HE CAUSED THE WAR

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 July 1927, Page 10

HE CAUSED THE WAR

DEATH OF ASSASSIN AN ASTONISHING STORY LIFE ENDED IN DARK CELL By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright LONDON, Friday. HE caused the Great War! A remarkable story of the life and death of Gavrilo Princip, the man who murdered the Archduke Francis Ferdinand at Serajevo, and so precipitated a world struggle of millions, is published by the “Daily Express.” The narrative is based on a prison doctors’ notes and the application of psycho-analysis to his case while Princip was in an Austrian prison. These were the only conversations Princip was permitted to have with any living soul after he had been condemned to imprisonment for life. The medical man referred to, Dr. Pappenheim, records that Princip was a fanatic, but an intelligent youth and mentally normal. He was born in 1894 and died on February 19, 1916. His father was a peasant. Princip did not drink. He always enjoyed good health, and sustained no serious injuries until after the outrage. Then he had wounds in the head—wounds everywhere. The youth had read many books on anarchy when he was in the fourth form at a high school. FEARFUL PRISON LIFE The story goes on to tell how Princip met a girl with whom he fell in love. His affection for her was idealistic and he never kissed her. Nor did he ever write to her. The youth wanted to fight in the Balkan War of 1913, but he was too weak. He usually only slept four hours every night. He dreamed a good deal —“fine, splendid dreams, no nightmares.” The motive for the outrage was love and revenge for the Serbian people. Dr. Pappenlieim’s record continues: “A month after his crime Princip tried to hang himself w r ith a towel. He had unhealed wounds on liis chest and arm. Permission was given for the amputation of one hand. “He said a life like this was impossible, and that if the chance recurred he would again try to commit suicide. “He thought of his parents with longing, but was allowed to receive no news of them. He had no wish to be a hero, and he could not believe the World War had broken out as a result of his deed.” PLANNING THE OUTRAGE Dr. Pappenheim expresses the opinion that Princip, sentenced as he was to lifelong solitary confinement, had nothing to hope for and no reason to conceal the truth, but he sought to shield his accomplices, Gabrinovitch and Grabez. Princip said his first idea was to murder Potiorek, Military Governor of Bosnia, but he heard in March, 1914, that the Austrian heir-apparent was going to Serajevo, and that seemed to be his chance. The youth discussed his scheme with several members of a Serbian terrorist society, one of whom was able to secure some bombs. Princip returned to Serajevo on May 26, 1914. He studied and read quietly for the next few days. He was always buying more books. “MY SERBIA IS NO MORE!” In telling his story to Dr. Pappenheim, he said that what made his imprisonment so terrible was being allowed no books.

Asked what he thought would have been the best thing for his country, Princip could not answer. He explained when he and the doctor were alone together: Everything is clear, but when I speak to another person I become uncertain.

Perhaps the most tragic passage in the narrative is Princip’s distress when he was told of Serbia’s downfall. He cried: “Serbia is no more. My Serbian people. My Serbian people.” So died Princip in a dark cell, wracked with tuberculosis and his wounds, while the world was in convulsions owing to his mad crime.— A. and N.Z.

On June 28, 1914, the heir-presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated at Serajevo, the capital of Bosnia. While they were on their way to the Town Hall a bomb was thrown at the Royal motor-car, but it exploded behind it and the occupants escaped.

A little later as the car was on the Appel Quay a man threw a bomb, which failed to explode. He then fired three shots from a pistol, which killed the duke and duchess. The crowd seized the perpetrator, who was arrested by. the police. He was a young Serbian named Princip, a native of Grahovo, a student in the highest class in the public school. The man who threw the first bomb was a typographer namdd Cabrinovitch.

It is a matter of history how the crime led to Austria’s sending a stronglyworded ultimatum to Serbia and promptly invaded that country, with the result that all Europe was speedily involved in the Great War.