The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-08-28
Why The War Began
Atlanta Journal,


territory. fifty million inhabitants,
and war strength of three million
men. Servia has only thirty-three
thousand square miles OF territory
four and a half million inhabitants
and a war strength of perhaps four
hundred thousand men. The Dual
Monarchy's savage attack on the
little kingdom has been truly likened
to battleship turning it's guns
against motor launch. Austria
could have enforced any reasonable
or honorable demand without resort
TO arms In fact Seryia yielded to
every demand of its mighty neighbor.
except those which involved sur
render of its national existence. Aus
tria precipitated the war without
justification or excuse.
The firebrand thus wantonly flung
abroad has set all Europe atlame.
Nations in no wise concerned with
the original issue have been drawn
to battle. Germany seized the
sword to support Austria's strate-
gems. Russia Sprang to the defense
of its Slav kinsmen i'm Servia. The
Triple Alliance and the Triple En-
tente met in the long dreaded clash.
The Alliance is nominally composed
of Austria Germany and Italy; but
wisely so. The Eutcnte is made up
of Russia, France and England.
None Of those nations took an ag-
gressive attitude Indeed. England
exhausted every means first TO bring
about mediation, and later TO keep
clear of the conflict. But Germany.
whether as a matter of conscience.
policy or ambition. pressed the issue
ineNorably forward. Germany
threatened Russia. invaded France.
and finally by disregard of Belgium $
neutrality. forced Great Britain to
decisive action.
Thus Austria'S s arrogant course has
brought on the mosr ominous war
that ever shook civilization. What
was the great monarch's motive in
aSSailing its little neighbOr? It's
preteNt was the assassination of the
ArChduke Franz Ferdinand. heir to
the imperial throne. The Austrian
government believed or pretended to
believe, that this crime was the out
come of a conspiracy, devised and
supported by Servian authorities. 1t
rejected all offers Of honorable re-
Quital, and insisted upon terms which
in effect, would have reduced Servia
TO a virtual satrapy. 1t seems evil
dent, indeed, that no matter what
- =.
Austria would have insisted upon
plucking out the Kingdoms heart. 1t
wanted war, and nothing but war
would suffice its purpose.
Prof Albert Bushnell Hart, of
Harvard University, a historian of
rare distinction, who has made n
first-hand study of conditions in
eastern Europe, says i'm an article
fO~ The New York Times:
The crime of Servia, i'm the eyes
Of Austria. is not assassination but
success. OF all the eXaspcrating
things that happened to Austria in
the course OF the Balkan wars. the
most cNasporating was the appear
ancc OF a strong and gictorious Ser
via. The Austrian army of over one
hundred thousand men, mass"d on
the frontier of Bosnia during all
those months, looked across the Dor
der with fury as they saw the Ser
VianS and MOntCnCgrinS taking the
Saniak of NOvi-PaHaT and thus cut
ting OFF their road to ;5alOnika, beat
ing the Turks capturing the impoT-
tant towns OF MOnaStir and UShub.
or helping in the seige of Adria-
nople, From every point of view
this was hateful to Austria. 1t meant
that the door on the south (the road
lhaI austria mas iohR dreamed OF
making her own to the sea- was shut
ught and guarded by an able bull
dog:
Furthermore' II meant the begin
nlng OF Slav power In the Balkans.
at AUSTRIA very border, the begin
hihg OF vast designs by the SlaV p"o-
PIE OF "hom RUSSIA is the mead and
champion. Racial as we'll as political
antagnoiSmS were thus brought TO
Sharp issue. ne eN"r-SllouIderihs