The Irish Nuns at Ypres: An Episode of the War

The Irish Nuns at Ypres: An Episode of the War

I have been asked to write an introduction to this book, but I feel that I can add little to its intense dramatic interest. Ypres has been one of the chief centres of the terrible struggle which is now proceeding on the Continent, and it is well known that this same old Flemish town has figured again and again in the bloody contests of the past. It may, perhaps, be well to explain, in a few words, how the tide of war has once more rolled to this old-world city. On Sunday, June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia, the Archduke Francis Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife, the Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinated. Although it was known throughout Europe that there was in existence in Serbia an anti-Austrian conspiracy (not of[Pg xii] a very formidable character), and although suspicion pointed towards the assassinations being due in some way to the influence of this conspiracy, no one dreamt for a moment that the tragedy which had occurred would have serious European consequences; and, as a matter of fact, it was not until July 23 that the Austro-Hungarian Government presented an ultimatum to Serbia. On that day, however, a note of a most extraordinary and menacing character was delivered to the Serbian Government by Austria-Hungary. It contained no less than ten separate demands, including the suppression of newspapers and literature; the disappearance of all nationalist societies; the reorganisation of Government schools; wholesale dismissal of officers from the army; and an extraordinary demand that Austro-Hungarian officials should have a share in all judicial proceedings in Serbia; besides the arrest of certain specified men, and the prevention of all traffic in arms. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 67512
Author: Columban, M.
Release Date: Feb 26, 2022
Format: eBook
Language: English
Publisher: Smith, Elder & Co.
Publication Date: 1915
Publisher Country: United Kingdom

Contributors

Editor: O'Brien, R. Barry (Richard Barry), 1847-1918