The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-25
New Crisis In the Balkans.

The Albanian bubble seems to have
burst and the Balkan question again
becomes acute. The danger Of u Euro
peau war which is always involved
may become very serious through the
rival aspirations Of Austria and Italy
to become the pacificators and proprie
tors of the territory which Prince WILL
IAN Of WED has been unable to rule.
In the first Balkan war Servia and
Greece practically conquered this re-
gion. The Greeks overran Eplrus, re-
ducing the stronghold Of Janlna after
n desperate struggle. They hoped to
keep the entire country, the people be-
ing Hellenic and eager for annexation
to the Grecian kingdom. Servia after
desperate fighting took most Of the i'm
portant places in Albania. reaching
the shores of the Adriatic. She hoped
above all things TO hold the country
development might be solved through
the possession Of her own seaports.
The Powers vetoed both of these as
piratlons. Austria. claiming an ancient
protectorate over the Christians OF AL
bania, made pretext of asserting the
national impulses" of the Albanians,
who are really groups of wild tribes
men In the patriarchal stage of civ
ilization. As Albania proper is In.
capable of separate existence. Greece
was robbed of a part Of her conquest,
northern Epirus, To patch up feasible
State. Italy took the lead in this net
OF spoliation. All the other Powers
consented. just to keep the peace.
OF course Austria's real motive was
the hope Of ultimately adding Albania
with its fine llttoral to her dominions.
She has only few miles OF Monte
negrin coast to skip. and she vastly
increases her hold upon the Adrlatic
Sea. With the new Servia in control
this hope would be less than shadowy.
a weak. dlsordered Albania made It a
close possibility. Italy's secret thought
rus would fall into her power. She
ardently desires II. II lies Just across
the Strait of Otranto. and to hold II
would give her complete possession OF
the gateway 10 the Adriatic. But as a
province Of the Hellenic kingdom. what
hope could she have OF ever winning
It? None; 1t is only as disaffected
section Of weak Albania that II Is
open to attack.
The possible opportunity for Aus
trian and Italian intervention comes
sooner than any one expected. perhaps
sooner than was quite desired. II the
two Powers can avoid falling out over
the division Of the spoil they may ap-
pear tomorrow pouring in their troops
to restore order, Austria I'm her sphere
OF influence to the north and Italy to
the south. They will go in as the
agents Of Europe. presumably TO re-
store peace, but when will they retire?
Will 1t not be case Of Bosnia and
Herzegovina over again?
Then the question arises whether
Servia and Greece will submit to have
'hN p'o'ih'Vo 'hey utNlIt anu WHICH
Of moral right belong to them thus
confiscated. Their blood and resources
wrested them from the Turks; was It
only that Austria and Italy should
profit? These two stout little realms
are understood to have an offensive
and defensive alliance with Rumania,
and the three together could put up a
formidable fight. But would they be
alone? At least there is reason to
think that Russia would join with
them in resisting the AustrO-Italian
grab, and France has been very friendly
to all three Of late.
The situation Is full OF peril. There
are other elements OF trouble all over
the Balkan region, and il will take the
best efforts Of all the chancelleries to
smooth out the situation without re-
newal OF the horrors Of the last two