The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-07-27
GREAT EUROPEAN WAR
ON BRINK OF BREAKING
Ten Million Men Arc Waiting to BE
Called Under Their Rcspec-
tive Flags.
GAUNTLET rs THROWN DOWN
Pope Opens Only Door Through
Which Austria Can, With Honor,
Retreat From Her Menace to
Scrvia.

Servia
Paris. July 26-Thc whole structure
of European peace tonight is OH the
brink OF collapse Ten million men
are waiting to be called under their
respective nass, and in a few days all
Europe may DC a1ame with war. and
thousands OF smiling cornhclds now
awaiting the harvest may become the
scene Of blacklist dcsolation
The dastarGly assassination Of the
Archdukc Franz Ferdipand and his
wife has been the last drop needed to
overflow the cup of bitterness which
has bccu the reward OF Il long life
devoted To the cause OF peace. and now
Franz Joseph tho Grand Old Man of
Europe. has dashed his sword and to
all appearances has thrown away the
sea bbard.
Behind the tmpcrors action. which
is an Indirect. but none the less en-
tremc. challenge to Russia lies the
steadtast resolution of the German
races to sweep back the thrush of
hordes al SlavS into Central Europe
The dream ot Il greater Scrvia en-
bodyinr all the Slav clements in Aus
tra Hungary has been the hobgoblin
of the dual monarchy for the last five
years.
1t is realized in Vienna that this
Slav movement which received a trc-
mcndous impetus from the Scrvian
successes in the Balkan War. and the
uncXpcctcdiy aggressive step Of the
Emperor is a desperate throw In be
half OF tho waning IIapsburg pres
iisc. Tho consequences are friEhjful
to contemplate.
Tho gauntlet has hcen thrown
no. uni
the Car to his ministers to-day
NEVER SINCE 1870
SO BLACK Az OUTLOOk
Never since 1870 has there existed a
hlackcr outlook. is tho opinion OF
Georges clcmcnccau, cX-Prcmicr OF
France. and the greatest authority in
the world ON international politics.
That Europe - about to sink into a
wcltcr OF blood is the perspective that
has caused Pope Plus y. to flash a h,ir-
rjcd message to Emperor Franz Io-
scph implorine him mot to stain his
old arc with blood
In thi; wa the Pope has opened
the only door through which Austria
can with homo retreat from her meu-
ace 10 Scrvi> and thus save tho
world the most terrific catastrophe ia
human history. Franz Joseph. as
apostolic Emperor and King OF Jeru-
salem. can without loss Of dignity bow
iontim.
Count Eerchtoid. "a minor Bismarck.
and author Of the most brutal diplo-
matte notc'cvcr issued. Austria's re-
cent ultmatum to Scrvia. conferred
with the Emperor to-day. but refuses
10 signify tonight whether the pope's
appeal will liz favorahly answered.
" Austria does not iuvad" ScrNia.
the car of Russia. as the father OF
all Slavs.' will be bound in honor 10
defend King rcter from being crushed
by the dual monarchy, whose objcc-
tive all along has been to obtain Il road
for itself through the Balkans and TO
seize Salonika
sun badly shaken by the Japanese
War, Russia in 1909 was forced to re-
main neutral when Austria took forci-
Bile possession Of Bosnia and IIcrzc-
Sovina, but now she is prepared for Il
titanic struggle.
After meeting Of all the banlcrs IN
81. Petersburg to-day, presided over
bl the director of the Imperial Eanl,
it was officially declared that "Russia's
financial position Viii permit her TO 20
10 amy limit" Moreover, All tho
strikes which lately have unsettled
RUSSIAN domestic affairs. were settled
to-day spontaneously. by tho men
themselves unanimously voting to re-
turn To work.
GREAT RUSSIAN EMPIRE
PRESENTS SOLID FRONT
Thus the great Russian empire pre-
scnts a solid. united front. Five army
corps already have been mobiliZed
This is Il reply To the state of siege de-
clared in Austria. II shots have been
fircd, the situation will he in tn" hands
of Kaiser Wilhelm. in whom lies the
responsibility OF a general r.uropeau
war. In tho event Of his army back
ing Austria against Russia. France will
bc inevitably drawn INTO tho conflict
To all observers the AT
Italy will take is most Interesting.
While the Italian government day is
officially informed by her parliamentary
representatives that they Will stand by
her agreement to support Austria, IL
is questionable whether tho Italian
people would ever consent to take the
field III behalf of their old oppressors.
should tho italian government issue
an order Of mobilization TO help AUS
tria. il is quite possible that a general
revolution might break out in Italy.
and upset the monarchy The feeling
on the peninsula runs high against
Austria, and it would not surprise stu
dents OF international policy IL the
Italian people. in the case of n general
European conflagration, should arise
as one man To wrcst Trieste and Trcp-
to, the annexed provinces. from the
dual monarchy.
20 take will he neutral, as her policy
lands attitude. Sir Edward Grey. the
the gravity of the situation, and is
sitting on the lid" at Whitehall.
England has twenty seven Dread