New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1914-08-08
THE EUROPEAN WAR.

powers OF Europe are now at Wal.
Where there was peace and inter-
change Of commerce. lnterha-
tlonal trains and cOmmunlca-
tions. now there is disturbance,
separation, isolation. and great
armies moving soon to be engag-
ed in bloodshed and destruction.
Conditions have changed IN mo-
ment. as it were from national
consideration to national feroclty
with passions infamed to wreak
the last vengeance possible from
one another and whyi
The Austria attack on SerVla
was the beginning and Austria
alleged reason does not seem
adequate in the face Of the fact
that Servia offered to give all sat
isfaction she could in justice and
honor to herself Austria acte'
a, if blinded by hate she made
p,etext to assault her little
nc; ghbor.
Russia both because Of race
kindred and alliance protested
and began mobilizing her army
There were no open threats, the
mobilization was all. but Austrln
was given to understand she
would not be allowed to execute
Servia. whereupon she promptly
disavowed any intention of ac-
quiring more territory, she was
just going to punish Servia and
teach her to quit plotting against
Austria s integrity. Russia wasn't
satisfied and so continued 10
mobilize.
Here Germany became excited
and sent an ultimatum with a
twenty-four hour limit to know
what Russia meant, Germany IS
Austria's ally and holding that
position felt herself entitled to
ask questions, but Russia evl-
IDENTIFY either did not recognize
Germany's right in the matter or
else considered her manner IN
solvent, for she did not answer.
The Kaiser's whiskers bristled
and without more ado Germany
declared war against Russia.
Why. Certainly Germany could
! have waited to see what Russia
purposed
Next there is great excitment
in England and France, mobile
ing is ordered and yesterday
Germany invaded French terri,
tory and a declaration Of was by
England was expected hourly.
England as an ally of France
was under obligation to come tC
her aid when she was attacked
but Germanys attack ON France
was a voluntary initiation ap
parently on the assumption thai
France would join her allay Rus
STA and Germany wanted to hit
the first blow.
And so the great European wal
is on.
But the apparent differences
are not sufficient reason for sucf
I a world war or any war. The
reason lies deeper Racial antag
2 onism and jealousies are largely
t responsible. Also France ha'
. never forgiven Germany 70
Sedan and the loss of Alsace
Lorraine. However the chic
D cause, no doubt. lies in the enorm
4 Gus military establishments Of tn
European countries. Militarisn
. had reached such proportions a
c to have become a burden to ever.
: nation. Indeed the cost of tn
D armies and navies had abou
: reached the limit and yet eac(
e promised only further additions
s The military burden could no
e continue to increase indefinitely
e there was bound to come a tim'
4 when it had to stop and a read
iustment take place. Severa
s vars ago the Car Of Russia pro
r posed disarmament, but the jeal
r ousy and suspicion of the othe
] nations prevented. So there wa
r nothing to do but let events tax
ltheir course.
The military burden had evi
IDENTIFY now reached the limit
and as a result the European ma
tons have started in to solve tn
problem apparently the only wa