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the Slav subjects within her own borders, granting them equal political rights and privileges with the other elements of the Empire.
It not unfrequently happens that men who vaite for a common object fall out afterwards among themselves over a division of the spoil. Unfortunately, this is what happened with the Balkan League. No sooner had the Turks been driven out of their old possessions than each of the four kingdoms, who had jointly, and successfully carried on the war, put in a claim for a larger share of the conquered territory than the others considered fair. It may be taken as certain that Germany and Austria, whose interests as above stated were to keep the Balkan States weak and disunited. fomented the quarrel, but In the course of this war Turkey was able to be that as it may, internecine war broke out. regain a small portion of the territory she had previously lost. Serbia was left with a somewhat improved position, but very resentful that, mainly through Austrian opposition, she was not allowed to extend her territory up to the shore of the Adriatic Sea.
The agitation for a Pan-Serbian Union continued, the tension between Serbia and Austria increased, and from this time onward, as we now know, it was resolved between Germany and Austria that the little but ambitious kingdom of Serbia must be humiliated and pusisbed. It is only since the war broke out that we have complete proof of this resolution, and the proof is the public statement made by the Italian Government, that in the year 1913, Italy as a member of the triple alliance was invited by Germany and Austria to join with them in declaring war on Serbia. Italy's reply was that she was an ally for war of pure purposes of defence and not of aggression, and, as the proposal was a aggression, she declined to have anything to do with it. The proposal was dropped for the time, but the fact that it was made shows that Austria was only waiting for a favourable pretext to attack Serbia. The ultimate object was, not necessarily to annex territory, but to secure for Austria the hegemony of the Balkan States and so guarantee for herself and Germany an open road to Constantinople and the East.
It was in this state of affairs that the lamentable event occurred which forms the subject of the next Chapter, viz, -the murder of the Austrian Archduke on June 28th, 1914. This was the spark that set fire to the European powder magazine, and brought about this almost universal war, but it is evident now that war sooner or later was inevitable, and the murder of the Archduke, even if Serbia could be shown to have connived at it, which war already has never been done, was not the cause but merely the excuse for a resolved upon.
A word as to the Alliances of the European Powers at the outbreak of war. History of Europe since the French Revolution may be summarised as follows:-
The
When that event occurred in 1789 the most important nations in Europe were Austria, At that time Austria dominated Italy and the France, Britain, Prussia and Russia. numerous small States of modern Germany. Prussia was then a small German State, unscrupulous in its policy, bent on its own aggrandizement by whatever method, and
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devoted to military development. It was allied with, though independent of, Austria, Austria being then head of all the German States.
In those days, before the advent of the railway, Russia was a Power too distant to carry great weight in the councils of Europe, but it had recently extended its frontier westward by the partition of Poland. This partition took place at the instigation of Prussia, the three nations, Austria, Russia, and Prussia, dividing it between them.
The French Revolution produced Napoleon, whose military ambition led him into an attempt to unify Europe by conquering it and bringing it under the sway of France. His was the same ambition for military world-power which Prussia has now inherited, and which will certainly be crushed, as was that of Napoleon, because it is opposed to the general welfare of humanity. Napoleon commenced his tremendous career by breaking the power of Austria.
For the time being he freed Italy from the Austrians, extended the dominions of France, and during his lifetime made her the dominating power in Europe. He subdued Prussia and endeavoured to subjugate Russia, but failed with great loss. Great Britain proved to be his greatest foe. She destroyed his navy, fought against him on land, and so strengthened his European foes, especially Frussia, that his military domination of Europe was destroyed, and he himself died a prisoner.
After the destruction of Napoleon, the States of Europe were restored, but the Austrian power was never able to re-assert itself over Italy or the German States. Prussia, on the other hand, grew in power, and, finally. under Bismarck, became the rival of Austria for the leadership of the German States. The successful wars of 1864, 1866, and especially the war with France in 1870, made Germany the most powerful State of Central Europe. From that time Germany's military party have yearned for other conquests.
The ambitions of Germany resulted in a re-grouping of the European Powers. This re-grouping was brought about under the influence of Germany, the consequence being that Europe was divided into two parties, and this is the recent form of the Balance of Power. The composition of these parties has varied from time to time. Bismarck brought about the first modern combination in 1872, when he induced the three great Powers, Russia, Austria and Germany, to form what was known as the Dreikaiserbund. But Russia was suspicious of Prussian policy, and in 1875, when Prussia again threatened France with a second war, Russia, along with England, intervened to prevent it. Nevertheless, Bismarck's policy still aimed at the conciliation of Russia, in order not to have an enemy on the East as well as one on the West. He made a secret Treaty with Russia for mutual defence against Austria. In 1879 he also entered into a secret Alliance with Austria, which at first was defensive only, and that against Russia. This Austrian Alliance, no longer merely anti-Russian, was joined in 1882 by Italy for general defensive purposes only.
In 1890, the present Kaiser, Wilhelm II., in his desire to assert his own wisdom and power, rid himself of Bismarck, his Empire-maker, and thus lost his ablest minister. The defensive alliance with Russia soon lapsed, whilst the alliance with Austria was strengthened. During the years 1891-6, France and Russia drew closer together, both finding themselves
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