Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-07-30
ASSASSIN BRINGS
EXCUSE FOR WAR
Austria Really Seeks to Regain
Prestige Lost in Balkan
Conflict.
U. S. ARMY OFFICER TALKS
Desires TO Dominate In the Affairs CT
the Near East and Crush
SerVla.

washington, July ga summary
OF the European situation was given
by an officer OF the United States
tary and political complications OF Eu-
rope.
The nominal cause OF the war which
Europe appears to be facing Is the
murder OF the Archduke Ferdinand at
Saraievo. Bosnia, June %. This muir
der was committed by q Serv1an sub
ject OF Austria and the cabinet Of VI
emma claims that he was aided and
abetted by the Servian government.
No evidence has been produced that
this is the case. Servians. both those
IN the Independent kingdom and those
subject TO the Austrian crown, hate
the Hapsburg family with a holy and
intense zeal: but the attitude of the
Servian government has been correct
and conciliatory. The pretense that
that government instigated the muir
der Is merely an excuse for aggres-
sion.
The real cause of the war is that
Austria thinks the present 4 good
chance to get back some OF the pres
tige and recover some of the oppor-
tunities lost TO her in the Balkan wars.
and that Germany is backing her Aus
TRAN ally.
Mistress Of Balkans Aim.
Ever since she was shut out of Ger
many by the decisive defeats of 1866.
Austria has been obeying what Bis
marck called the ''Drang mach asten."
the impulse toward the east She has
hoped to become mistress of the Bal
kans and ultimately possessor of Con-
stantinopIe. She assumed a protec-
torate over the Turkish provinces of
BOSNIA and Herzegovina, the popula-
ton OF which is overwhelmingly Ser
Wan in blood and speech. When the
Turkish revolution came in 1908 Aus
fria formally annexed these two pro |
vinces. She hoped-and this hope was |
openly expressed-that as Turkey !
grew weaker Austria could seize Mac |
edonia with fits great seaport OF Sal !
pnika. and then, having driven |
wedge through the Balkans. absorb AL |
bania on the one side and ultimately !
Thrace and Constantinople on the
other.
Hope is Shattered.
This hope was shattered by the |
Balkan war. Contrary to all expects- |
tions of central Europe, the German |
trained army OF Turkey was thrashed |
by the Russian and French trained /
forces OF Bulgaria, Greece and Servia.
Disappointed and angry. Austria turn
ed to her old trick of fomenting dis
cords between the allies. She insisted
that Albania be made an independent
kingdom. thus baking Servia OF her
covered outlet to the sea. She next
urged on the Bulgars to attack Servia
and Greece. believing implicitly that
Hungaria would win.
The event proved that, once again,
Austria had backed the wrong horse.
Bulgaria was crushed and both Greece
Rnc Servia greatly strengthened. From
this time forward Austria has been
looking for a good opportunity to
thrash Servia herself. She picked
upon the present time and occasion as
suiting her purpose. France and Eng
land are both involved in political
crisis. Russia is wrestling with a
strike that seems little. IL any, short
Of a revolution. Austria sent in her
uItimatum-refused the conciliatory
reply of Servia-and the rest is on the
knees OF the gods.
Would Crush SerVia.
What lends peculiar animoslty to