Page:The History of The Great European War Vol 1.pdf/13

 CONTENTS BOOK I INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER I THE ASSASSINATION OF THE ARCHDUKE FRANZ FERDINAND

Bosnia-Herzegovina—Annexation by Austria-Hungary—The Slavs of Bosnia—Servia and Pan-Slavism—Serajevo, the Bosnian capital—Its mixed population—Sunday, June 28, 1914—The town en fete—The visit of the Archduke—His religious and political views— His policy in regard to the Balkan States—The Austrian army and fleet—His reserved and brutal temperament—His public reception in the streets of Serajevo—The political treatment accorded to the Slavs—The knowledge of the crowd—The Archduke’s drive to the town hall—The first bomb—The scene at the town hall—The return from the town hall—The second and successful attempt on the Archduke’s life—The devotion of the Duchess—Their death—The Duchess a morganatic wife—Their romantic marriage— Declaration of war by Austria on Servia, July 28, 1914 • • • pp. 1-7

CHAPTER II

THE GENERAL INTERNATIONAL FORCES LEADING UP TO THE WAR The "Day"—The Powers at War—The Triple Alliance—The Triple Entente—Origin of the conflict—Britain maintains the liberty of peoples—General reasons for Britain’s place in the fighting line—The principles for which Austria and Germany fight—The dominant European policies during the last forty years—Absolute dynastic monarchy —Bismarck creates the Triple Alliance—The balance of power—The conspiracy of Germany and Austria to disturb the balance of power—Every State entitled to economic expansion—Germany requires colonies—The diplomatic fight which preceded the war —Its non-success—The instruments used—Nationalism and Pan-Germanism—Peaceful penetration—Morocco, Manchuria—Treaties and their breach—Germany and the neutrality of Belgium and the independence of Morocco—Conclusions. pp. 8-16