encroachment upon
the Serbs, she annexed the Slavic
In 1909 without so much as a thank
you." and with Germany's full appro-
baton. During the recent Balkan
war. Austria tried once more to set
the prime nations of Europe at one
another's throats. But mastery d.
plomacy warded of the catastrophe.
Now, hardly has the smoke Of the
Balkan wars cleared from the skies.
when Austria trumps up a charge
against the small. exhausted state or
Servia. She accuses q whole race of
an individuals murderous folly. She
sends an imperious ultimatum to Bel
grade. The Servian government,
aware of its own comparative weak
ness, bows the knee to every condi-
ton OF the offensive ultimatum save
one, viz, that Austrian officials shall
sit In the court which Is to investi-
gate the assassination Of the Arch
duke Franz Ferdinand and his con-
sort. To grant Austrian representa-
tion, under the circumstances, was to
sign Servias own death warrant,
since Austrian prejudice had already
| convicted Servia. Furthermore, Ser
via realized that she was not nation
ally responsible and could not man
fully bring herself to the admission
On this slim pretext-unprecede
ed in history-the great dual mon
archy invaded depleted Servia. Never
was there such subserviency on the
part Of weakened but proud nation;
never was there such open violation
Of the basic usages of modern civil
ization on the part of so-called civ
ilized, modern power. And from
these slight causes, all the armed
strength of Europe is arrayed, broth
er against brother.
And who Is to bear the brunt OF
the war? With all the bourses of
the world closed, with the merchant
marine OF the world nearly at a
standstill, with prices soaring and
famine staring even neutral countries
in the face, who shall pay the piper?
The Servians are fighting the I'M
sought aggression Of hated race;
the Russians are supporting their
kindred Slavs-but for what are the
line-men OF the Austrian ranks fight
ing? What shall they gain, even II
they win, but impoverished fields and
fortunes and the perpetuation of a
mistrusted government?
To begin with, Austria Is an artifi-
cially constituted empire. The Ger
manic blood OF the ruling class con-
stitutes less than quarter of the
total population, while the Slavic
population Of Austria numbers 46 per
cent of the total inhabitants. Austria
is made up OF variety Of conflicting
and unassimilable peoples: Bohe-
mians, Moravians. Poles, Ruthenians.