THE MAILED FIST.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 469, 30 March 1909, Page 5

THE MAILED FIST.

WAR LORD TALKS. THE CAUSE OF RUSSIA'S VOLTE FACE. ARMY UNPREPARED, FEAR OF A GERMAN MOBILISATION. (UY THIiEIIUAPH—riIESS ASSOCIATION—COPniWUT.) (Rec. March 29, 9.50 p.m.) St. Petersburg, March 29. Russia's acceptance of Germany's Note inviting Russia to rccogniso the Austro-Hun-garian annexations of Bosnia and Herzego- ■ vina is likened to tho fall of M. Delcasse (formerly French Minister for Foreign Affairs) when Germany exerted pressure over the Moroccan question. It is understood that when the German Ambassador to Russia (Count Pourtales) reminded tho Russian Foreign Minister (M. Isvolsky) that Austria was Germany's ally, M. Isvolsky reported to the Cabinet the probability of a German mobilisation on the Russian frontier within 48 hours. Thereupon, realising the uureadinees of j the Russian army, the majority of the Ministers voted for bringing pressure to bear upon Servia, "THWARTED BY SHEER WEIGHT OF ARMS." ■ y BLOW TO RUSSIAN INFLUENCE IN THE | BALKANS. London, March 29. The "Daily Mail" declares that tho German victory at St. Petersburg was secured by a free use of the " mailed fist." The two German Powers (Germany and Austria-Hun-gary), with eleven million men and with 20 Dreadnoughts building, thwarted the Triple Entente (Russia, France, and Britain), by sheer weight of arms. The St. Petersburg press are profoundly indignant at what they deem the unreasonable panic behind M. hvolsky's volto faco. They state that the abandonment of Servia will lead to the eclipse of Russian influenco in tho Balkans for a century. THE AUSTRO-CERMAN ALLIANCE CEMENTED. VIENNA'S DEBT TO BERLIN. SERVIA'S CONCESSIONS-BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE. London, March 29. Tho Vienna correspondent of "Tho Times" reports that tho agreement between Britain and Austria-Hungary is complete. Sorvia is beginning to discharge her reservists. Tho Powers to-day will invite Servia to supplement her last Note with a formula which has been agreed on between Baron von Aehronthal and Sir Edward Grey (Foreign Ministers of Austria-Hungary and Britain respectively). It is understood that Sorvia undertakes to reduce her armaments to a normal level and to preserve neighbourly relations. Austria-Hungary will afterwards request Britain to consent to tho abrogation of Article 25 of tho Treaty of Berlin, including tho sanctioning of the annexations, which Britain concedes. The meeting of the Conference of tho Powers is being left an open question. [Article 25 of tho Treaty of Berlin is ns follows:—Tho provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina shall bo occupied and administered by Austrialinncary. The Government of'Austria-Hungary not desiring to undertake tho administration of tho Sandjak Of Noubazar, which extends between Servia anil Montenegro in a south-easterly direction to the other sido of Mitrovlt.za, tho Ottoman Administration will continue to eserciso its functions thero. Nevertheless, in order, to ensure the maintenance of the new political state of affairs, m well as freedom and security of communications, Austria-Hungary _ rosorvea the right of keeping garrisons and military and commercial roads in tho whole of this part of tho nneiont vilayet of Bosnia. To this end tho Governments of Austria-Hungary and Turkey reserve to themselves to como to an understanding on dotails.l

Summing up tho situation, tho correspondent states that Austria-Hungary has spent thirty millions sterling on mobilisation, but that her army is readier than it has been einco 1889. Germany's assurance to Aiin-tria-Hungary of full military and diplomatic support has strengthened their alliance, and has left Austria-Hungary under a deep obligation upon which Germany will in the future certainly not hesitate- to draw. BEHIND THE SCENES. EMPEROR-PRESUMPTIVE AND KAISER. (Reo. March 29, 11.60 p.m.) Paris, March 29. "Lβ Temps" affirms that tho Kaiser William and tho Archduke- Francis Ferdinand of Esto, heir-presumptive- to thcthrotio of have continually corresponded sinoe their meeting at Eckartzan on November 4 of last year. [The Arohduke Tranz Ferdinand is said to hi the man behind Baron von Aehrenthal, and there are not lacking those who say that tho Kaiger s the man behind the Archduke Franz Ferdinand.] THE SERVIAN SUCCESSION. ALEXANDER DIFFIDENT. London) March 29. Prince Alexander of Servia, hearing of tho renunciation by his elder brother, Prince GcorgO) of tho succession to tho throne, declared that under no circumstances would ho take his brother's placo, adding, "If he cannot be a good king, neither can I. I will stick to him through thick and thin.' , RENEWAL OF THE RENUNCIATION. SKUPTSGHINA APPROVES, ALEXANDER AN AUSTROPHILE. (Rcc. March 29, 11.60 p.m.) Belgrade, March 29. The renunciation of the succession by the CrOwit Princo Georgo of Servia was read in tho Skuptschina. and waß adopted with a single dissentient, Tho Crown Priuco afterwards attended a meeting of tho Cabinet and ronowed his renunciation. Ho visited his brother, Princo Alexander, and affectionately wished him bettor hick than ho (George) had had. Vienna, March 29. Tho press favourably receives Princo Alexander's succession, his sympathy with Austria-Hungary being known. ISVOLSKY AND DELCASSE. TEE GERMAN POLICY OP BATTLING THE SADHK. The above cablegram sccnjss lo signify a marked triumph V>,V thu Triple Alliance-de-spite the lukewanmiess nml passivity of Haly —over Hie .HiiMn-Franco-BriHsh I'riule Kntente. Uennnny and Austria-Hungary have apparently been out gunning Willi a vengeance, and while the fire-eating Servian Crown Prince liiii fallen lo the Auslriiih lowlilig-liioce, the German heavy artillery lug routqu the whole

Russian Cabinet, Tho position of the Russian ioreign Minister, J]. Isvolsky, is beiiiß compared with that of tho ex-Poreign Minister of iranco, 11. Delcasse, whose Moroccan policy concentrated upon him tho full force of the dreadful Teutonic fury. It is said that wheu M. Delcasse resigned In 1005, it was under a t lreat of frontier mobilisation from Berlin; the Algeciras Conference followed, and German diplomacy gained little after all. The analogy 1? EO r, in so ' tar ns 'he temporary success of the German policy uf "rattling the subre" is concerned, but the Conference of the Powers is still a sine die" affair, and M. Isvolsky has not yet resigned, though tho anger of the Kussian press may be held to presage such a consequence. His successful financial adjustment of matters in dispute between Turkey and Bulgaria was held to bo brilliant diplomacy and to lmve brought the Bulgarians fairly within the Russian fold. On tho other hand, the latest development is held to deal a deadly blow at Russia's aspiration to the leadership of the Balkan Slavs and at her conception of n Balkan Confederation designed to check Austrian progress southward. When tho Crown Prince George of Servia, subsequent to tho Austro-Hungarian annexations last year, "Sited St. Petersburg and brought back 'with. him stories of n cordial reception by tho Tsar and more than n hint of Russian support for Servia, the hopes of tho Serbs beat unduly high. Wow comes tho transformation scene— the Russian volte face, the submission of Servia, the _ Crown Prince's renunciation. Russia's recognition of the annexations—that is, her failure to insist on the situation goinng as an open question before the Conference of tho Powers—is perhaps no substantial loss to the subjects of tho Tsar, but it is a blow to the prestige of Russia, and no doubt of tho Conference (which was proposed by Sir Edward Grey). Perhaps the most notable effect of nil is tho lurid light which the incident throws on the methods of the "Mailed Fist." What has been done with army corps might also be done with Dreadnoughts. !