Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1915-06-25
ALMOST A YEAR
SINCE WAR BEGAN

Figures showing extent of the world
war:
Total population of the earth, ap.
proximately 1872, 600. OO0.
Total population affected directly by
the war SIG. 654O.6 26. NEARLY one
half of the inhabitants Of the earth).
Total are Of the earth, 57,641. 900
square miles.
Total area directly Ger in the
war, 23.127.3 1857 square miles. 1.-TWO
fifths of the entire surface of the
earth).
WASHINGTON, D. c., June 25.-
One year ago today the entire world
was at peace. Three days later what
might be termed an accidental spark
ignited the powder barrel and precipi-
tated an explosion that was t involve
the greater part Of the world in the
bloodies war of all history.
Monday next will be the anniversary
of the beginning Of the most moment
u year in the history of the world.
On that date one year 6 an abscure
Serbian student. whose very name al
ready has escaped tine public memory,
fired the shots that ended the lives
Of Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir
to the Austrian throne, and his
morganatic wife. the Duchess of HON.
enberg.
Austria held Serbia responsible for
the assassinations and Immediately
the war cloud appeared on the Eu-
ropean horizon. Situations as threat.
ening to all outward appearances had
occurred to disturb The equilibrium OF
Europe many times In the past, and
invariably had passed over without
serious consequences. But now the
powers seemed to feel instInct:vely
that war was at hand. From the Bal
tic to the Mediterranean hurried prt
parations were made IN a%nticioat'cn of
a general conflict.
Great Britain proposed mediation,
but already the fuse had burned too
far for the explosion t be ayerted.
Anti-war riots broke out in Paris, Rus
STA proclaimed a general mobilization,
and Germany gave the Car twelve
hours to explain hi intentions. On
July rs, just one month after the as
sassinations at Sarajevo, Austria
made a formal declaration Of war
against Serbia,
The action Of Austria-H Hungary pre-
cipitated a general European war.
When, a week later, Great Britain de-
clared war on Germany, the conflict
became a world war;. The nations
included the British empire, with an
area Of 13,153,712 square miles; the
Russian empire, with an area of g.
647,657 square miles; the Austro-Hun-
garian empire, with an area of ESQ.,.
O34 square miles; France and her col.
onies, with a total area Of 1888, O86
square miles; the German empire,
with an area of 1,236.6OO square miles;
Serbia, with an area of $4,000 square
miles. and Belgium, with an area of
1873 square miles.
Other nations in far-off Asia as well
" NpSf OWN bSCdule lnVOlVeu IN
the maelstrom of bloodshed. On Aug.
ust z little Montenegro Joined in the
conflict by declaring wal against Aus.
tria. This made an addition of about
5000 square miles to the wal area
On August % came Japan's declara.
ton of a against Germany, which
added 25S,276 square miles to the war
area, including Korea and jother Jap.
anese dependencies. The first week
OF November brought Turkey, with an
r of 710,224 square miles, into the
conflict. The Italian declaration of
war against Austria last month added
nearly 100000 square miles to the war
area, this representing the extent OF
Italy and her colonies. Last and al.
SO least OF the powers involved is the
tiny republic of San Marine, which.
with thirty-two square miles Of ter.
ritory and less than 1000 population,
has cast its lot with the allies. To