The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-09-25
Behind THE Scenes IN
The EUROPEAN conflict
Basic Causes Of What Promises TO be
the Greatest War Of All History.

What are they lighting about, any
way" The European war is not a
fight over diplomatic acknowledgements
nor "A fight arising from treaty obliga-
tons II is a fight for empire and n
fight for existence.
% Austria wants to crush the
movement for great Servian empire
which would include the Serbs who
comprise half the population of Aus
tria Hungary.
(2J Great Britain wants to maintain
control of the Mediterranean through
which she obtains her food supplies
and guards India Germany with her
powerful fleet, has no port on the Med
iterranean.
80 Russia, Jealous because her
trade liz controlled by Germany. must
go through the Bosporus and the Black
Sea to get to her Asiatic possessions,
and therefore wants Constantinople.
"a The really big fight is over Sc :
curing the entrance to Asia, through
which Russia or Germany could march
on India. This was the real cause OF
the Crimean War. England will not
permit OF territory gobbling in the
Balkans. else she will lose India, The
war dates back to the, beginning OF
the movement 70 drive the Turk out of
Europe, originally a religious war, but
later quarrel for territory.
After the last Balkan war, the Turk
was effectually pushed out OF Europe.
SerVia4 and Bulgaria were greatly
strengthened Servia became "coCkey'
Austria Hungary. With the Turk out
OF Europe. the Old race question which
arose right after the Roman Empire
fell came to the front again: a..
Was Europe 10 be controlled by Slav
or by Teutonic races, by Russian or
German Influences?
Servia. backed by her Slav brothers
PRUSSIA and all the other Slav races of
southeastern Europel dreamed of Il
great Servian or Slnv empire which
would include that half OF the people
OF the Austrian empire who are Serbs
,Slavs by blood, This would forever
have barred Austria from the Aegean
Sea. Austria Hungary and Germany
have worked together To keep the Slav
out OF Europe, and one Of. their 0bjec-
tive points has been control of the
Aegean: they were. getting "A railroad
through to this sea when the Balkan
war stopped operations.
The European powers wound up the
last Balkan war by making Albania an
independent state They put a prince
+1Gt III as King, but the Alhanans made
made Il SO hot for him that he did not
stay more than two or three weeks.
Italy was partner TO this, for she did
not want any Of the Balkan states to
have a seaport on the coast opposite
Italy. Besldes, Italy, Germany and
Austria inquired that II they could keep
Albania a separate state they could
continue their railroad to the Aegean.
The great pam Serb movement to eX-
tend the Servian empire led to the as
,sassination in Bosnia of the crown
prince. heir to the Austro Hungarian
throne, and his morganatic wife. Aus
tria demanded punishment of the as
sassin and adjustment Of the secret
societies that are working To extend
the Servian power. over technical
ity, Austria invaded Servia Russia
began to growl. Austria protested that
she would grab no territory, but Rus
STA had her doubts and knew that II
Austria took Seryia she would go right
on south and get a seaport on the
Aegean Sea, which would give them an
all-rail route to the Mediterranean, a
thing which England and Russia by
no means desire,
France is an ally OF Russia, largely
because she is Russia's banker. and has
no; forgotten that Germany took AL
SAGE Lorraine from her during the
Franco Prussian war.
England Will not allow her rival
powers to secure the entrance to Asia
through which Il march could be made
on India She has always feared that
Russia would march from the north.
but in the present case she seemed Ia
think II wiser to be friendly with Rus
sin in order 10 keep Germany from
getting control OF the Mediterranean
and an open door to Asia-the real,
underlying cause of the war,
England deems control OF the Med
itcrranean to be of utmost impor-
lance She will allow no one any con
siderable foothold there. Some thirty
six years ago, Mussia had the Turks
whipped and was ready to seize Con-
stantinople English warships entered
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