The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-08-02
First Days of August Saw Europe Bursting
 Into Wars Red Flame

These first days of August suggest inc vitably those historic few days in 1914 when the long threatening storm burst upon Europe. Each year since then the first days of August have been for the warning nations time for audit of gains and losses, an hour for statement of ideals and purposes.
 The spark that was to set virtually the whole world ablaze was the assas- ination of the Austrian heir appar- ent, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and his wife at Sarejevo, the capital of Bosnia. on June 2S. 1914, by a Bosnian fanatic Apparent quiet followed this disastrous act, it could only deceive those who did not know the intense anti-Slav feeling in Aus tria Hungary
 A secret investigation of the assas- sination had been made by the Aus trian government, and on July 23 the results were disclosed in an ultimatum to the Serbian government, with the demands of which Serbia could only lily comply. It was apparent to all Europe that Serbia was willing to make every reasonable concession to avoid war with Austria; it was equally apparent that she could not admit the
 
 crate in the suppression of anti-Aus- trian movements in Serbia without surrendering a part of her sovereign power.
 Still more apparent was the real truth of the Sarejevo incident. It was not and could not be magnified into a cause of war; 1t could be used as an excuse, as screen for the true motives of Austria-Hung gary. Behind the apparent desire Of the Austrian government to mete out Jus tfce to the slayers of the heir appar- ent was the real wish to crush the Pan-Slav movement, Austria had, too, the desire, voluntary or compulsory to forward the ambitious projects of her ally, Germany; she had her own allotted part to play in the building of "Mittel Europa" and the world empire of commerce that was to owe allegiance to Germany
 Russia Mobilizes Army.
 Russia could not ignore Austria: threat to destroy the independence | of Serbia; she bgal the mobilization | of her armies. At the same momen | the partial mobilization of the Aus trian and Serbian armies began ane | those who knew the diplomatic ms | tory of Europe saw the first omlnous preparations TOT d SSlitI HUI oP>NN' | war. Germany, Italy and Austria, the | Triple Alliance. faced England, Franct and Russia. the Triple Entente. The preparations of Russia ane | Austria for war were not unaccom | panied by diplomatic attempts to set | Ie the Serbian problem peaceably; M | Sazonov, the Russian Foreign Minis | ter, made overtures to Count Sza nary. the Austro-Hungarian Ambas ! sador in Petrograd. Sir Edward Grey British Foreign Minister. offered tn' suggestion that a conference or In' 1 German. French and Italian ambas | sadors should be had with hlm London to seek some basis for neaceful settlement of the dispute be tween Austria and Serbia. Only Ger l many demurred at this request, sayint that the direct exchange of views be l tween Petrograd and Vienna wa
 more desirable The German Chancel Tor, You Bethman-Hollweg, insisted that Austria's dispute with Serpl; was no concern of Russia
 Aside from an exchange of view
 with Vienna, Russia had not takel | a. definite stand with Serbia untl l on July 27 the Czar of Russia, Tn ! telegram to the Regent or Seroia urged Serbia to neglect no settlemen
 
 that in case war came Russia woui I not "disintsrest herself in the fate o : Serbia" This statement was stTensth
 ened the next day by the official de i claration that RussIu woufd oroer | general mobilization if the Austrial | army crossed the Serbian border am | bv the statement made to German
 tbat a Furopean war could not b l avoided if Serbia was attacked.
 Germany Equally Warlike.
 Germany was equally belliseren' | The events that were so rapidly leao
 ing to war could not have been dis | pleasing to a Government whose sue
 cess at Agidar was of recnt memory | The Russian Government was warne
 that Russian mobilization would com | neIGermany to mobilize and that mop | iIization would have but one result war The German ambassador at feI
 rosrad added that the mob1lizatlo of Germany would be directed agalns
 Russia. and against France as an all
 of Russia.
 At noon on July 2S Austria-Hun
 gary declared war on Serbia rms wa
 the first declaration. Many were |
 follow. Austria-Hungary had failed |
 give any assurances to Russia at th | time of her declaration that she ln
 tended to respect Serbian terrltor . integrity or sovereignty. Russia mooil ized thirteen army corps on the 10 lowing day along the Austrian Iron
 tier and in making this move as sured Germany that the move wa purely defensive. = <tt
 On July 29 Sir Edward Grey asal renewed his offer of a conferenc , al London. Germany rejected the O,
 fer. but asked Austria to take up Tn Russtan offer of direct medtatio with Petrograd. Sir Edward Grey ais warned Germany that in the ever I of a European war England mgr
 suddenly decide to intervene In al swer to this Von Bethman-Holi"e
 offered to promise that German would annex no French territory an } no Belgian territory. unless Belsiu' sided against Germany.
 Tide of War Swelis Fast The next day July 30, saw sti further developments. England d' . cI,ned to consider the offer, made !. the German Chancellor reservins ru I | ,, +o ac+ aa circumstances r,