Pessimism in Berlin.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 10, 1912:
    BERLIN, Oct. 9.— The ignominious failure of the powers to prevent war in the Balkans leads many German observers to fear that Europe's confluence that the war can be localized may prove equally misplaced.
    The Krupps' organ, the influential Berliner Neueste Nachrichten, voices to-night in graphic language the anxieties which find expression in other quarters in more guarded terms. It says:
    "The paramount question of the hour is whether the war can be confined to the Near East. Europe's diplomats unanimously affirm that it can, but diplomats are not infallible. Our statesmen-wiseacres are so vehement in their assurances that the war will be localized that the public unavoidably harks back to similar assurances in the past, which were destined to prove illusory.
    "We do not believe that any of the great powers want war at this moment, but the actual and potential antagonisms and conflicts of interest among the powers are such that some of them in a given emergency would simply be compelled to go to war to safeguard their vital interests.
    " 'We are drifting into war,' said a famous British statesman of the nineteenth century in describing a condition of affairs analogous to that now confronting Europe. Certain States are already apparently preparing for all eventualities.
    "Austria-Hungary's military credits, originally $62,500,000, have already swelled to $125,000,000, and are to be used not only for military but also for naval purposes. Italy plans to replace the 70,000 troops hitherto occupied in Tripoli on home soil within thirty days. What could be more significant?"
    The Vossische Zeitung, voicing the same idea, points out that Auatria-Hungary's and Italy's "precautionary measures," taken in conjunction with Russia's "trial mobilization" on her southeastern frontiers and the Rumanian "manoeuvres," are, to say the least, eloquent testimony of what Europe considers to be within the range of possibilities.