The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-07-28

The commencement Of the world
war had as its apparent cause the
death Of a prince. The real causes
are, however much greater. and they
have gradually been coming to light
during the struggle. In her great
plan for the domipation of the. world
Germany had for her principal ally
Austria Hungary. Aided by that En-
pire and across its territory: Ger
many's influence was to have spread
over the Balkans and the ottoman
Empire, right up to the Persian Gulf.
The existence and the reinforcing OF
Austria Hungary was essential for the
realization OF this plan.
But the plan was menaced by a
number of dangers, dangers which
even threatened the very existence of
the Dual Monarchy. There was. in
the first place, the development and
progress of Serbia. which. especially
after the Balkan war. on account, on
the one hand. OF identity Of race, and
on the other. its very democratic con-
stitution, became a point of attraction
for all the Jugoslavs.
The second and parallel danger was
the evergrowing resistance Of the
Jugoslavs SERBS. Croats and Slo-
Nenes) to the Austro- Hungarian re-
gime. by which ten millions of German
speaking Austrians and nine million
Magyars attempted to crush in the
most brutal fashion the aspirations Of
80 900 900 Slavs. Finally there was the
powerful national organization OF the
Czecho- Slovak people, which had al
ways awaited a favorable occasion to
settle its accounts with the Hapsburgs
and their supporters.
The proofs of this menace to the
existence OF the Austro- Hungarian
SERENE are furnished by the revolu-
tionary incidents which occurred with
ever increasing frequency before the
war among the oppressed nationalities
of the Austro- Hungarian Empire and
which the Government was only able
to suppress with the greatest difficulty
and by making use of the most reac-
tionary methods. The war was to save
Austria Hungary by delivering the
various nationalities completely into
the hands OF Austro-G German militar-
ism and crushing them. This aim has
for the time being been realized.
An Independent Serbia, carrying out
a national, l. e., an anti-Austrian pol
icy, was thus a barrier against the
expansion of Germany toward the
east To save Austria and open the
route to the east. Germany had but
one means-War.
The present war did not begin by
chance between Austria Hungary and
Serbia, but because the Hapsuurg en-
pire was indispensable to and Serbia
a danger for German policy. The
26th of July, 1914, the day of the dec
laration Of war on Serbia by Austria
Hungary. is the day on which two
principles entered on a bloody strug-
GLE the principle OF brutal domination
against the principle of liberty and
self
For Germany the maintenance OF
Austria Hungary is of capital impor-
lance; 1t is. in fact, the chief aim of the
present struggle. Whatever may he
the conditions Of peace. If after this
war Austria Hungary still continues
to exist Germany will always have a
free field and a route open for her ex-
pansion toward the east. and this for
the reason that Austria Hungary, by
the force of things, can only maintain
herself with the support OF Germany,
and for that reason must carry on a
an-German!c policy, which is besides
quite in the traditions of that Teu-
tonic dynasty, the Hapsburg mon
archy.
BY the dissolution Of the Austro-
Hungarian Empire (Which is 10 the
interest Of the majority OF the peoples
composing il, all reason for leaning
on Germany will disappear and in this
way the route toward the east will
be closed to Germany: not only the
Hamburg Bagdad route but also the
Hamburg Vladivostok route. In other
words, the backbone of Pan-German-
ism. which liz constituted by Austria
Hungary. will be broken.
For this reason Germany will
always be ready to make every pos
sible concession If she can onE keep
Austria Hungary in existence. When,
toward the end Of 1915, the military
force Of Serbia was broken, the Pan
Germanc scheme of Hamburg Berlin
was realized. The chain formed