El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-08-15
TRIPLE ALLIENGE
MAX Be GOING TO
PIECES IN WAR
Refusal of Italy to Assist
Germany Breaks Co.
alition of Powers.
BY HERRERT 1.EMPLE.

London, Eng, Aug. 15.-Since the
Inception OF the stupendOus war now
aging IN Europe, much is heard of the
Triple alliance and the triple entente.
Ihese two coalitions were formed Os-
lensibly for defensive purposes and
the two include all of the important
ers.
What thev are:
Triple alliance-Germany. Austria
Hungary and Italy. This alliance was
Iirst a dual alliance between Germany
and Austria, formed in 1873, after the
franco-Prussian war as defence
against the encrOachments Of the
French and Russians. sBismark, the
great German chancellor, was the
prime mover in the alliance and he
mad visions of a "Dreikaiserbund"-
an alliance Of Germany. Austria and
Russia, which never materialized. In
1888 Italy entered the triple alliance.
The pact was amplified in 1887 and
renewed in 1902 and 1891 Its last pc
Rod of expiration was June IA, 1914,
but at that time the alliance was re-
newed for u years
Triple entente-England. France and
Russia. This coalition had its begin
ming in 1885. when France and Rus
STA laid the foundation OF a dual al
lance which was perfected in 1897.
In 1904 Great Britain formed an en-
tente cordiale with France and in 1907
made similar arrangement with Rus
among the three nations resulted in
the triple entente
Alliance May Be Broken.
Diplomats are now wondering II the
triple alliance is in process Of disin-
tegration since the beginning Of the
big war. Italy. one Of the signatories,
has so far maintained strict neutral
ity. in the face Of prayers. pleadings
and threats from the kaiser More
than that. Italy has intimated she
would probably throw in her lot with
tho triple entente If she were forced
into war
When Germany called upon Austria
TO aid her in attacking the allied fleets
of France and England in the Mediter-
ranean, Austria refused TO comply.
We are not at war with England"
was Austria's answer TO Germany,
making diplomats wonder II the triple
alliance was in danger OF dwindling
down to the war lord alone
For Defence Only.
The articles Of agreement on which
rest both triple alliance and the triple
entente lay great stress on the asser-
ton they are for defence only. For in
stance, Germany IS pledged 70 assist
Austrta-Hungary against Russia. only
IN the event that Russia is the agrees
Sor- England is under obligation TO
help France against Germany only
when Germany started the trouble.
That is the explanation Of the ap-
parent anxiety Of each of the warning
nations to pass the buck" and get out
from under the onus Of beginning the
war. The kaiser declared that Ger
many was forced into the war by the
aggressions Of France and Russia.
France on the other hand strenuOusly
asserted that the Germans were re-
spOnsible- II Germany could have
made it appear that France and Rus
sia were acting on the offensive, there
was hope that England might hold
that the triple entente had not been
violated and accordingly have re- I
manned neutral
For this reason also. both France I
and Germany committed acts Of wcr /
before declaring war German and |
French troops were rushed 20 the !.
frontier and in some instances crossed !
i before the formal declara tons came /
The same is true Of Russia. Each ma I
lion strOve vigorously TO provoke the /
others to declare war first, so that the 4
technical responsibility might rest up
N them But finally the lzaiser's pa
1ence was tried TO its limit and Ger
many declared war on France and I
Russia. Both those nations recipro-
.atA1 Immediately. With Germany ap-
)arently the aggressor, ENGLAND had
n recourse but TO get into the war or
'enuciate the triple erteute.