Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-17
AUSTRIA CONFIDENT
OF WARS OUTCOME
Statesmen Place Responsible
ity for Present Conflict
Directly on Russia.
SAY SERBIA WAS TOOL
OF CARS GOVERNMENT
Declare That Foes Campaign Is One
of Conquest Alone-Trace Growth
of Pan-Slavism.

VIENNA April tt Confidence re-
rarding the outcome of the war is the
watchword everywhere expressed IN
competent Austro-Hungariau quarters,
despite tho enormous sacrifices en-
tailed.
The Associated Press correspondent
during a months stay in the dual
monarchy had an opportunity to meet
and talk with virtually all the lead
ting statesmen. including Count Won
Rerehtold. the former foreign minister.
snd Count Apponyi. the opposition
leader, and found none who indicated
or intimated the slightest doubt re-
ga riding eventual success in the struS-
gle
Gets Views IF War.
although men in authority were un-
willing to be quoted directly by name
the respondent was permitted to re-
produce the substance of the replies to
series of questions regarding the re-
sponsibility for the war, its aims and
objects from the Austro- Hungarian
standpoint and its effect on the IN
ternaI relations of the dual monarchy
Responsibility for the war was put
squarely on Russia. which for years
according to the views expressed has
been steadily working toward the de-
struction of the monarchy, using an
encouraging Serbia as stalking
horse for this purpose
Tells How War Started.
The spark which kindled the war"
said high statesman, was, it is true,
an incident of the saddest nature for us,
but the incident represented merely the
Of aorto
activities aiming at the destruction of
Austria-Hnnpary Americans, who
quite naturally paid little attention at
ar earlier date to the events in central
and eastern Europe, saw the curtain go
up only at the moment when a great
call little Serbia to account. Their first
impression was that of the misuse or
our great strength. The situation IN
reality was quite different.
For years it had been openly
preached in Serbia that the southern
provinces must be torn from our mon
srcily. 1t has been proved that the
participation of officials and Officers
in the mediation of murder was not an
isolated case.
Involved in State of War.
Secret societies vii were con-
Quoting a propaganda against US and
archy were directed and prompted by
men in Official positions. Serbia. there
fore, was tacitly involved in a state
of war against us which no state in
The world could have tolerated.
Serbia, however. would never have
ventured to act so provocatively unless
backed by Russia. whose government
with the duty of annoying. exhausting
and provoking US until suitable
moment arrived to carry out Its pam
Slavisttc plans. Pan-Slavism had been
steadily growing in strength for fifty
years. The Russian government rec
ognized the idea as the most suitable
means for continuing its policy of con-
quest, whereby the Russian emperors
have been for centuries charging the
empire.
Definition of Pan-Slavism.
THE clearest definition of the car
'insi principles OF -Slavism is that
of the famous Russian author Dosto-
yevsky. who said: All Slav streams
must empty into the Russian sea-
While within it's own empire Russia
Expresses the Slav peoples over whom
IL rules, it has constituted itself attor-
ney for the Slav races beyond its Dor
'iers pretext for interfering in for
rign affairs not determined by other
states.
"Ruthenians. Poles. Czechs and Slo-
venes enjoy in Austria Hungary all
national rights, whereas Russia is a
prison for the race not of Russian
stock. Frightful prosecutions of the
Jews constantly recurring under
the assent and by the tacit encourage
inent Of the authorities. These show TO
what depths Russian culture descends.
Russia Has Long Prepared.
Russia has long been preparin &
itself for this war, and in recent years
repeatedly carried out a so-called test
of mobilization enabling 1t to almost
continuously get an enormous army
ready for operations within a few
weeks. 1t was Russia which melted
Serbia, and when Serbian agitation So
cIeties went so far as to condone the
murder of the crown prince and We
wished to hold the Serbian governmen
% accoun, Russia determined to pre-
vent this by proposing a conference at
which Russia should appear as the ad :
vocate OF Serbia, to reduce our
measures against Serbia to scale
which Russia had decided was permits
BILE.