AUSTRIA'S BALKAN POLICY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 59, 30 July 1914, Page 6

AUSTRIA'S BALKAN POLICY

A GENERAL'S PLAN FOR WAR ON 6ERVIA. The far-reaching double aim of Austria's Balkan poJicy was explained with H'frushing bhmtness by General Karl 1 inn Lang in Danger's Arnieezeitung, eighteen months ago. ]u that important publication the General recommended a solution of the Balkan problem on ike following basis: —

1. An autonomous Albania should be created which should be placed under the protection of Austria-Hungary. i. An organic connection betweon Austria-Hungary and Albania should be effected by Austria-Hungary sewing Western Servia as far as the line Morava, Kumanova, Skoplje, Kalkandeleu. 3. Montenegro should be confined to the possession of the territories which were in the possession of that Stute bofore the outbreak of the Balkan War, and should be compelled to conclude an Alliance with Austria-Hungary. Shouli Montenegro fail to do this, it should be seized by Austria-Hungary. 4. Salonika and the railway from Shoplje to Salonika should be internationalised.

5. The North-Eastern portion of Sevvia, down to the line Vidin, Zejeeav, Paracin, should fall to Rumania. «. South-Eastern Servia and the neighboring part of Macedonia should be. given" to Bulgaria. The acquisition c* these Servian territories and of the territories conquered from Turkey should satisfv Bulgaria, and induce her to enter into the closest relations with AustriaHungary. , General van Lang recommends not only a Protectorate over an "autrfmomo!:s" Albania, but also the partition of Servia, which is to become another Poland. He also aims at bringing the western part of the Balkan Peninsula under the sway of Austri-aHungary, and he hopes that Bulgaria may be induced to enter into the closest connection with the Dual Monarchy. The distinguished General apparently aims at bringing the whole Balkan Peninsula with Constantinople under Austrian swav. To effect the Austranisation of the Balkan Peninsula, General Ton Lang recommends that eight or nine Austrian army corps should attack Servia and Montenegro. Within a fortnight after the Austrian invasion, the Slavonic I neighbors of the Dual Monarchy wouhl find their Sedan at Kraknjewatz. The General foresees that Russia, and perhaps Italy as well, might opopse Austria's policy in the Balkan Peninsula, Therefore he recommends that, whilst eight or nine army corps are attacking Servia and Montenegro, eight other Austrian army corps should be mobilised on the Italian frontier in order to keep Italy in check. If Russia should intervene, Germany should come to Austria's aid. She would be obliged to do so in her own interests. The four eastern army c.rps of Germany could delay a Russian attack long enough to enable Germany to smash French with the buik of her army. Rumania could give valuable help to Austria and Germany against Russia, whilst Bulgaria might be kept busy by the Turkish army . .