The Alaska daily empire., 1918-06-29

from the revolution of 1904, head ed by Karageorg, the grandfather of the present Serbian King Peter, 1rose gradually the Kingdom of Serbia Traces of Turkish back wardness were quickly shaken off and Serbia became a modern State in every respect, leaving Turkey far behind. Her great progress be- came especially evident in the Bal kan Wars (1912-1913) which re- suited in the final liberation of the Serbian race from the Turk and the fullest satisfaction for the defeat of Kossovo.
 So Kossovo was avenged at mo- ment when the modern Serbia had reached her zenith.
 But the great military, economic, political and cultural progress of modern Serbia was not at all agree able to Austria Hungary, and main " for one reason. Owing to her geogra phic position, Serbia blocked the road which leads from Berlin to the Mediterranean, to Salonica, md Constantinople, and was, there fore, an obstacle to Pangerman plans, wholly backed by the Ger man dynasty of AustriaHungary, A weak Serbia would not have been a serious obstacle, and Austria-Hun gary had therefore made all possible efforts to suffocate the economic in dependence of Serbia, and dissem- mated through the press all sorts of alarming news concerning Ser bia, thus preparing the way for a future conquest. But in the Bal kan wars Serbia cut with her sword the entire texture of Austria-Hun- garian intrigues, and also freed her way to economic independence, by reaching through friendly treaty with Greece. She therefore was now much more serious obstacle to Pangerman plans than before. The hope of Austria-Hungray that Ser bia would be crushed by Bulgaria, whom she instigated to the treach- erous attack of June, 1913, was not fulfilled and Austria Hungary had no other choice than to attack Ser bia herself There are quite re- liable proofs of this determination of Austria Hungary, It is now gen orally known that as early as the fall of the year 1913 Austria had asked Italy what would be her at titude if an Austrian attack on Serbia should provoke European nonflaga aration. This long-planned
 tack of Austria-Hungary really anne in July of the year 1914. and hat was the beginning of the pres
 nt bloody war.
 The preteXt for the attack was
 he murder at Sarajevo. Now, hough this murder has been suiii
 iently discussed and explained it hould be dwelt upon again connec- ion with the KossovO-Day, because was committed on Vidovdan est. titus day 15-28 June) the day of he battle of Kossovo.
 As it is known, Sarajevo is the
 ,rgest town of the province of 'osnia and Herzegovina, which are inhabited exclusively by Serbian
 oeaking people. These provinces
 ad been for centuries under the turkish dominion, and in order to chieve their liberation the Herze-
 ovians and Bosnians arose against turkey, Serbia and Montenegro
 ame to their help. Russia also de- Jared war against Turkey and she as at last defeated in 1877. But he conference of diplomatsts at 'erlin (1878, presided over by Bis lark) assigned Bosnia and Herze- 'ovina to AustriaHungary for tenn ,orary administration. The popu- ation of Bosnia and Herzegovina
 separately resisted that tempo
 lry" occupation by Austria-H Hun
 ary, but the struggle was too un- qual to be successful. Later on in
 9O8 the Austrian Emperor Francis
 oseph notified the Powers that he
 ad annexed Bosnia and Herzego-
 ina, and all protest both of the representatives of the two provinces
 nd of Serbia, backed by Russia. rance and Great Britain, remained ruitless. The fact is that the Aus rian Grown Prince selected the cry day of the Kossovo battle for
 is first visit to Sarajevo, and this
 moment when the population
 Bosnia and Herzegovina was in he greatest foment and enthusiasm ,ecause of Serbian victories in the ,alkan wars. It was obviously a
 revocation. A German publicist md a very well known one-Max- milan ,Harden-has frankly admit ed that it was provocation. Is then a wonder that a young Bos- ,ian responded? But the main point s that this young man was an Austrian subject and that the mur- Ter was committed on Austrian soil. Why should Serbia then be respon- ible for it? Could she suffocate he Serbian feeling in the breast Of her Brothers of Bosnia and herze- -ovina? And if she could, should she have done so? Yet it is sure hat the Serbian government di6
 verything in it's power to prevent hat visif Inf the Austrian CrOWI