The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-05-06

ginated at the Servian capital and that
responsibility for it, if not resting upon
the Servian government, was readily
traceable to societies that government
had wrongfully tolerated and even pro-
tected. This raised a direct issue be-
tween Austria Hungary and Servia.
I The first ally power to be drawn into
the controversy was Russia, which had
long cultivated the Balkans without
whose cooperation the bear would have
been dislodged from its only strategic
position, constituting always possible
avenue for it to the open sea so long as
the Balkans remained friendly.
In the controversy with Servia, Ger
man diplomacy aligned itself with its
dual ally, Austria Hungary. In July
Austria presented an ultimatum to
Servia and gave it As hours in which
to reply. The conditions were such
that the Servian government regarded
acq,iescence as destructive of all in
dependence and that it would, in effect,
make Servia vassal nation. However
lServia practically surrendered, but still
left some points open to negotiation.
Meantime, France, England, Russia
and Italy joined in representations in
the nature of an offer for mediation,
but they had only about "a hours in
which to act after being officially ad.
vised of the 4S-hour ultimatum. When
the time expired war was declared on
Servia.
Russia indicating a desire for peace
at the same time made it plain that
it could not withhold protection from
it's little neighbor; and Germany let
it be known that any antagonistie
movement on the part of Russia to-
ward the German ally would be met
with force by Germany.
Russia mobilization was followed by
an ultimatum by Germany that ex
PRED at noon on August l. On that
day the czar sent message to the
kaiser stating:
/ can understand that you are
obliged to mobilize but l should
: like to have from you the same
, guarantee that l gave you that
these measures do not mean war
and that we shall continue our
negotiations for the welfare of
our respective countries and for
! general peace, so dear to our
, hearts. Our long and tried friend
ship ought, with Gods help, to
succeed in preventing blooshed.
This is my most earnest desire
and | have entire confidence in
your reply.
To this Emperor William replied
An immediate reply, clear and
unequivocal, from your govern
ment is the only way to avert
most terrible calamity. Until l
receive that reply it is impossible
for me, to my great regret, to dis
cuss the subject Of your telegram.
The correspondence was carried or
during the afternoon of August /, and
that evening shortly after O'Clock
Germany formally declared war against
Russia
There was little doubt as to the at
titude of France, which was an ally
of Russia under the triple entente. War
was declared against France by Ger
many under the specific allegation that
France aviators had committed acts OF
hostility on German territory. This
was declared to have been pure inven
tion, but France association with Rus
STA was such that, in any event it is
claimed, a clash between Germany an6
the republic was inevitable. This was
made through Belgium after an ultima
tum to that country had expired follow
ing negotiations for the use of Belgium
as highway over which to throw arm
les into France
England was drawn into the war az
, member of the triple entente.
There have been issued white books
blue books, green books and books OF
other colors by the warning nations
each disclaiming responsibility for the
war, but these matters have nothing
to do with the subject at hand.
, The war started in the Balkans. al
though possibly as Dooley puts it, the
conflict was fastened by royal rulers
using such language in talking to each
, other over the telephone that the
company threatened to take the
phones from their houses.
There had unquestionably been deer
feeling between the nations for long
time and perhaps commercialism and
territorial avarice will be found in any
. historical assay to ascertain the true
ingredients of the world horror.
, AT the present, however, it is no,
possible to trace it back with any de
gree Of appropriated certainty further
than to the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Emma Conger' s 40-acre tract east OF
H. ~