The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1914-10-03
NAME CAUSES OF
EUROPEAN war
Eastern Paper Gives Eight Reasons in
Response to Inquiry-Any Spark
Would Have Been Sufficient.
GERMANY TO AID OF AUSTRIA
Forced to Fight for Existence Against
Russia England's Empire Be
lieved to Be At Stake.

In response to an inquiry as to the
real causes of the Europeon war
from reader, the reasons for the
great conflict are told in few words
in an eastern paper as follows:
l. The finder box. For years
Europe has been ready to take fire
lat spark. Russia is an aggressive
and growing nation, eager to extend
to the Mediterranean. Austria fear
ed Russia because Russia's advance
would have choked off Austria's flu
ture career. France has been filled
with hatred and vengeance against
Germany. Germany wedged between
them, was in mortal danger every
hour. England feared Germany be-
cause Germany was encroaching on
her trade and threatened the Brit
ish Empire.
ANY Spark Sufficient.
2. The spark Any spark would
have been sufficient. In fact, the
uuI1Co "ou1u nave SSdl ISu IL Jill spun
taneous combustion in a short time
But the assassination of the Austrian
grand duke and duchess made con-
venient pretext for attacking Servia.
Austria did not want to annex Ser
via. Austria wanted to make her
so abjectly helpless that she would be
worth nothing as an ally to Russia
to reduce her to the position Of Cuba.
8. Why did Russia join? Rus
STA thought the time was opportune
to make another move toward the
Mediterranean. Russia expected to
aid, encourage and strengthen the
Balkan states as Russian outpost,
possibly to extend protectorate over
them. 1t was a deliberate step in
centuries-old plan. Russia struck
because she was ready.
Why Germany Acted.
a. Why did Germany act? Primari-
ly because she is bound to defend her
ally, Austria. Really because she
could not keep out. She must fight
for existence against Russia, and the
time to do it was instantly-before
Russia got any stronger and before
Germany's only ally was beaten.
5. Why did Germany attack
France? Because she had to. Ger
I, o1o tn
main at peace with France, and tried
to get France to promise to remain
neutral. But France would not
promise There was nothing to do
but to treat France as an enemy
Hatred and Fear.
6. Why did Belgium and Holland
sympathize with France? Because
they hate and fear Germany. Bel
GUM and Holland lie between Ger
many and the sea. Germany wants
both these small countries with their
great seaports and their important
strategic positions. If Germany
wins the war she will get them both.
T. Why did England join? Be-
cause the very existence of her en-
pire was at stake. Germany for
years has been arming against Eng
land England is a thorn in Ger
many's side at every turn, and bar
across her ambitions in every quar-
ter of the world. Germany can be-
come world empire only by shat
tering the British world empire and
gathering up the pieces. With Bel
GUM and Hollanl in Germany's
hands, Eng1and's doom would be
sealed. Therefore the moment Ger
many threatened Belgium, England
had to either fight or surrender all
hope of future power and security.
Nothing to Gain.
8. Why does Italy not join? Part
ly because she hates Austria. Chief
ly because she believes Germany
and Austria will be beaten. She does
not want to be punished by the vic
torius nations, especially when she
has nothing to gain by war at the
best.