The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-08-13

The European war Is the main cur
rent topic of the American press.
The Brooklyn Eagle emphasizes the
truth that 1T is easy to find a stick
when you wish to beat dog. On
Austria alone must rest the RESPONSE
bility. Servia stands freed Of all res
possibility. Austria has never been
distinguished for justice toward weak
nations. She is living down to her
reputation. The mere delivery Of
the German ultimatum to Russia was
sufficient indication of warlike pur-
pose. Her ultimatums to Russia and
France are peremptory and provoca-
tive"
The Indianapolis News character
ICES the war as one Of "brutalaggres-
sion on the part of Austria. Her
ultimatum to Servia was one that
would have been spurned by any self
respecting power strong enough to
defend ITSELF"
The New York Journal of CONNER
ce points out that "the Servian gov
ernment went as far as it could to
give satisfaction and was violently
rebuffed. Austria used the assassi-
nation of Ferdinand as pretext.
Kaiser Wilhelm II. held the key to
the situation, Austria had no ade-
Quate reason for its assault on Servia
The prompt effort Of Sir Edward Grey
British minister of foreign affairs,
to have the several governments ex-
ert influence for the preservation of
peace was rebuffed by Kaiser Will
helm"
The New York Sun forsees that
history will lay heavy blame on
Austria for the war. There was
nothing in the friction between Aus
tria and Servia which might not have
been smoothed out by diplomacy.
But Austria preferred the mailed
fist. Her ultimatum was provoca-
ton to resistance and framed to in
cite war. Servia's reply was mar
vel of self-control and earnest desire
to avoid trouble. The Servian note
left no scrap of grievance on which
to base a quarrel. All honest senti-
ment must back Servia in her refusal
to abrogate independence and SOW
ereignty."
The Springfield Republican ex-
plains that there is a school of mil
itarists especially strong in Germany
who preach the infamous doctrine,
condemned even by Bismarck, of a
preventive war. Austria's attack
on Servia was outrageous. The Aus
trian war party would never have
dared take such step without an
understanding with Germany. Aus
tria and Germany were ready for
war. Action had been resolved up
on, regardless Of consequences.
Germany wanted a great war and
wanted it now. Germany and Aus
tria had chosen their time and were
resolved to strike. They perceived
that it is now or never and that the
only chance for their ambitions lay
in attacking France and Russia off
their guard. This is the hellish doc
trine of preventive war, which even
Bismarck, man Of blood and iron,
denounced. The temptation to res
ort to preventive war has grown
with the growth of armaments. TO
this appalling end has come the doc
trine that mighty armaments are in
surance against war. Germany re-
fused to lend countenance to media
ton or to efforts at restricting the
area of the war. The first blow was
struck with Machievellian cunning
Germany dropped the mask with her
declaration of war upon Russia. Eng
land goes into the war with conscien-
ce clear. This will be civilized
war, but there is no civilizing hell
The New York Tribune Is en-
phatically convinced that Austria
has the responsibility for bringing
on a general war. That against Ser
via was inspired by lust of empire
The pretext was so tlimsy that Aus
tria did not venture to submit 1t tc
diplomatic accommodation. The wal