The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1918-03-29
MEN, WOMEN
AND THINGS

The Prussians are the least herman
of all the German people, but Germany
in political sense always means
Prussia, the wild and wariike slav
which broke into Germany from the
northeast
| A writer with pith and point has re-
marked that it cannot be wondered
that young, ambitious, alert and ex-
plosive nation like Prussia, nation
which, like the SUM child, has all ma
terial instincts developed to the detri-
ment Of the spiritual qualities, should
| entirely hynotize and enmesh Austria,
which for centuries has hardly made a
serious effort.
| The Austrians are noted for their
gayety and easy going ways. I never
| lived among more pleasure loving
people. My student days in Vienna
were joyous ones. 1t is with great re-
greet that T. realize that it was abso-
lutely necessary for my country to de-
| clare war on Austria, not because she
was the unwilling cause of precipitat-
4 d
Prussian domination we must break
her before we can loose Germany
strangle-hold upon her and the Balkan
states.
| It's one of the strange things of his
| tory how Emperor William was able
1 to hypnotic the willy old Emperor
Francis Joseph. yet 1t was long known
that he had fallen a victim to the
charmer from the north. The truth is.
the Kaiser was stronger character
and nodded the weaker Emperor to
his own purposes. for the general tone
of Viennese society was not favorable
to Prusslan alliance.
Austria is not aggressive This
means that if Germany is victorious,
and there comes the danger. 1t has
been said that Trieste has for long
years been Germanys Naboth's vine-
yard. for she wants an entrance into
| the Mediterranean, and there lies
Italy's mortal danger and gives reason
/
hard against Italy.
Not from Austria, but from Ger
Independence. 1t Was England's wish
| to see Austria strong and independent
to guard against German encroachment
upon the plains and coast of Italy. Lord
Salisbury knew that Austria by her
self would not endanger the peace of
Europe Now, here is the danger OF
premature peace talk. With Germany
unwhipped and Austria under her dom
nation. we are sure to have another
war in less than 10 years, for few real
ize the recuperative power of the Prus-
slams.
The knowledge of Germanys tnten-
ltions to get to Trieste by hook OF
crook ought to be enough to absolve
went back on and betrayed one of her
allies italy had nothing to gain By
the triple alliance, and it is strange
that she remained in it as long as she
Gid. ] will be sorry for her, however
II the Hun gets into the plains of We
META. He VIII punish her to the full
est, and the Italians do we'll to figh,
for their very homes are at stake.
4
/ Really, am sorry for Austria. 1t il
true that only those who know the
Austrian character intimately can un.
derstand the terrible future which she
faces. With victorious Germany she
has the dread of being incorporated
with the stronger Teutonic power
With a defeated Germany she realize.
that she must give up much of her ter
ritory and become a second rate pow or
It's dark picture for her, and no won.
q der she wants peace. if she can pre-
serve her status quo.
Those who know both Germany ant
Austria. are asking what chance has ar
easy going, good natured nation likt
Austria against ruthless one clad
} from head to toe in steel. morally and
sentimentafly2 None at all, only to d.
the bidding Of the stronger-willed. Thi
1 was how the old Emperor fell. VIII
liam impressed his overpowering per
soIality upon him, and worn out WITH
misery, and mistrusting his own fam
lily and encourage, he allowed the Prus