Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-02

many, at least, with all the confidence that years OF
could give her. The great majority of the
of these two provinces are slavs and they
desired a union with Serbia. Naturally, they found the
Austrian yoke irksome, and there were many attempts
upon the lives Of Austrian officials. There was a moro
or less state Of instruction on the part Of the people,
and this famed the flames Of differences between Aus
tra and Serbia. Austria bullied Serbia and established
martial law in her two Slavic provinces; Hungary showed
cruelty to the Croatians, who, despite certain religious
differences and historical traditions, are slavs. Austria's
tactics aroused even her own people and everywhere
there was uneasiness and unrest. When Serbia emerged
over Turkey, the southern Slavs Of Austria
Hungary renewed their cream Of a union with their
Serbian brethren. The Creates and Bosnian slavs also
had visions Of independence and unity, but between these
dreams and realization stood Archduke Erancis-Ferdi-
nand, who wanted to satisfy the Southern S!avs, by CIV
ing them national unity within the empire, and thus
create a three-part monarchy instead Of the dual mon
archy. He was considered the one strong man to save
Francis Joseph's crumbling empire when he should pass
on. Little wonder, then, that the slavs sought the arch
dukes death, and little wonder that the murder of
sarejevo should follow. One can see in it more than the
insanity of an anarchist.
Upon the annexation of Bosnia Herzegovina, the
Triple Entente-Great Britain, France and Russia-pro-
tested, but Germany, ready for war, sided with Austria,
and the Entente had to yield. In 1911, the Entente won
a victory over the Triple Alliance, when Germany was
forced to cease her attempts to get possession or
Morocco.
Soon the Triple Alliance faced difficulties within
its own members. Italy, one Of the members. went to
war with Turkey, an ally of Germany. The Ottoman
forces were defeated. Came, then, the Balkan war,
and Turkish power in Europe was crushed, Serbia
and her dream of an independent and united Slavic
kingdom doomed high in European affairs, and Austria,
seeking to prevent such a union, began the tactics that
brought her only trouble. Rumania, long a friend OF
the Alliance, had been alienated, and Austria, with dis.
orders at home, and her way to the Aegean blocked,
weak member of the Alliance. Then, there were grow
ing difficulties in Albania, which threatened trouble be-
tween Austria and Italy.
Germany, fearing to face the crisis alone, sought
the conflict before the Alliance was wrecked. She alone
made the murder of the archduke dangerous to the peace
of Europe. Her leaders believed that the hour for the
great war had come, and they demanded it.
The ultimatum, delivered on July %, charged Ser
ba with the responsibility for the murder and imposed
conditions which would have robbed her Of her indie
pendence. The challenge really was to Russia, who had
promoted the Slavic dream of independence. The three
great groups had clashed again, and war was inevitab BILE.
So the question Of independence and unity for the
slavs becomes one Of great Importance for the peace
delegates.