The Delta independent., 1914-08-21

spiracy, IL unchecked. would have
weakened Austria Hungary to such an
extent that she would have become an
easy prey Of Russia. Austria tried to
stop these intrigues by pacific means.
but without seccess. When the pan
servian conspiracy eliminated in the
assassination Of the Archduke Franz
Ferdinand heir to the throne of Aus
tria-Hungary, and his consort, by a
Slav student, the investigation by the
Austrian authorities showed that this
pan-servian conspiracy was aided by
the Servian government and that Ser
Wan officers were connected with it.
As the suppression of the Servian
intrigues was a question Of life or
death for the dual monarchy. Austria
to stop the pan-servian movement
to stop the pan-servian movement.
to investigate it thoroughly and to
allow Aurtrian officials to take part
in this investigation in order to be
sure of its effect.
This was refused by Servia, which
relied on the help of its big Slav
brother, Russia. When Austria threat
ened to invade Servia in order to
bring it to terms. Russia mobilized her
army. As the combined armies Of
Russia and Servia were likely %
sweep before them any opposition that
Austria Hungary. unaided. could offer
them and as a conquered Austria-Hun-
gary would leave Germany an easy
prey to her enemies, Germany in its
own interest. and bound by treaty to
Austria, could not remain an idle
spectator.
The German emperor. who was on
his trip to Norway and far from think
ing OF war, and the chancellor Of the
German empire tried every possible
means in order to have the conflict
localized between Austria and Servia.
The emperor asked the czar by wire
to consider that Austria-Hungary had
the right and duty to protect herself
against the pan-servian plots and in
trigues which were undermining her
existence. and that in an armed CON
flict Germany would be bound to help
Austria
The czar answered that he was I'M
able to stop the mobilization of the
Russian army. While the negotiations
between the European powers were
pending Russia's alley, Poincare. and
the French minister of foreign affairs
we're at St Petersburg. Immediately
France, ally OF Russia. ordered the
mobilization of her army.
When Germany asked for an explain
alton OF the French mobilization
France did not give any answer. Az
Germany. on account Of It's EXPOSED
location between France and Russia
and their threatening steps. could IN
the interest of her own safety not
wait until the armies of those two
powers were fully prepared for action
and massed along its borders. and az
France had dropped bombs from areo-
planes ON German territory at Nuru-
berg and thus attacked Germany. the
latter declared that a state Of war ex-
lSLtu DStWcc llbCi OtA OnO nAoo 8hA
Russia and France on the other.
England. when asked what stand
she would take answered that she
would keep neutral under the condi-
tion that Germany would not make
use OF its navy at all and respect the
neutrality of Belgium. This would
have kept the German fleet bottled
up and wholly useless against either
France or Russia. The question put
to England by Germany. whether she
would recognize herself the neutrality
of Belgium. was not answered by
England.
For stragetic reasons the only feas-
ible way for Germany to enter France.
who had opened the hostilities. was
through Belgium. Therefore. Ger
many asked Belgium to allow the Ger
man troops to cross Belgium and Of
fered to recompense 1t for any damage
caused thereby.
When Belgium refused to grant
Germany's request for the passage of
her troops through Belgian territory.
and when Germany found out that
French officers we're operating In
Belgium. and that France thus hal
violated Belgium's neutrality. there
was no other way for Germany than to
send her army to Belgium. whereupon
England, which has great interest
to destroy the German navy and mer-
chant marine. declared war on Ger
many-Dr. X. ziegler. Imperial Ger
man Consul, Denver. in Rocky Noun