Fear A European War.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 26, 1912:
Germany and Austria Pessimistic — Gen. Imhoff Tells of the Peril.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    BERLIN, Oct. 25.— Germany and Austria, The New York Times correspondent is enabled to state on first hand authority, secretly cherish the conviction that a European conflagration, as a consequence of the Balkan war, is very probable.
    Austria, official denials to the contrary notwithstanding, is already in such an advanced state of military preparedness that she could begin operations to-morrow; Russia has made arrangements which are not far behind, while Germany, whose army and navy are always in a state of semi-mobilization, has not gone to the extent to which her neighboring empires have proceeded, but has taken certain preliminary steps, which are the forerunners of actual war preparations.
    Military men in Berlin make no secret of the fact that a Russo-Austrian conflict over the Balkans is far more imminent than during the Bosnia-Herzegovina annexation crisis of 1909. They declare that Germany and France would almost certainly be drawn into such a war, and that it would be difficult for Great Britain, if the Triple Entente is worth anything, to keep out of the mêlée.
    There is reason to believe that German diplomatic authorities are neither so anxious for war as the military party, nor so pessimistic in regard to its likelihood.
    Count von Lernstoff on his arrival in New York on Tuesday gave a remote intimation of what, The New York Times correspondent understands, is now going on, namely, Franco-German informal pourparlers with a view to eventual joint action to restrain their respective allies at St. Petersburg and Vienna from rushing into war over the distribution of the Balkan spoils.
    Major Gen. Imhoff, the distinguished German ordnance expert, who reorganized the Turkish artillery under Gen. Baron von der Golz, has also explained where the clanger of a European Armageddon exists. He said: "The Sanjak of Novi-Bazar will prove to be a firebrand, if the Balkan league succeeds in beating the Turks. In that event the district will be under the military occupation of Servians, Montenegrins, and perhaps also Bulgarians. This Sanjak constitutes one of Austria's vital political interests. It appears to me a grave question whether the victorious Balkan armies, when the time conies for the conclusion of peace with the vanquished Turks, would amicably evacuate the Sanjak.
    "Remember what happened in 1866, when Napoleon III. attempted to intervene in Prussia's triumphant operations in Bohemia. Is it not conceivable that the Servian, Montenegrin, and Bulgarian Army of occupation would as sternly reject Austria's bidding to evacuate the conquered territory as Bismarck rejected Napoleon's?
    "Servia longs for expansion south and west. She seeks the re-creation of the Old Servian Empire. A victorious State and army are always prepared to risk new sacrifices to hold what they have won. Austria has said that she would not tolerate the occupation of the Sanjak by Servia. She could prevent the eventuality mentioned only by going to war. How long would it be before Russia would be compelled to take a hand?
    "This opens up a vista of terrible possibilities, which, I devoutly trust, it will be unnecessary to discuss in the lurid light of realities."
    Gen. Imhoff, however, like the entire German Army, has confidence in the Turks. He declares that the early frontier successes won by the Bulgarians, Servians, Montenegrins, and Greeks are absolutely without influence on the great and vital issues of the campaign. He lays great stress on the mountainous character of both Macedonia and Thrace and says that the giant ranges of Rhodope and Istranja will prove unconquerable allies for the Ottoman forces. He explains the tardiness of Nizam Pasha in taking the offensive against the Bulgarians as due to the slowness with which the Ottoman mobilization has taken place.
    "The Turks," he says, "have had 'offensive' as the first and last law of war thoroughly drilled into them by their German drill masters, and when the time arrives for them to resort to it they will do so and will, without any manner of doubt, give an account of themselves worthy in every respect of their fighting traditions."