The Ordway new era., 1914-10-30
My Mission to the Balkans and
What Came Of 1t.

What Game OF II.
For more than year the, gentle
men at the Wilhelmstrasse (the Ger
man foreign otiice) had kept me on
the run. and a vacation at Albeck,
much like your Atlantic City. only
smaller. was not only welcome but
needed. was just settling down to
a period of quiet in and around the
Kurhaus when there came a wire for
my attendance at the Wilhelmstrasse.
AT your earliest convenience was
the phrase which. of course. meant at
once. Germany's language to her se-
cret agents is always polite.
] knew that something big must be
In the air. else would never have
been recalled from q vacation that
was only beginning. Wiring reply.
! stated that would arrive in Berlin
on the 1880 train and that any further
commands would receive attention at
my standing quarters in the Aittel-
strasse.
During the three hour run to Berlin
speculated on what was likely to be
required Of me. knew that the
kaiser believed that. a. . result Of
the meeting, In October. 1911, OF the
representatives Of Germany, Austria
and Great Britain In the Black Forest
(about which l have already told
you'd, he had smashed the Triple En-!
tente-a diplomatic stroke that would
leave the way clear for the execution
Of Austro-German policies In the
Balkans. s3tt
also reflected that since the Russo
japanese war. Russia, weakened ~
she was in that struggle. had felt her
influence in European Affairs waning,
and knew that It was about time for
her TO make desperate effort to re-
gain European prestige-and where
would she more naturally strive to do
this than in the Balkans?
l recalled that. because Of Russia's
plight after the Japanese war. Aus
tria had dared to annex Herzegovina
--and Bosnia, sand' that che had done
this with the tacit understanding and
backing up Of Germany. I knew that,
a. . result Of this. Russia had again
been at work In the Balkans. The
nature Of her moves did not know.
though recalled having heard not
so far In the past high Servian ON
cials speculate as to their chances
of reviving their ancient empire: and
/ had also heard Bulgarians indulge
in dream of empire. know there
were armies mobilizing in these
states oil out of proportion to the size
and resources Of these countries.
They were at high mark Of en-
cheney, they were equipped In . way
totally beyond the means of such lit
tie nations. Who was supplying
this driving force. the money. am
munition, equipmentf Who else,
said to myself. but Russia, and what
/ am to be used for is to make GER
tain Of this for the kaiser and his
Austrian ally.
Caller From Wlihsimstrasss
Arriving in Berlin, made my way
to my quarters on the Afittelstrasse.
II was about eleven o'clock when I
put my key in the door. found kim
very much awake and somewhat ex-
cIted. At this ungodly hour there
was a visitor! This was all the more
unusual since was not in the habit
Of receiving even my most intimate
friends at my private quarters.
"Koom. massa! (salute. mastery
Gentleman him here see you. Kim
him don't know II he do right, maybe
wrong. but gentleman said 1t all right
that him come in 4.
Rather curious, I walked into the
sitting room and found man I had
seen pretty often at the Wilhelm.
strasse. knew him to be Herr Won
Stammer. the right hand man Of Graf
Won Wedel, privy councillor to the
German emperor. Although we were
well known to each other by sight, We
had hardly conversed ten words out
side of official business. I thought II
little odd that the usual procedure
was not observed; that someone had
come to my room instead of me 60
ing to the Wilhelmstrasse, seemed a
bit unusual. As things developed.
however. saw that It was to save
time and get instant action.
"Your quarters are pretty well
guarded here, doctor" said Herr Won
Stammer Your Cerberus did not
want TO let mo in.
He half smiled. approvingly, and
then continued:
I'VE received your wire from Al
beck and, as the count is inaccessible,
your orders will come through me this
time"
There was an interruption. for kim
had appeared with cigarettes.
THE count" pursued Won Stammer,
driving direct to the point. wishes
you to go to Belgrade and get in close
touch with existing conditions there
We wish you to ascertain the under.
current situation. The official status
is. of course. well known to US. But
we want definitely to fnd out just
how far Russian Influences are at
.a. L. ol do and 2ods iuaf hxar,