THE SUMMARY OF EVENTS.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 June 1919, Page 6

THE SUMMARY OF EVENTS.

gz \ "-""—_"""'——_""" ‘ LEADING UP TO THE G.RE_AT ’ WAR. (Prepared by the Defence Deparizz-aunt . by direction of the Hon. the Minister of Defence.) The accounts of all the Entente -Powers of the events leading up to the war are full are ;nutuall_,r supporting, and are obviously bent--st. ‘ The apparent cause of the war was the murder of the Archduke Frzmz Ferdinand of Austrui. The actual culprits were three Austrian subjects This crime Was folloWe;l by popular’ demonstrations against all tservians resident in Sarajevo, Where the crime occurred, and feeling rose high all through Austria-Hungary against the Servians_ V There undoubtedly was cause for friction between the two nations Ausrtria, and Servia, arising out of t"u.':ir ‘ respective political aims. In 1908 Austria fol'lL‘-all)’ aiinex-dj the provinces of Bosnia and iltrze-» govina, to the ‘ great disappolrinneiit ‘ of Servia. For a. month after the murder there was a Ibitter‘ war between the Press of ‘Austria and Servia. Then after 3. month of oflicial silence Austria presented an extravagant ultimatum to Servia, and demanding complete ‘a?:ceptance Vwithin forty-eight‘ hours. Simultaneously the Austrian army began concentrating on the Servian frontier. . \ The Servians appealed to the Czar. The possibility of a European conflagration resulting from a breach of relations between Austria and Serviai was considered_ There was an alliance between Austria and Germany _ Germany had jliit completed g‘fé‘at military changes whereby the efficiency of her army and navy was greatly increased. For years the Germans l"§"! been % taught that a great European War Was inevitable and in 1914 the whole nation Was ready for war. . At the same time there Was strong evidence that Russia, Erance, England and Servia Were not ready for war. : i It is clear that Germany chose the] time for War and ensured that it came I about. The Austrian ultimatum to Servia raised a great stir throughout Europe, -Russia’s interests in the Balkans were clearly mcnaced by Austria, and if Russia were drawn into the war the rest of Europe must ‘be involved.

Gaermanyimade it. known that she would stand by Austria. Russia therefore tried to get France and England to declare common"cause with her. France at once declared that she would stand to her treaty with Russia, but England, having no such treaty, refused to be bound_ Russia, France and England all counselled Servia to be conciliatory in her reply to Austria, and -they all urged on ‘Austria to give Servia more time. Austria declined to give more time, and Servia delivered her reply within the time-limit. ’ This reply was conciliatory in tone and conceded nearly all the Austrian demands. ‘ England realised the danger of Russia being involved and of a European upheaval I~esulting, and counselled a conference between France, Italy, Germany, and England, to find a solution of the difficulties between Austria and Russia. All the Powers concerned were favourable to the corffeience “except Austria and Germany. Germany proposed that France and England should join lier in preventing Russia from taking any action against Austria, thereby allowing Austria to punish Servia unmoles’tcd_ England and France refused to coerce Russia, as they considered Russia had just claim to intervene if Servia were attacked. Austria Wasiat this time mobilizing against 'Servia, and Russia prepared for mobilisation. Germany then doclaredthat if Russia did not cease military preparation Germany would decalre war against Russia and France. I The first act of war was -the seizure of at Scrvian steamer by the Austrians 'on 27th July, 1914-, the first shots were Bxchanged on the night 28th-29th. On 29th Russia issued an order to mobilise in certain provinces only against ‘Austria then followed telegrams between the Kaiser and the Czar. Both appeared to be anxious to amid 3» EuTOP93~II War, but Germany only on condition that Austria was left undisturbed to attack sel-via, otherwise itwas intimated Genilany ‘Would have to mobilise. The K3150‘, ‘tried to throw the responsibility of de_ siding for peace or war on the Czar, . and this ‘under eontlitioug which meant that Russia to ensure peace must give Way olltil‘9iY Whilst Austria conceded nethingr , Russia. could not v.'i’ti‘-draw with dis.‘ Iliiy or justice, and instead of ’de'm:;.. bilising was forced by Gernlan.__,l_S threat to order general mob‘ilij~;jl’fio,,_ This Was the Signal for a general

European War_ The events leading to the grerxt War

E 1 . EIIZE

may therefore 'be summ'l';ri3od as fol--lows:——

‘Austria had a grievanc-3 against .°Jel'Via and meant to punish her. TFO I'_2‘tl'.l'e of Allst.r'iZ'Y's ultill‘L‘ltll‘ll to Servia made war between them certain. Russia had interests in the ‘Balkans which would have been thl‘eal.ne~'l by the invasion of serna by 2. [man said Russia therefore tried to prev-2z..t the war. Austria, would not listen to any compromise, and appealed to Germany to ward off any interference between her and other Powers. Germany declared that Austria must be given 5. free hand to deal with Servia, otherwise Germany wouid mobilise.‘ Austria did attack Sex-via, and consequently Russia mobilised against Austria. Germany then declared war against RllS.“i.'.\, and the rest of Europe, was quickly drawn into the struggle. So began the Great War, 1914-1919.

Now as to why England came into the war. Sir Edward Grey, in 21 message to the British Ambassador at ‘Berlin, said: “I do not consider that public opinion here would or ought to sanction our going to war over 3. Serbian quarrel. If, however. war does take place, the development of other issues may‘ draw us into it, and I am therefore anxious to prevent it."-‘ England die. It.‘ enter the war over the Serbian quarrel; but the war, once begun, did raise other issues, as Sir Edward Grey predicted, and it was these other issues that drew England in. Germany, before she declared war on France, tried to induce England to remain neutral, promising not to annexe French soil, except, perhaps, the colonies. Questioned about Belgium, Germany admitted that She might violate Belgian neutrality, but promised to respect Belgian integrity “after the War” if Belgium did not side against her. Sir Edward Grey telegraphed on 30th July England's relply to this proposition. He. said: “His iMajesty’s Government cannot for a‘ inoment entertain the Chancellors ‘proposal that they should ‘bind themselves to neutrality on such terms.’-’ . , . and went on to say, “It would ‘be a disgrace for us to make this bargain with Germany at the expense Of France, a disgrace from which the good name of this country would never recover, “The Chancelolr also in effect asks us to bargain away ‘whatever obligation or interest we have as legards the neutrality of Belgium. WeTShould Iwt entertain that bargain either.” Franco then pressed England for a pram!’-$9 of assistance, but the 82.-itish Uabinet refused to bind itself by a promise.» 50 great was the desire in rlnglaad to do nothing which might provoke war. A personal appeal from the 1'3.-ncn P.re— Sidcnt to the King had me same result. ' j This was on the Ist August and] from then until the outbreak of war,

on the 4th August, feeling in England was rising in favour of intervention on the side of France.’ During this period England tried to obtain declarations from France and Germany that they would respect Belgian neutrality. France readily gave the assurance, ‘but Gerniefny would not_ On 2nd August Germany presented an ultimatum to Belgian demanding right of passage through the country. This demand was refused by Belgium the next day, and simultaneously the King of the 'l_3elgians appealed to the King of England for support. On 4th August Germany did invade Belgium, and the same day England ‘gave Belgium herkpromise of assistance, and ordered the mobilisation of her forces. England fought to keep her solemn ongzrgenrent (given in the Treaty of London) to do her utmost to -defend Belgium ’s neutrality if attacked. Great Britain put her Whole Weight into the struggle without counting the cost, and her great Empire fought willingly beside her. The cost has been beyond measure, but England has been true to herself and has done her utmost for Belgium, as she promised. Who can place a value now on England’s promise, for the value is beyend price‘? '