The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-28
BALKAN WARS BRING A CRISIS

! BALKAN WARS BRING a CRISIS
These prodigious increases seemed
still insufficient when the Balkan wars
broke out In the autumn of 1912
new plan of land armament was taken
| into consideration, under the greatest
secrecy This plan was laid before the
Chancellor in December, together with
a report declaring that increases were
necessary in the army on account of
| the attitude of the Triple Entente,
which, though defensive counter
weight to the Triple Alliance, showed
nevertheless, strong offensive tend
encies, since it had political ends in
view the pursuit Of which was adjudg-
ed by the allied powers worthy of their
maximum efforts" Despite these con-
siderations, (which were a shameless
camouflage of the truth, the Chancel-
lor and the encourage of the Emperor
hesitated. The plan was not approved
until the first of the ensuing January;
1T was presented to the Reichstag in
March, 1913.
Huge Increase In German Army.
The increase provided for was for
midable indeed; the total number of
troops rose from 7000 900 to $4,000, and
war material of every sort was like
wise augmented. For the purpose OF
cerrying out this program, which was
to be completed in great part by Oc-
tober, 1913, exceptional financial meas
ures were provided for; to cover non
renewable expenditures, which reached
a total of 1000, 100000 marks, provis-
ion was made for single war tax. The
bill for all the above was promptly
passed on June so, and the press did
not conceal the joy felt by the govern
lment. 1.-THE security thus obtained,
said the Cologne Gazette, "opens the
way to us for a world-policy." And the
goal to be pursued was clearly acknow-
Iledged thus: 1.-THE army can now pass
with more ease from a peace footing
to war footing" The Crown Prince
I. and the Kaiser adopted bellicose tone
in their speeches and orders of the day,
which was an echo of the Utmost
thoughts of the German nation.
How different, during 1912 and 1913,
was the attitude of peoples and gov
! ernments in the lands OF the Triple
4 Entente-which, according to the Fan
i German leaders, were ready to take the
i offensive and hurl themselves upon
i Germany! France, England ana Rus
STA had no object in view except Tue
maintenance of peace.
armament plans of Germany, France
and England felt the necessity OF es-
Itablishing closer relations between the
i General Staffs of their armies; put,
lin letters exchanged on Nov. % and 70,
1912. they provided solely for action IN
lease of aggression against them.
France and Russia, to be sure, COM
/ pleted. by means of naval agreement
on Juiy Is. 1912, the defensive agree
ment of 1892. France, to be sure, re-
turned in 1918 to three-year military
I service. But were not these element,
ary measures of precautlon, olctaleu
, solely by regard for nauona! security
and ouite easily understandable IN the
4 midst of the rumors of war emanatlhg
from all sides in Central Europe dnu
the Balkansi
Standing by the side of Germany Ii
, arms. Australia also mace III
mense war preparations IN 1917. hay
Iinp beyond a doubt, received secre'
information from Bulgaria as 10 tne
intentions of the Balkan nations WI.
/ regard to Turkey, she bided ner TINT
: for realizing her ambitions Win Ies@lo
TO an outlet on the Aegean sea.
Entente BlameIess In Balkan urrnon
} Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece and Monle
2 negro, IN TACT, udu MAUI 100
agreements in the spring OF 1917
veri+ahle series of war compacts, O
which France and England were a
that time almost totally ignorant, ant
of which Russia, though in some case!
entrusted with the role of arblter, haC
: only imperfect knowledge. Desplt'
a this. Germany felt no compuncCon II
:. nretendine. even in her 1919 Memor1a
q on the responsibilities for the war, ina
: the Balkan happenings had been sim
!. ply a vast plot engineered against Aus
4 tria-Hungary and Turkey by Russia
with ENGLAND. France and the Balkal
h states as her accomplices.
:, In order to refute such allegation
: it suffices to refer to the official pub
Ilications of the various allied govern
\ ments. particularly to the three Frencl
:, Yellow Books dealing with Balkan maj
! tiers. Therein may be found the clea1
= est possible proof of the endeavor
- made without cessation by Entent
diplomacy, notably by France and
- RAYMOND Poincare, for preventing tn
- conflict. and, afterward, for localizin
" and abating it. On the side OF tn
! Triple Alliance, however, quite diffel
e ent sentiments were manifested.
Austria, who seemed disappointed
the rapid victories of the Balkan Allies
particularly of Serbia, could not recol
= Gle herself to a partition of Turke
( without her own participation; ther'
= fore she speeded up her military pr
~ parations and concentrated troops o
7, the Serbian frontier. AT the sam
a. time she sought to involve Italy, VIII
ID had lust obtained Tripoli from Turke.
le in her game. The Triple Alliance wa
n ranaUyod in advance on Dee + an
a. Italy received promises assuring her {
n