The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-30
WAR ECHOES

Cleveland Plain Dealer: Someone has started to call the European struggle "The War of the Nine Nations" It is not bad name. at least for the time being
 From the beginning of the war there has been speculation as to what its historical designation might be. Linn ited hyphenated designations were manifestly out of the question-there were too many active participants. Some obervers suggested "The Great War" or The Greatest War" and some even went so far as to propose merely The War to emphasize it's dwarfing l or all former wars whatsoever. The European War" was objected to because all Europe Is not a war and because one non European nation is partici- pating.
 But 'The War of the Nine Nations seems explicit and reasonably concise. Servia, Russia. France, England, Bel sium' Montenegro and Japan are fight Ing against Germany and Austria. The nine nations suggests and includes all of them.
 The difficulty is that before the struggle is decided other nations may register themselves on the roll of hos tiles. Roumania is even now strain ing at the leash. Italy may find neu- trality impossible. Turkey is eager for the fray. Greece and Bulgaria have acquired the war habit, and will get into the game soon as they see a probable advantage in fighting or a probable disadvantage in keeping the pece.
 For the present The War of the Nine Nations will suffice. That is is only a makeshift expedient is a new indi- cation of the tremendous possibilities of the conflict which is as yet hardly started
 The success or failure of the German invasion of France will mark only 'the end of the beginning" Thereafter 1t may become "The War of the Dozen Nations,' or perhaps truly "The Pan European War with Japan as an ep- pendix.
 Philadelphia Public Ledger: By the publication of the Russian Orange pa- per complete official account of the diplomatic negotiations preceding the war is now available Reading this account in conjunction with those fur nished by the British and German white papers it is impossible to re- sist the conclusion that German daplo- macy, either blunderingly or of set pur- pose, set the fire blazing. There is nothing in the German statement to refute, and everything in the British and Russian to confirm, this eonclu- sion. All the witnesses agree. It is disingenuous for the government at Berlin to continue to insist that it Is not responsible for this terrible con flict.
 The letters published by the Russian foreign office begin with the brutal Austrian ultimatum to Servia and the refusal of Servia to submit to terms fatal to her independent existence. The Servian prince regent appeals to the Czar. Sir Edward Grey urges con ference of representatives of England, France, Germany and Italy to adjust the consequent difficulties between Austria and Russia a suggestion de- clined by Austria. The Russian foreign minister begs Austria to give Seryia little more time and very ardently urges mediation to prevent a general conflagration. It is. pointed out by England, France and Russia that the Servian reply to the Austrian demand was more conciliatory than could have been expected in the circumstances. Yet Germany insists that no interference with Austria is possible, and stolidly backs her ally, though such backing plainly must lead to war.
 To argue in the face of this that Germany strove earnestly and honestly for peace is futile. The facts are all against it.