The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-03-01
Strain in Relations Between
Germany and Austria APP
pear to Threaten Conflict.
WILL NOT FIGHT RUSSIA
Neither Will Austria Take Part
in Action Against Rumania.
Violent Measures Would Be
No Surprise.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-Further
evidence of the growing strain in
relations between Germany and
Austria over the refusal Of the latter
to participate in the renewed attack
upon Russia is given in an official
dispatch received here from France.
1t quotes the Austrian premier as
formally reiterating on February
% that Austria-Hungary will take
no part in military action against
Russia or Rumana, and will not
send her troops into Ukraine
The dispatch refers to the meet
ing between Emperors Charles and
William February %, and says
there seems little doubt that Sc
rious conflict has arisen between the
two nations which Germany is de-
termined to settle by violent meas
ureS If necessary.
The dispatch follows:
Charles paid a visit to William
III the 22nd of February. Luden-
dorm was present at the interview.
II we are to Judge from the tone OF
the interview il must have been
lacking in cordiality. There seems
to be little doubt but what a serious
conflict has broken out during the
week between the courts of Vienna
and Berlin and which Germany is
determined to settle if need be by
violent measures.
THE situation OF the dual mon
archy is such that the Vienna gov
ernmcnt in order to avert a catastro-
rhe has been obliged TO distinguish
by means of public declaration its
own policy from that OF Germany.
The report that at, the conference
! of February IA Hertlng and Lu-
d"ndOrff had decided to pay no at
tentiOn TO the Russian dcmobliiza-
tIon ana To prepare to begin the
conflict on the east front caused q
great stir throughout Austria. 1t
was not simply the dissenting ma
l
or the Poles, who do not desire to
feht any more. but it is the mass of
the population of German origin who
refuse 10 sacrifice themselves anv
longer TO assure the triumph of
| Hrussian Imperialism
AN official note of the 18th had
announced that Austria for her part
would continue to consider the war
as terminated with Russia and
would abstain from taking part in
the operations planned by the Ger
man command. A second note or
tn" l"tN repeated the same state
ment When asked to give further
! particulars at the sitting OF the
chamber on the 22nd the Austrian
premier formally stated:
The words uttered by different
deputies have proved that the ex-
planatiOn which has been furnished
up to present by ne have not been
| suthciently explicit. repeat.
therefore. that Austria-Hungarv
Will participate in no way in the mil
itary action which is now being
carried on by Germany against
Russia. repeat that there is no
question of having our troops pen
crate into Ukraine with whom we
are at peace. repeat that the ar
mistice exists between Austria-Hun-
gary and Rumania and that we are
cnIy considering entering as early
as possible into peace conversations
with this country
These declarations are serious
without doubt in his speech on the
18th of February. Seydler pleaded
his fidelity to the alliance. But
more and more Germany runs the
fisk of seeing Austria. and after her
Bulgaria and Turkey. take posi-
tive attitude and, practically with
drawing from the struggle. witness
as spectators the continuation of
hostilities"