lost ground. Russia and Austria first despoiled her THE SICK MAN of some of her valuable land. Then OF THE EAST her own subjects arose to throw off her galling yoke. The Balkan country has from this time been a knotty problem for all of Europe. It has been clear that the savage Turks were in the end to be driven from Europe and the burning question has been when this should happen who would get possession of her empire and particularly who would control Constantinople and the outlet from the Black Sea, otherwise known as the Dardanelles. This has been spoken of as the Eastern Question and Turkey has for years been known as the "Sick Man of the East." Many nations of Europe have aspired to control the Dardanelles and to possess Constantinople.

The Serbians first threw off the Turkish rule after a long, hard contest. The Turks were driven out of Serbia, and Belgrade became the capital. Next the Greeks arose against their oppressor and for six years bitterly fought the Turks alone. Then other nations came to the rescue, and Greece became a nation independent of Turkey in 1829.

WAR

In 1853 Russia started to drive the Turks from Europe, but England and France, to their shame, THE CRIMEAN came to the aid of Turkey. England did this because she feared with Russia in control of Constantinople, England's route to the east through the Suez Canal would be in peril. France had a grudge against Russia for defeating Napoleon years before, so she stooped with England to help the cruel Turks. This war was known as the Crimean War. It did not solve the Eastern question, for Turkey was left in possession of the Dardanelles and Russia was defeated. The Sultan

of Turkey promised better treatment of his Christian subjects if he were allowed to keep his territory. He did not keep his promise, however, but treated them even worse than before.

In 1866 Roumania claimed and won her independence from Turkey. The Roumanians were descendants of the Romans. The Bulgarians next rose against the Turks, but their masters butchered them by the thousands and destroyed sixty-five of their villages with indescribable cruelty. The atrocity of their crimes filled all Europe with horror. Gladstone, the English statesman, denounced the "unspeakable Turk" and demanded that England cease to support such barbarians. He urged that they be "expelled bag and baggage" from Europe.

Presently Serbia, Montenegro and Bulgaria, all Slav states-their people being related to the RusSLAVS WAR ON sians-declared war on Turkey.

TURKS, 1876

They were supported by Russia, who wished to aid her fellow Slavs. It was not long before the Russians were again marching on Constantinople. The Sultan begged for peace and the treaty of San Stefano was made between Russia and Turkey in 1878. It gave complete independence to Serbia, Montenegro and Roumania with larger boundaries. Bulgaria was made a self-governing state with wide frontiers tributary only to the Sultan. Only a broken strip across the peninsula was left to Turkey and she was almost edged out of Europe. But to the shame and selfishness of the other powers, they again intervened and demanded a change in the treaty. They said the Eastern question could not be settled by one nation, for it affected them all, and they all demanded a voice in the settlement. England feared Russia was coming uncom

fortably close to the Straits at Constantinople as she thought the Balkan states would become mere tools of Russia. Austria also protested loudly, for she wished a part of the spoils of Turkey for herself, and Germany was glad to help her get her share. Russia objected to allowing those who had not fought, to decide the outcome of her victory. However, she could not face all these nations in arms, so she agreed to a meeting which was called the Congress of Berlin (1878).

OF BERLIN

Bismarck was at the Congress of Berlin and sided with Austria, giving her claim to the provinces of THE CONGRESS Bosnia and Herzegovina which, being peopled with Slavs, should have gone to Serbia. England took the island of Cyprus and Bulgaria's boundaries were reduced and the land given back to Turkey. The result was that though Turkey's territory was much reduced, it was not so much cut off as in the treaty of San Stefano. Turkey's population was, however, reduced from 17 millions to 6 millions and she would have been put off the peninsula by Russia except for the selfish jealousy concerning the Straits of the Dardanelles. And so more bloody wars must follow.

Following up the Congress of Berlin, AustroHungary in 1908 made Bosnia and Herzegovina a real part of her Empire. Serbia was much embittered by this, as she thought these Slav provinces were hers by right and they would have given her an outlet to the Adriatic Sea for her trade. Now she was hemmed in on all sides and her war spirit again flamed up.

For many, many years the Serbians had longed to unite Serbia, Bosnia, Herzegovina and Montenegro, states which were all peopled by the Slav race.

They dreamed of restoring the old Serbian Empire of the Middle Ages with an outlet on the Adriatic Sea. Serbia, alone, of all the states of Europe, except Switzerland, could not reach the sea to market her products.

WARS

In 1912 there was a general war among the Balkan states. At first they defeated Turkey and were BALKAN about to take nearly all her land when they fell to quarreling over who should have it and began fighting among themselves. Bulgaria finally got the worst of the bargain. Austria did not take part, but when peace was made she again prevented Serbia from getting an outlet to the Adriatic.

Just at this time (1913) Austria secretly informed her ally, Italy, that she, Austria, was prepared to make war on Serbia. She asked Italy to join her according to their treaty of alliance. But Italy replied that Austria was about to make war on Serbia without any excuse. It would not be a war of defense on Austria's part. According to the terms of the alliance, Italy was to aid only in defensive warfare. So Italy refused to join Austria against Serbia in 1913. For some reason Austria gave up her plan, but we know from this that she was only waiting for the slightest excuse to attack Serbia. This brings us to the fateful year of 1914 with the Balkan question still unsettled.

CHAPTER IV

EUROPE TAKES FIRE

The spark that set all Europe aflame was lighted June 28, 1914. On this day an assassin slew Archduke Francis Ferdinand, the heir to the Austrian throne, together with his wife, as they were riding in their carriage in the streets of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia. The men who threw the bomb that caused the death of this royal couple were Austrian subjects and natives of Bosnia; however, they were Slavs by race and Austria declared that there was a society of Serbians who had arranged this dreadful crime and that they were trying to destroy the Austrian Empire by killing the heir to the throne.

We remember that some years before (1908) Austria had forcibly taken over Bosnia and annexed it to her Empire and this assassination of the Crown Prince was supposed to be a mad protest against the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. But Austria claimed that Serbia was responsible for the trouble, although it was committed by Austrian subjects on Austrian territory. All the world knew that the slaying of the heir to the Austrian throne was a crime that would lead to serious consequences and waited with bated breath for the outcome.

Strange to say, Austria for a whole month said almost nothing about the affair, but all the time she AUSTRIA'S was secretly planning to bring on war ULTIMATUM and doubtless was being advised by Germany, her ally. Suddenly, on July 23, 1914, she