EUROPE SEETHING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 175, 11 December 1912, Page 7

EUROPE SEETHING.

IS IT GENERAL WAR? RUSSIA AND AUSTRIA BUSY. The following cables from London appeared in the Sydney Sun:— London, November 23. Rumors of outbreak of war between Russia and Austria are causing consternation in Vienna. Anxious eyes are turned towards St. Petersburg. Serious military steps are being taken on the Galician frontier, and the Vienna papers are asking why should Russia display animosity and rancor towards the monarchy. The Archduke's visit to Berlin is hailoil as having a far-reaching significance, November 24. Graver danger exists at the present moment of a general European outbreak of war than at any time since the start of the Balkan conflict. The first blow is expected to be struck by Austria and Germany before many hours have claps? cd. There is a strict censorship of all news from Vienna, and the news that is coining from Russia and Germany is so slight that it is possible that the censors are at work there also. Austria has made a momentous move. She lias >sc-nt a fleet of torpedo boats down the Danube towards Belgrade, and this is without doubt a threat of actual hostility, though it is officially stated that no such idea is in mind. The report that the reserves have been called to the colors is a further indication that a struggle is near. Austria has more than 500,0>00 men on a war footing now. News has also been received that five German army corps have been ordered to arms, and telegrams from St. Petersburg say that Russia is hastily despatching thousands of troops and much munitions of war to the Austrian frontier. Great Britain is' ready, and the War Office was never so busy, while the Woolwich Arsenal and the Enfield Small Arms Factory arc wdrking at top pressure. Baring the last three weeks over 100,000 men have been equipped from the latter store. A determined effort is being made to induce the Government to purchase two Dreadnoughts that are building at Barrow-on-Furness for Turkey, November 25.

Vienna officially denies a general mobilisation, and in diplomatic circles the outlook is not judged in any pessimistic light. In Berlin the feelin'g is uneasy, as there is unmistakable evidence »f joint precautions by Germany and Austria against eventualities. There is no doubt, either, that the visit of the Chief of the Austrian War Staff was a secret and sudden arrangement, and had the fact not been betrayed by one of the hotel servants it might never have been known. At Cardiff, in Wales, there is a sharp upward movement in all steam coals, and the rise is extraordinary, and follows upon big Admiralty and foreign orders. Paris believes that the- general situation warrants some degree of preparation everywhere. This pessimism is fostered the view that Austria and Germany are concerned in the prospect of a permanent Balkan League, and wish to shape its future, the idea being to draw Bulgaria closer to the Triple Alliance,:!and subordinate the development of Servia to Austrian policy. 1 November 20.

That the European position is in the nature of a crisis is shown by a leading article in the Times to-day. The article says:—''Firmly as we trust that peace will be maintained, the moment has come in European affairs when every nation with interests and friendship to preserve must look to its resources and strive to appraise their worth. Is British power still adequate to hold its great position and guard its heritage? We believe that it is. We are ready, in our eves, to meet the emergencies of the moment iu any form that they may. take. And we know that as a people wo do not stand alone. The action of the oversea dominions in the South African war was a signal to the world that, in any great emergency our self-governing Empire iu eu Every great dominion is undertaking the creation of a fresh centre of naval power. Their growing strength is otir strength, as ours has always been theirs. As a material factor that movement already means much. As a moral factor its value is inestimable."

Reports from Berlin state that the European situation is still regarded with great uneasiness,' but reassuring statements are more emphatic. The fear is that Russia and Scrvia are drifting into an untenable position from which retreat would be humiliating. It is said in Belgrade that the Servian Premier is willing to go a, long way in making concessions, but his decision with regard to the retention of Durazzo as a port on the Adriatic is considered to he irrevocable. There are, however, sinister forces working behind the scenes, and it is therefore impossible to avoid a feeling of uneasiness. The Austrian Foreign Office says that the gravity of the situation is increasing. In no quarter is there the slightest slackening of Die strain. Public opinion in Vienna is disposed to be pessimistic, but the correspondent of the Times sees no reason why war should be inevitable, or even immediately possible. A leader in the Times says:—"No issue lias been presented which could not be settled by amicable discussion. Who, then, makes war?. The answer is to be found in the chancelleries of Europe among men who liavp for too long playe<l with human lives as at a game of ckeaa. Thus will war continue to be made until' the masses shall determine that wars shall only be fought on a just and vital cause. There never was a more appropriate occasion for that word to be said than now. We trust it will be said while there is yet time."