The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1917-05-24

herman Officers, by the troops Oh
Germany, ustro-Hungary, Bulgaria
and Turkey. Adhesion of the Ger
man government itself to such a plan
was not suspected by the other pow
ers, although the propagandists were
permitted to continue their activities
unhndered and to spread their APP
peals in a country of strict press
supervision through the Pan-Ger-
man Gazette and other radical pub
LEGATIONS. How closely the German
government did adhere to the plan in
reality has been demonstrated clear
ly. it is considered now, by the course
of the war. Following in the foot
steps of Bismarck, who used the
Franco Prussian war alliance to
bring Baden, Bavaria and Wurtem-
burg into the German confederacy
and then into the German empire,
Emperor William chose war as the
means of establishing the broad
pathway to the southeast which was
essential for the realization Of the
DEAN of great Germany.
The subjugation of Austria Hun
gary, which would have presented a
difficult task under ordinary condi-
tions, became in these circumstances
comparatively simple A polygot
combination of states having little in
common and apparently held togeth-
er only by the decaying genius of the
aged Emperor Francis Joseph, the
dual monarchy was regarded every
where as on the verge of dissolution.
Her helplessness before Russia's
armies became apparent early in the
war, and the eagerness with which
Germany seized the opportunity thus
presented is pointed to as emphasize
ing the farsightedness of the Ger
man plans.
Austria Hungary's submission now
is declared to be compelled both in
a military and economic sense. The
German officers commanding her
armies. abettcd by political and indus
trial agents scattered through the
country by Germany, evidently are
holding Austrian and Hungarian pop
ulations in union which neither the
hardships OF war, the death OF the
emperor nor the inspiration OF out
side influences such as the Russian
revolution can break.
Bulgaria's declaration of war on
the side of Germany was actuated by
a German diplomatic coup which, in
itself. is regarded now as further
evidence that clear road through
to the Dardanellcs was considered in
Berlin as primary and imperative
purpose of the war. 1t is pointed
out that the only concrete cause tor
action set forth in the Bulgarian war
proclamation is that THE Central
Powers have promised us parts OF
Serbia, creating an Acknowledgment
border line" Creation of such a
junction, now we'll established by the
.Austro- German Bulgarian armies,
breaks down hitherto formidable
barrier to German expansion south
eastward.
In the case of Turkey, German
domination is believed here to be
even more complete than in .Austro-
Hungary and Bulgaria. Not only
have German officers led in defend
ing Turkish territory and in eradi-
eating inharmonious elements such as
the Armenians and Syrians, but 1t
has been learned that German indus
trial organizers have taken a firm
grip on Turkish industry and large
delegation OF German professors has
been sent to spread German "knltur
among the population.
These developments throw a new
light on many events before the war.
Among them is the long unexplained
declaration of Emperor William at
Damascus in 1898 that all Mohamme-
dams might confidently regard the
German emperor as their TREND
forever" There also is complete
understanding now of Germany's
eagerness to secure in 1893 conces-
sion for the Bagdad railway, an ar
terry of communication now indis-
pensable to the German operations.
Fitting in squarely with an actuat-
ing desire for conquest to the south
east is the general German military
policy during the entire war. 1t is
noted that even at the expense of re-
cessions on the Eastern and Western
fronts. Germany has taken pains to
overrun quickly Serbia. Montenegro
and, Rumania, and to keep in check
all allied attempts to strike at the
pathway from the OAR
or Saloniki. Not until the
present British advance in Asiatic
Turkey has there been any serious
danger to any part of the greater
stretch from the Baltic to the Per-
sian Gulf.
In consolidating this territory it is
Al II tne