T'WAS A DEEP-LAID SCHEME

Servian Troops Ready for Action

A detachment of Servian troops, showing the type of men and equipment in the army of the little country engaged in war with Austria.

Photo published Aug 20, 1914

Aylmer Express Newspaper

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WHY ALL EUROPE IS AT WAR

MURDER OF AUSTRIAN CROWN PRINCE AN EXCUSE

T’was a Deep-laid Scheme to Catch the Triple Entente Napping.

June 28th, of his year was the day on which occurred the event which was the proximate cause of the greatest war in the history of he world. That event was the assassination by a mad Servian student of the Austrian Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand, at Sarajevo. From the very moment of the outrage the view that the mad student was but the instrument of the Servian Government – that there was method in this madness – took firm hold on the Austrian Government and people alike.

And, indeed, there were not absent some corroborating circumstances to lend color to this view. The investigation undertaken by the Servian Government was perfunctory, boastful, and defiant. Then the Austrian consul-general fell dead in the Servian capital (Belgrade), and the Servian papers, in their exultation, hinted not obscurely that he had been poisoned. Lastly rumors, believed to be well founded, were bruited abroad to the effect that the Austrian legation was to be blown up. After remonstrating with the Servian Government, the Austrian Minister presented to it an ultimatum, on July 23, demanding a reply by 6 o’clock on July 25.

The Austrian Demands

were for an apology for anti-Austrian demonstrations, for Servia to disband all societies intriguing against Austria, for the press to be ‘muzzled’ as regards Austria, and for Austrian officials to be allowed to conduct an enquiry in Servia, independent of the Servian Government, into the Sarajevo plot. The Servian Government accepted all these terms, except the last, but Austria, deeming such partial acceptance unsatisfactory, broke off diplomatic relations. The Servian Government thereupon removed from Belgrade, which being on the Danube, is peculiarly exposed to Austrian attack, to the old capital of Nish, in the interior, while Russia, determined to back Servia, at once commenced to mobilize her forces.

On July 26, Sir Edward Grey, the British Foreign Minister, suggested a conference of mediation to France, Germany, and Italy, bit two days later this proposal was rejected by Germany (Austria’s ally) and Austria formally declared war on Servia. It was immediately apparent that attempts to localize the conflict between Austria and Servia were destined to failure. On July 30, severe fighting occurred between the Austrians and Servians, and on the same day Germany demanded explanation of both France and Russia with regard to their mobilization. On Aug 2 Germany declared war on Russia, and German troops invaded French, Belgian, Swiss, and Russian territory.

Choosing Her Time

The violation by Germany of Belgium territory, constituting a breach of a treaty to which both Great Britain and Germany were parties, rendered the intervention of Great Britain, which had previously been probable, a matter of certainty, more particularly when such violation was followed by the German declaration of war against Belgium. Accordingly, Great Britain declared war on Germany. There seems little reason to doubt that it was part of a concerted design that Austria, at the instigation of Germany, should have deliberately made it impossible for Servia to do anything but fight. Events were bound, more or less, to follow a certain course – the course which, up to a point, they did follow – and it was obviously intended that a master stroke should catch the Triple Entente, consisting of Russia, France and Great Britain at a disadvantage.

Certainly, the moment seemed propitious for doing so. Russia was engrossed with great internal strikes. Great Britain was contemplating the possibility of civil war over the Home Rule question. The deficiencies of the French armaments had been recently made known and admitted, and, in addition, both M. Poicare, the French President, and M. Viviani, the French Premier, happened to be absent from France, together with the two most effective units of the French navy. But the situation underwent

A Surprising Change.

Political parties in Great Britain closed up their ranks and sank their differences. Italy, the third party to the Triple Alliance, hung back from giving her support to Germany and Austria, her two nominal allies. In fact, high authorities take the view that it is more than probable that Italy will join in the war, not as an ally of Germany and Austria, but on the side of Great Britain, France, and Russia, and that this step on her part is rendered inevitable by reason of the necessity for her to hold the Austrians, in check for the salvation of the Balkans, which are already threatened by Turkey and are sure to be the prey of the Turks unless the Austrian navy can be kept from the shores of Greece.

Article published Aug 27, 1914

Aylmer Express Newspaper

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