The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-08-29
international News Service.

International News Service.
Vienna--The great and cruel war
that now bids fair to devastate and
impoverish all Europe was directly,
though not primarily, caused by Aus
tria-Hungary's declaration of war
against Seryia. Slavonic Russia came
to the aid of the SIavs of Servia and
Germany took her place beside Aus
tria. This brought about a clash of
the triple alliance and the triple
entente and France and England were
drawn in.
The real last straw" of the great
conflict, therefore, that broke the
cameTs back" of the peace of Europe
was the manifesto of the aged EN-
peror Joseph of Austria-Hungary.
For the first time this edict is here
with given in full, as the ruler of the
dual monarchy wrote it:
Dear Count Sturgkh:
I have resolved to instruct the min
listers of my household and foreign at
fairs to notify the royal Servian gov
eminent of the beginning Of a state of
war between the monarchy and Servia.
In this fatefuI hour 1 feel the need Of
mand you, therefore, to publish the
inclosed manifesto.
Manifesto.
To My Peoples: 1t was my fervent
wish to consecrate the years, which,
by the grace of God, still remain to
me, to the words of peace and to pro-
tect my peoples from the heavy sac
rifices and burdens of war Provi-
dence, in its wisdom, has otherwise
decreed. The intrigues of a malev-
Olent opponent compel me, in the de
tense of the honor of my monarchy,
for the protection of its dignity, and
its position as power for the security
OF its possessions, to grasp the sword
after long years of peace. With a
quickly forgetful ingratitude, the king
dom of Servia which, from the first
beginnings of its independence as a
state until quite recently, has been
supported and assisted by my ances
tors, has for years trodden the path of
open hostility to Austria-Hungary.
When, after three decades of fruitful
work for peace in Bosnia and Her
zegovina, 1 extended my sovereign
rights to those lands, my decree called
forth in the kingdom of Servia, whose
rights were in no wise injured, out
breaks of unrestrained passion and
the bitterest hate. My government at
that time employed the handsome
privileges of the stronger, and with
extreme consideration and leniency
only requested Servia to reduce her
army to a peace footing and to prom
Use that, for the future, she would
tread the path of peace and friendship.
Guided by the same spirit Of modera-
ton, my government. when Servia,
two years ago was embroiled in
struggle with the Turkish empire, re-
stricted its action to the defence of
the most serious and vital interests of
the monarchy. 1t was to this attitude
that Servia primarily owed the attain
ment of the objects of that war.
Hatred BIazed Higher.
The hope that the Servian king
dom would appreciate the patience
and love Of peace of my government
and would keep its word, has not been
fulfilled The fame of its hatred for
myself and my house haa always
blazed higher; the design to tear from
US by force nSeparabIe portions OF
Austria Hungary has been made man
fest with less and less disguise. A
criminal propaganda has extended
over the frontier with the object of
destroying the foundations of order in
the southeastern part of the monarchy;
of making the people, to whom 1, in my
paternal affection, extended my full
confidence, waver in its loyalty to the
ruling house and to the fatherland; OF
leading astray its growing youth and
melting it to mischievous deeds of
madness and high treason. A series
of murderous attacks, an organized,
carefully prepared, and we'll carried
out conspiracy, whose fruitful success
wounded me and my loyal peoples to