Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1917-02-24
AusTRIA's PREDICAMENT

If Austria defes the United States
by UNFOLDING Germany's ruthless SUBJ
marine warfare, it will be from sheer
force on the part of the war-mad
Tetonic heads. The dual monarchy
soon became tired Of war, and almost
at the beginning of the present con-
flict it was seen that the Francis
Joseph was DESTROYS Of making
separate peace, but was bu!lled by ms
powerful ally.
The Washington Herald in COM
menting upon Austria's present posi-
ton paints a true picture OF the or
deal through which the Hapsburgs
are now passing. Among other things
it says the Viennese at heart desp!se
Berlin as an upstart. Russian pres
sure and the Balkan powder-box have
for a generation compelled them 70
play second fiddle to the Hohenzoll-
ems. 1t has been repellant experience
for them. Austria applied the loren
to the war, but the hand OF Prussia
was behind it ALL There is ample
proof that the "ramshackle empire
would be glad to back out of the war
now if it knew the way. She has nc
relish for its continuance; her armies
are broken and her hungry people are
in despair. The spells of Rumnnla
went to Germany; none to the sue
cor of the respondent populace under
/ Hapsburg dominion.
The fact is that Germany's allies
have lost heart. Even in the Carpa-
thians, guarding Hungary, German
officers and troops are to be 1ouno
showing clearly the disintegratlon Oh
the Austrian armies. Turkey is floun-
dering in her own brand of oriensai
fatalism; her part in the war IS nerve
less. listless. The Ottoman is reacy
to desert the sinking ship at any
time: the Austrian probably will hight
ON to the end, waiting to snap ms
fingers at Potsdam when the collapse
of the pan-German scheme makes
it possible.
The coming break of relations be-
tween Washington and Vienna SHOWS
fear of the Prussian fist Will DOM
mate Central Europe until the grand
smash-up comes. 1t is quite possible
however. that Austrian support OF the
German U-boat edict will be purely OF
the .lip-service" variety, and in TINS
case a rupture may be avoided.
AS the Richmond Journal observes,
Austria is 10th to part COMPANY WIN
the United States. but, alas, she Is
indissolubly attached TO Germany
bv bonds not entirely Of her own
forging. She is like the man that
hung on to the bull, not daring to let
po. 1t is certain, however, that If
Austria repudiatcs the unrestricted
submarine warfare, Turkey will fol-
low suit, leaving Germany the sole
target of neutral oblequy.
All the information available SINCE
Emperor Charles succeeded to the
throne indicates that he is FESTIVE
under the arrogant attitude of Ger
many and resents the influence of
Kaiser Wilhelm in the dual kingdom.
He likes America, he is Of democratic
tendencies and wants to remain
friendly. But Germany has put on
the screws and demands that the
Austrian government surrender to
the submarine program dictated by
Berlin. it looks as if the new en-
perez were powerless to avert the
threatened break, and that Austria
will be compelled to follow Germany
in her program of frightfulness. That
course is regarded as inevitable by
the United States government, but
it is disinclined to act until Austria
states, positively, its intention to
adopt Germany'S reprehensible pro-
gram.