The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1914. EUROPE ABLAZE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 63, 3 August 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 1914. EUROPE ABLAZE.

The worst fears have been realised. The die has been cast, and it is to be war. Russia bus determined upon carrying into effect her threat to intervene should Austria continue operations in Strvia, and has already actually invaded Austrian territory and commenced hostilities. Germany has declared war with Russia, and is mobilising her forces preparatory to helping her Ally and engaging Germany. Britain, which has exhausted all its diplomatic resources to prevent these big Powers rushing at each other's throats, is anxiously watch- | ing and preparing for eventualities. The I other member of the Triple Alliance. Italy, is wisely declaring her neutrality, not feeling that the terms of her agreement with Austria and Germany, for either of whom she bears no love, render it necessary to extend help. All over Europe—indeed throughout the world--there is financial chaos. The stock exchanges and bourses have everywhere been closed; financial failures are reported everywhere, and business generally has been brought to a standstill. The British colonies are preparing for emergencies and offering help in various forms to the Motherland—help which, it will be earnestly hoped, will not be required. The situation could hardly bo wojse. It has no parallel in listory. The Napoleonic wars fade into insignificance compared with the struggles that are about to take place. It will be a. veritable Armageddon; hell itself let loose. The four nations at grips—Austria and Germany on the one side, and Russia and- France on the other (for France must go to the assistance of her partner)—have titanic forces, measured in millions, not in hundreds of thousands, and armed with all the death-dealing machines and weapons that human ingenuity iias devised and money can procure. The world stands aghast at the frightful scene of these leading, highly civilised countries resorting to the sword in order to settle their differences, instead of relying upon peaceful and .rational methods. Germany seeks, according to this morning's cables, to place the blame for the precipitation of war upon Russia, but the historian of the future will, if we are not greatly mistaken, bestow the blame for the conflict not upon Russia but upon Germany herself. She has all along' egged on Austria to punish Servia, with the idea, no doubt, of eventually annexing or rendering impotent that foap!c3S little country. Without Germany's backing, she never could have entered Servian territory, for she knew quite well that such action would arouse Russia's active hostility. Without Germany's backing, too, Austria would never have torn up the Treaty of Berlin by annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina a few years ago. German has been the disturbing clement in Europe for years past. She has not always fired the bullets herself, but she invariably has had a hand in their making. But for Britain's firm attitude over the Moroccan trouble, Germany would have provoked a European war. She may not desire war, but her diplomacy and actions with her neighbors liave, since tlhe days of Bismarck, had as their basis the "mailed fist," This time throats of its exercise have had no effect on the rouse 1 Russia or patriotic Frenchmen, who have not on this occasion allowed Ger many to bully them into compliance with her wishes and with the actions of her impetuous, irresponsible and grasping Austrian Ally. The challenge has been accepted, and war, unparalleled in scope and consequences, has been accepted as the arbitrament. Will Britain be embroiled? That is the question of more vital interest to us and one which is uppermost in the thoughts of every member of the Empire to-day. Britain is a member of the Entente, but as such she i.s not bound to go to the active assistance of iher friends, but events, which are moving with extraordinary rapidity, may force her to do so at any time. Her naval arm i.s mighty, but it has vast interests to guard, and we may be sure that it will only be lilted to strike in the last resort. Enormous pressure is no doubt being applied by both Russia and France upon Britain with a view to securing 'her 'help, and it will take strong and sagacious men to do what is right and in the interests of the Empire and Christendom generally. Fortunately we can place absolute confidence in the men who my, guiding on i- destinies at the moment, namely. Mr. Asquith and Sir Edward Grey, who have been truly termed by Continental authorities as "the strong men of Europe." They will not allow us to be drawn into the terrible vortex unless exigencies demand it. If we are drawn in, then we must face the position with courage and resolution, <iet in accordance with the traditions of our race, and do our duty as a people ami as an Empire. That this will be done we arc confident.