The Austrians had been eager to attack Serbia, even in 1913, thinking that this little country had grown too powerful, as a result of her victories in the two Balkan wars.  But Austria had counted on “bluffing” Russia to keep out, as she had been bluffed in 1908, and when she saw that this time the Russians meant business, she became frightened and sent word that she might be willing to settle the question without fighting.  But the Germans were bent on war, and as they saw their ally wavering, they sent their warning that Russian mobilization would be considered a ground for war.

Now this was ridiculous.  In 1908, when the trouble over Bosnia was at its height, both Austria and Russia had their armies mobilized and ready for war for weeks and months.  Still no war came out of it.  It looked as if Germany was hard put to it to find an excuse for launching her plan to conquer Europe.

Questions for Review

1.  Why did Ulster object to home rule? 2.  What were the hopes of the Serbians regarding Bosnia? 3.  Why did Russia interfere between Austria and Serbia? 4.  Why did Russia mobilize her troops? 5.  Why was the road through Belgium chosen?

CHAPTER XVIII

  Why England Came In

The question of Italy and England.—­Italy’s position.—­The war with Turkey.—­Italy declines to join her allies.—­England is aware of the German plans.—­The treaty with Belgium.—­The “defensive” war.—­The “scrap of paper.”—­Germany’s rage at England’s declaration of war.—­England does the unexpected.

France, Belgium, Russia, and Serbia were combined against Austria and Germany.  Little Montenegro also rushed to the help of her neighbor and kinsman, Serbia.  The question was, what would Italy and England do.  Italy, like Russia and Germany, had been having trouble in holding down her people.  A revolution had been threatened which would overthrow the king and set up a republic.  The Socialist Party, representing the working class, had been growing very strong, and one of their greatest principles was that all war is wrong.  They felt that the Triple Alliance made by the Italian statesmen had never bound the Italian people.  Throughout the entire peninsula, the Austrians were hated.

You will remember that France had aroused the Italians’ anger in 1881 by seizing Tunis.  Italy had hoped to snap up this province for herself, for the Italian peninsula was crowded with people, and as the population increased, it was thought necessary that colonies be established to which the people could migrate to have more room.  Finally in 1911, in order to divert the minds of the people from revolutionary thoughts, the government organized an expedition to swoop down on Tripoli, which, like Egypt, was supposed to belong to Turkey.

This meant war with the government at Constantinople, and Germany and Austria were very angry at Italy, their ally, for attacking Turkey, with which the Austrians and Germans were trying to establish a firm friendship.  However, “self-preservation is the first law of nature,” and the Italian king and nobles valued their leadership in the nation much more than they dreaded the dislike of Germany and Austria.