The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1914-08-08

was weakened at home. Half the
population of the dual monarchy is
Slav, but the ruling races are German
and Magyar. Austrian bullying of
Servia provoked protest, riot. dis
order, at home. In Bohemia. Croa-
TIA, Galicia, Slav populations protest
ed in vain, but found cause for hope
and enthusiasm in the triumph of
the Serb.
Only one diplomatic triumph Aus
trla brought home in her campaign.
Servian aspirations for window
on the sea" were thwarted and the
Albanian kingdom was created. But
no sooner had it been created than
the rival ambitions of Italy and Aus
tria began to clash and European
observers forecast a quarrel between
Austria and Italy such as Schleswig-
Holstein provoked between Italy and
Austria.
Thus on the edge of the present
crisis the Triple Alliance found itself
in badly weakened condition. Aus
tria on her southern boundary was
confronted with Serb and Rouman-
ian armies. whose fighting capacity
was proved, whose national aspira-
tions would be promoted by Austrian
disruption. Greece, too, excluded
from North Epirus by Italy, had been
driven to the Entente and possessed
fleet and an army to be reckoned
with.
AT home Austria faced growing
disorder Her Slav populations,
their racial pride and confidence
reused by Servian and Bulgarian
victories, no longer endured with
patience the prosecutions of Germans
and Hungarians. Disloyalty was on
the increase on all sides. and Austria
seemed about to succeed Turkey as
"the Sick Man of Europe"
In this situation German news
papers and public men began to de-
mand that the clash between the
Triple Alliance and the Triple En-
tente should be postponed no long
er. Time plainly was with the en-
emy. Austria was growing weaker.
Austro-Italian rivalry in Albania as
we'll as secular rivalry in Trieste and
Trentino plainly promised future
quarrels which might destroy the
fighting value of the Triple Alliance
and leave Germany alone between
France and Russia.
1t is the German temper which
makes the present crisis serious. AT
the time of the Bosnian clash no ma
tion in Europe desired war, and only
Germany was ready. At the moment
of the Moroccan dispute Germany
backed down because she found
France, England and Russia ready
and the possible gain incommensur-
ate with the possible loss a great war
might bring. To-day very consld-
cradle faction of German official life
believes that only by war can Ger
many maintain her predominance
| in Europe and that a few years OF
peace will leave her far behind Rus
sia in strength, in resources and IN
allies. To-day she can count on Aus
tria and probably Italy. Tomorrow
Austria may have fallen apart, but
Russia, England and France are not
likely to grow weaker.
The challenge Austria has issued
to Russia, then, is Germany chal-
lenge. 1t is also her own declaration
of a determination to fight for her
existence. Russia has enlisted Ser
via and Roumania on her southern
boundary. Russia has promoted
Slav aspirations and disloyalty IN
/ Austria. Now Russia must leave
Servia to her fate, abandon her
schemes to destroy Austria within
and without, she must publicly con-
fess she cannot aid her weaker Slav
allies, or she must fight, Austria
/ prefers to be destroyed by war rather
than by the attrition of intrigue.
If France and Great Britain stand
with Russia her decision cannot pe
mistaken. If France and Russia are
agreed to resist. the result will hard
Ily be different. But British states
men are unlikely to run the risk OF a
! carman victory which will leave