HISTORY OF THE BALKANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16317, 25 August 1916, Page 6

HISTORY OF THE BALKANS.

SERVIA AND THE WAR. Ix the course of a lecture delivered at the Y.M.C.A. last night, Professor Grossman outlined in most interesting manner the history of the Balkan States from early days, 'and through a long period of warfare and intrigue, down to the position they occupy to-day in relation to the great struggle between the allied nations and the Central Powers. The Balkan, problem, said the lecturer, was briefly the effort of a number of Christian races, mostly Slav in origin, to free themselves from the Turkish yoke, imposed with despotic cruelty ever since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Russia's traditional attitude towards the States had been one of protector and champion, 'for reasons partly racial, partly religious, and partly political, an attitude which for nearly 100 years had been misrepresented and misunderstood by Britain as well as by other nations. A long series of atrocities under Turkish rule was the explanation of the desire of Slav races to attain national independence, and in this they had Russia's support. The lecturer traced the attainment of this desire on the part of Servia, Greece, Roumania and Bulgaria, Russia joining issue with the States on three different occasions with the avowed intention of breaking the yoke of the Turks. During the last quarter of the 19th century, Germany and Austria definitely occupied themselves with these same problems, and opposed themselves to the programme and policy which Russia had attempted to carry out. Austria was disturbed and harassed by problems of domestic policy, and always before her was the fear of a great Slav uprising within her own borders. The animosity between Slav and Teuton had been the chief motive power in German policy ever since she had had a policy of her own. Therefore both nations had reason to fear the domination of Russia in the Near East and in the Balkan Peninsula

During the latter half of the 19th century, the conflicting interests of Austria and Russia, both of whom sought a free sea-way through the States, precipitated a series of struggles, while Germany showed that she had resolved to secure for herself a reversionary interest in the decadent nation of Turkey. The States of Bosnia and Herzegovina, long occupied by the Austrians, were seriously disaffected, and the nationalist and patriotic spirit in Servia rapidly spread. The Russo-Japanese war in 1904, the revolt of the Young Turks in 1908, and the formal seizure of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said Professor Grossman, were all contributing factors to the first of the Balkan wars in 1911, and all the bitterness of years of struggle and political intrigue finally culminated in the assassination °at Serajevo in 1914. The lecturer concluded by outlining the attitude of the various States in regard to the present war. and the possible» results to them from victory on the part of the allies, the interest of the war, so far as readjustment was concerned, centring in Servia, and the ultimate formation of a | Greater Servia by the inclusion of all its alienated provinces.