South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-12-22
AUSTRIANS PLACED
IN BACKGROUND
Have Little Love For PruS-
SLAMS Who Have Dictated
All War Policies.
Special Correspondence.


BERLIN, Dec. 22.-Whiie the OPP
position 10 Prussia's domination Of
the German empire has practically
vanished within this country in the
course OF this war. the Old unfriend-
Is feeling against Prussia in Austria
is undoubtedly increasing.
The intensely proud people Of
Austria have repeatedly felt deeply
hurt by the ways OF their more pow
erful ally. and these people are slow
10 forget an insult
Two facts have been plainly evil
dent TO every reader Of the Austrian
press during the last three months
first. that the expedition into .ScrhiI
and the consequent defeat OF the
Serbian army aroused no great en-
thusiasm in Austria. and, second.
that the desire for peace is very
strong among all classes in the
double monarchy, even the army
officers.
Several high Austrian army Off
GERS with whom 1 have recently had
opportunity 10 speak expressed their
feelings to me in a surprisingly
frank manner. They made no Sc
cret Of the fact that their country is
utterly exhausted and that the hope
OF a successful outcome Of the war,
unless an unexpected desire for
peace should manifest itself I'm Eng
land or Russia. depends almost en-
tirely on Germany's ability TO hold
out
r.t,o,- ,,.;11f,-oI,. .~,rro tho f.er,,,o ?,
general STAFF fun credit for its won
derful farsightedness and resource
fulness. but on the other side. they
expressed the firm conviction that II
the worst should happen. Austria
would undoubtedly be able TO get far
better terms of peace alone than
when tied to Germany.
Ii was absolutely certain, they al
agreed. that in no country in the
world. not even i'm Italy. is there any
such hatred OF Austria as against
Germany. and particularly against
Prussia.
The Prussians. by the way, are no
less aware of this.
Ii has been a. constant source OF
annoyance TO Austrian officers. who
are very sensitive on points of mill
itary honor. to have 20 submit TO be-
ing under the orders Of Gen. Mack
enzen I'm Serbia. no Austrian gem
eral was even consulted in regard 20
the operations there. though several
OF them were much more familiar
with the country
Emperor Francis Joseph gave his
consent 20 this because he IS too
weak 10 resist the kaiser, but no
member Of the imperial Austrian
family made any attempt 10 hide his
anger and Indignation.
Archduke Frederick, who at the
beginning of the war was general
issimo OF the Austrian armies, may
still be heard openly expressing his
view of the kaiser and his Prussians.
and his words are frequently quoted
IN Vienna military circles.
Archduke Eugen, who is the most
popular member Of the Hapsburg
family, and had to surrender his po-
sition 10 a German general, did not
submit silently to this humiliation.
To him is generally attributed the
saying that His majesty, Francis
Joseph, is now little more than a
vassal Of the German kaiser" and
several archduchesses have said 10
their friends: Vienna is rapidly be-
coming a mere suburb Of Berlin"
The same feelings prevail among
Austrian officers, several OF whom
have been very rudely treated by
their German colleagues, who boast
that they alone have saved Austria
from defeat and taught the Serbians
a lesson.