Austrian Ambitions Alarm The Allies.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 28, 1912:
With Her Army Still on War Footing, the Dual Monarchy Presses for Adriatic Base.
ITALY OPPOSES THE SCHEME
Bulgaria Reported to be Preparing to Renew War — Turks Will Reply to Allies' Demands To-day.
    LONDON, Dec. 27.— On the eve of the reassembling of the Balkan Peace Conference, when Turkey is expected to answer the allies' territorial proposal with a counter proposal, equally unacceptable, interest has shifted again to the serious question of Austria's real purposes in the Near East.
    That the dual monarchy is determined to carry out some ambitious plan is thought proved by the fact that she has not yet begun to demobilize the big army which she recently called to the colors. In diplomatic circles it is believed that at the resumption of the Ambassadorial conference Thursday Austria will urge the representatives of the powers to make the territory of autonomous Albania as large as possible, and include in it Prisrend, Djacova, and even Scutari.
    Meanwhile Austria is tempting Montenegro by proposing, in exchange of Austria's support of the cession of Scutari to Montenegro, that Austria have possession of the mountains dominating Cattaro, which would thus become such an impregnable naval stronghold as to make the Vienna Government the master of the Adriatic Sea.
    Italy, which is the power chiefly interested, opposes such a scheme as would give her rival the coveted supremacy on the sea, which was once regarded as a Venetian lake. Russia is equally anxious to stifle the Austrian project, which, if successful, would end forever the Muscovite ambition to obtain an outlet on the Adriatic.
    Montenegro regards the scheme as fatal to her very existence. The loss of the mountains above Cattaro, besides depriving her of a strong weapon against Austria, would virtually put the country in Austrian hands, as from those mountains cannon could dominate Cettinje.
    Austria's project is causing among the allies dissatisfaction with the Triple Entente, which is accused of acting against its own interests in failing to defend the Balkan States. Said a member of the Servian delegation:
    "The Austrian declares that he desires no territorial aggrandizement, but through his mobilization he prevents a solution of the Balkan problem and imposes the formation of Albania into territories, which Austria will seize at the first opportunity. German policy will be definitely substituted in the Orient for the Balkanic Slav equilibrium, if the Triple Entente makes this last abdication before the Triple Alliance. The Balkan Slavs realize that not even a victorious war can gain for them conditions necessary to their political, moral, and economic development, and find that their safety lies in a close understanding with Austria.
    "This would cause a great transformation in the status of the Orient, as Germany and Austria, freed from the nightmare of a great Servian State, would dominate the Balkans unopposed, having in their hands the markets and a route to India. If the Triple Entente desires this, they had better say so frankly."
    Turkey's reply to the demands made by the Balkan allies will be delivered tomorrow to the peace conference in St. James's Palace. She will make large demands in turn, but it is well known that Turkey has no hope of obtaining what she will ask, and has no intention of resuming a war, which may result in further disaster to her.
    Reports from Constantinople that the military officers had been ordered to the Tchatalja lines caused a ripple of excitement here to-day. The explanation given is that they were sent back because the soldiers were mutinous over the officers enjoying themselves in the capital, while they were enduring hardships in the trenches.