TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1914-09-21

-Four more years OF peace rolled
BY. during which, In spite OF the
facts that Austro- Hungary gave a
local constitution with representative
institutions 20 Bosnia.H erzegoyina,
and Alsace- Lorraine was admitted 10
representation In the federal council.
m well M the relchstag Of the Ger.
man empire, that is. was made sub.
h%tantially a state Of the empire, the
pan.slayie schemes Of Russia, the
French spirit OF revenge and the
British commercial Jealousy grew
and developed and became welded
together. until the triple entente be.
came virtually a triple alliance d.
rected against the two great states
Of middle Europe.
The Hour Of Armageddon.
Russia had now recovered from the
losses OF the Japanese war and the
internal anarchy which followed II;
France had perfected her military
organization; Turkey was now driven
by the allied Balkan states out Of
the calculation al an anti-Russian
power; Bulgaria, Austro-H ungary's
ally, was nov completely exhausted
by the war with Turkey and that
with her Balkan allies, now become
enemies; and Great Britain was in
dire need of an opportunity to divert
the mind OF her people away from
the internal questions which we're
threatening to disrupt her constitu-
ton.
The practiced ear could hear the
buzz OF the machinery lifting the
hammer to strike the hour OF Ar
~mageddon. And IL struck. The foul
murder Of the heir Of the Haps-
burgers set the civilized world In
horror and the Austro.H Hungarian EN-.
pire In mourning. In tracing the
ramihcations OF the treacherous plot,
the lines were found to run 10 Bel.
grade. And when Austro-Hungary
demanded inquiry and action by a
tribunal In which representatives
from Austro-Hungary should sit. Ser.
via repealed the demand as incon-
sistent with her dignity. Believing
that inquiry and action by servia
alone would be no inquiry and no
action, Austro-Hungary felt Obliged
TO take the chastisement Of the
criminals and their abettors into its
own hands.
Then Russia interviewed 10 stay the
hand Of Austro-Hungary and asked
the German emperor to mediate
between Austro-Hungary and servia.
The emperor undertook the task.
But while In the midst Of it he
learned that Russia was modifying
troops upon his own border. He i'm
mediately demanded Of Russia that
this should cease. but without avail
or ven reply. He protested again
with the like result. Finally, at mid
night on the 31st OF July, his ambas-
sador at st. Petersburg laid the
demand before the Russian minister
Of foreign affairs that the Russian
mobilization must cease within
twelve hours. otherwise Germany
would be obliged to mobilize.
At the same time the emperor
directed his ambassador in Paris to
inquire Of the French government
whether. in case of war between Ger
many and Russia, France would
remain neutral. The time given ex-
PRED without any explanation or
reply from Russia and without any
guarantee or assurance from France.
The federal council Of the German
empire. consisting Of representatives
from the twenty-five states and the
imperial territory of Alsace-Lorraine,
then authorized the declaration Of
war against Russia, which declaration
applied, according to the sound
principle Of international iuris-
prudence. to all her allies refusing to
give guarantee to their neutrality.
5eIslum's Neutrality.
As France could move faster than
Russia, the Germans turned the force
Of their arms upon her. They under
took to reach her by way of what
they supposed to be the lines of least
resistance. These lay through the
neutral states of Belgium and Luxem-
burg. They claimed that France had
already violated the neutrality of
both by invasion and by the flying
of their war airships owe them, and
they marched their columns into
both.
Belgium resisted. The Germans
offered TO guarantee the independence
and integrity of Belgium and indem-
nifty her for all loss or injury If she
would not further resist the passage
of German troops over her soil. She
still refused and turned to Great
Britain. Great Britain now inter
vened, and in the negotiations with
Germany demanded as the price of
her neutrality that Germany should
not use her navy against either
France or Russia and should desist
from her military movements
through Belgium, and when the Ger
mans asked to be assured that Great
Britain herself would respect the neu.
trality of Belgium throughout the
entire war on the basis of the full
fillment of her requirements by Ger
many, the British government made
no reply, but declared war on Ger
many.
And so we have the alignment.
Germany, Austria and probably Bull
garia on one side, Russia. Servia,
Montenegro. Belgium, France and
England on the other, and rivers OF
blood have already flowed. And we
stand gaping at each other, and each
is asking the others who did 1t,
Whose Is the responsibility, and
what will be the outcome? Now IL
. - .I-zaI IL.