The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-08-02

Austria Has Declared War on Servla
1 Des Moines capital: 1t is brutal To-
/ Austria to declare war against ;
icountry like Servia. Austria is really
iAustria-Hungary. The countries are
noninaily united. The emperor o,
Austria Is king OF Hungary. The
Danube divides Hungary from Servia
Servia has population Of abou,
three and one-haif millions. For Aus
tria to declare war on Servia IL like
the United States declaring war on
New Jersey. Servia does not have
half the population OF Pennsylvania
She has no seaport She Is the only
one Of the Balkan states not having
access to any sea. She is penned in
with Roumania on one side and Bull
garia on the other. and Macedonia on
still another.
Servia gained a large population
and considerable territory as the re-
suit OF the war waged by the Balkan
allies against Turkey. This new war
comes partly from the other war.
Every country which received terri
tory has had hard time assimiiating
the new population thus acquired In
all the Balkan states there are traces
OF the Turkish rule. even though the
hand of Turkey has been withdrawn.
In several of the countries there are
many Mohammedans. This Is espe-
cially true OF Albania. which is near
ly one-haf Mohammedau.
We say 1t is brutal for Austria to
declare war against So small a coun.
try.
There is brutality In other re-
spects.
Austria, first OF all, bIames Servia
for the assassination of the crown
prince and his wife. Our readers will
remember that the assassination was
by two Serrian students.
Austria considers that the SERBIAN
students had been worked upon, or
induced, to commit the murder. They
blame the tragedy upon the secret
societies and secret influences work
ing in Seryia against Austrian influ-
ence-
Austrias' demands upon Servia as
the outgrowth OF the assassination
have been unreasonable. Austria de-
mands not only the punishment OF
those directly or remotely connected
with the tragedy, but further demands
tie privilege of sending Austrian off,
GERS into Servia to hunt up and con-
vict men in their own way. Seryia
would not consent to this plan, know
ing that Austria has all kinds of re-
venges in mind and believing that
such course would result in the exc
cution OF many innocent persons.
Think of what is involved in grant
ing nation of spies the privilege OF
entering your own country to hunt
up and arrest and conyice and exc
cute any whom they might accuse!
The civilized world viii believe
that Austria has made a demand
which might have been considered
reasonable in China fifty years ago
but which is certainly unreasonable
now anywhere else.
Servia agreed to all of Austria's
demands excepting the one we refer
to.
Austria complains OF the work of
secret societies in Servia while SIC
has maintained secret agents through
out Servia for fifty years. Servia
has been full of Austrian spies Ev-
cry Seryian knows this and this is
one Of the causes for the assassin
ton. Austria determinedly assisted
IN preventing Servia from acquiring
2 seaport in the settlement Of the
last war; otherwise Servia would
have acquired Salonfka on the Aegian
sea
Austria does not give the real
cause for her declaration of war. !
There are twenty millions Of Slavs
u the Austrian empire and every
tine anybody in Servia talks about a
-Pan-Slsvish empire Austria has
been In the habit Of having a chill. |
The coterie which rules Austria |
called the danger of involved in |!
he pan-Slavish agitation. Just |
THAT these twenty millions of Slavs /
Fill DO in var declared by Austria
!gainst Servia (which is made up Of |
slaVsJ remains yet to be seen.
It viii be difficult for Russia COM
sosee so largely of Slavs. to keep out 1
Y this war, and If Russia does take !
! hand size may fight better than she !
I'D when engaged in the conflict |
zith Japan I
The present situation has been an