p. 24 | The European Situation

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 6, 1914

The European Situation

NOT for many years has the political situation in Europe appeared so serious or seemed so likely to bring on a general war in the Old World as at the present time. The causes leading to present hostilities may be briefly summarized as follows:

On June 28, while visiting Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, Francis Ferdinand, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, was, with his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, shot and killed by a young Servian student. Austria at once made demands for reparation. To the surprise of Europe, the only one of these imposed conditions which Servia refused to grant was that Austrian officers should play a large part in the investigation of the assassination plot. Finally, on July 24, Austria issued an ultimatum giving Servia twenty-four hours in which to comply and avert war. Her answer was: “Servia can only admit such participation by Austrian officials in this inquiry as would be in accordance with international law and good neighborly relations.” This resulted in the formal breaking of diplomatic relations between the two countries on July 25. Three days later war was formally declared by Austria.

The peace of all Europe hangs in the balance. By the terms of the Triple Entente, Russia, England, and France naturally stand together for the defense of Servia; while the Triple Alliance brings Germany and Italy to the help of Austria. The Triple Entente has a total war strength of 10,230,000 men; the Triple Alliance of 8,400,000. Belgrade, the capital of Servia, has been occupied by the Austrian troops, and King Peter has established temporary headquarters at Kragu<PRIVATE_PERSON>jevatz.

All Europe is watching with anxiety the efforts of England to avert a general war and “localize” the conflict. Russia is especially aggressive in behalf of her little neighbor. The war office has taken control of all railroads leading to the German and Austrian frontiers. Mines have been laid in the Baltic approaches to Russian ports, and port lights extinguished.

The armies in every European country are being mobilized, and the navies placed on a war-footing. The markets of the world are in a state of demoralization in expectation of a general European conflict, and more than $100,000,000 of American gold is already on the way to the war-menaced nations.

Sir Edward Grey declares that if efforts to bring about a settlement fail, “the greatest catastrophe which could befall the concert of Europe will result, and its consequences will be incalculable.”

Newspapers in striking headlines and in graphic language picture the seriousness of the present situation, which surely presages in no uncertain tones the soon-coming conflict of Armageddon.

Says a dispatch from London to the Washington Herald, “Apparently nothing short of divine intervention can stay the sword now unsheathed.” But even now the great Ruler of nations can stay the sword or greatly limit its destructive work. Let us pray Heaven to hold the winds of war a little longer until the sealing work is accomplished. Rev. 7:1-4.

A PERSONAL letter recently received from Elder W. H. Heckman, president of the Florida Conference, contains the following note concerning the progress of the work in that field: “We have organized two churches thus far this year, with a membership of thirty-one and thirty-eight, respectively. We erected three new church buildings, and more than one hundred Sabbath keepers were added to the church during the first six months of 1914. Our tithe has increased about $1,000 over the corresponding period of last year; and we have raised our share of the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, with a surplus of $178.53. Since this report was made, I visited one of our larger churches, and at the close of the morning service a brother handed me a check for $400 for missions. This last winter was the best in the history of our sanitarium. During the first five months of the year, it earned about $6,000 above expenses. We are indeed thankful that the Lord is blessing the work in this conference.”