Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-07-31

D News received during the last few
days report that the Eurpean peace
is much endangered by the present
grave crisis between Austria and Ser
via, and as conditions in the countries
involved are not generally known
here the following article from the
pen of an Austrian army officer, now
living in Honolulu, will give infornna-
tion as to the causes Of the present
dangerous situation.l
At first glance 1t would seem that
Servia with it's population of about
100000 would not be a very formid-
able enemy for the Empire of Austria,
with its population Of nearly 10000
900. But Servia has always been con-
sidered an outpost of Russia, main
tanned and supported by the latter,
and in turn has looked after the in
terests of Russia in the Balkans. Rus
sophie feeling is strong in Servia. in
fact every Slavic nation in Europe
pins it's hopes for liberation on pow.
erful Russia, and so it came that every
time Austria wished to strike a blow
against Russia this blow was careful
ly directed against Servia. -
! When. in the year 1908. Austria an.
nexed the former Turkish provinces
of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the
treaty of Berlin had empowered 1t to
administrate, there was storm OF
excitement all over Servia. Bosnia.
and Herzegovina, with their largely,
Servian population, had been intend.
ed to become part of a great Servian1
kingdom, and the annexation was a.
very severe setback for Pan-Slavio|
politics. 1t looked then as If war was
inevitable. Austria concentrated
large forces in the south while Servia
was also mobilizing her army. The
crisis lasted for some months and the
extensive war preparations left both
nations financially almost exhausted.
Servia yielded finally, Russia at that
time being too much weakened by the
Japanese war and the revolutionary
movements in. its interior to give I'M
limited and effective support. i
It was four years later, in 1872,
when Servia, Bulgaria, Montenegro
and Greece declared war against Tur.
key. The Ottoman Empire has al
ways been looked upon by the great
powers as the only factor to be- reck.
oned with in the Balkans. It's big
army, reformed by German instruct.
ors and equipped with modern Krupp
guns, and the traditional gallantry OF
the Turkish soldiers seemd to make
1t only a question of time before its
adversaries would be subdued. But
the unexpected happened, and after
suffering crushing defeats in quick
succession Turkey sought mediation
by the powers. >ss-.-..s.s
Differences over the division of ter.
ritory taken from Turkey arose and
led to the second Balkan war between
Bulgaria on one side and Servia, Mon.
tenegro and Greece on the other side,
and Servia again was among the vic.
tors.
Now Servia intended to annex part
of the conquered Turkish territory
with the harbor of Rurazzo on the
coast of the Adriatic sea, which caus-
ed the most violent protest on the
part of Austria For Servia, being an
inland state, was commercially de.
pendent on its big nefghbor as long
as 1t had no access to the sea. The
Seryians, realizing the Importance of
their demand, assumed a most stub
born attitude, while Austria, strongly
supported. by its ally Germany, would
not give In. Finally Servia yielded
reluctantly, acting upon Russia's ad.1
vice, which at that time was engaged
in reforming its army and was not
ready for immediate action. /
An agreement was reached by the
great powers by which the territory
claimed by Servia was made the indie
pendent kingdom of Albania. and the