The Progress of the World. 621 



the provinces at the time of the Austrian against the Balkan League. It is bitter 



occupation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, enough to have to rehnquish the poHcy 



many more would be needed. It is of Drang nach Osten ; it would be ten 



doubtful whether Austria could find or times more bitter to see the one ally 



spare nearly so many for Servia. And left to Germany crumble beneath her 



there is no doubt possible that behind feet. And that is what is the danger 



the Servian army would be the Bui- at present. Pushed by her haughty 



garian forces. To attack Servia would pride, Austria has gone so far in her 



seem to be madness, more especially menaces and her declarations with re- 



since the country from Szabadka to gard to Servia that it is difficult to see 



Semlin, through w^hich the lines of com- how she can come out of the situation 



munications would run, is inhabited by she herself has created and survive. If 



Servians. she acts on Germany's advice and adopts 



a more sane attitude, her prestige within 



To no Power in Europe her own borders will be a negligible 



What Germany ^as the debdclc of Tur- quantity. If, on the other hand. 



Thinks— and Knows, j^^y \yQQi-i morc bitter Vienna decides to endeavour to prevent 



than to Germany. It is Servia from retaining the territory won 



not only the feeling of having put from Turkey and declares war on her, 



their money on the wrong horse, and only a rapid and entirely successful 



that one trained by Germans, but the war can justify so desperate a course, 



consequences are simply disastrous. The German Imperial Chancellor could 



To-day Germany finds herself to all not be said to have encouraged Austria 



practical intents isolated in Europe, when he said that Germany would 



The renewal of the Triple Alliance come to Austria's aid if " her existence 



must seem to Berlin a hollow were threatened." To accept aid under 



mockery. The Balkan League has such a confession of failure as this 



slammed the door of German advance would be would mean the end of 



towards Asia Minor and Egypt in Austria, while Germany would be more 



Germany's face, and there is no key likely to arrive to help herself than to 



which she possesses that can unlock the help Austria. Austria beaten or pre- 



door. For Italy's interests are rather occupied leaves Germany alone against 



with the Balkan allies than with France and England, while even if 



Austria, whose policy and methods are Russia cannot move armies into Ger- 



far from being accepted whole-heartedly many, she could withdraw deposits 



by the Italians. Austria herself, no one from German banks on a large enough 



knows better than the Kaiser, is un- scale to bring financial panic to Germany, 



stable and unsafe. The whole weight The trial mobilisation in France, so 



of Germany has therefore been thrown cleverly screened as a mistake, did much 



into the scale of peace, and every to keep the peace, giving as it did 



effort has been made to restrain Austria unmistakable proof of the readiness of 



from the folly of aggressive action the French army. 



