ustria retorted to the steps being taken by the Russo-French group
by obtaining from the Sultan permission to build a railway from
Uvatz, on the Bosnian frontier, to Mitrovitza, which would link up
Serajevo with Salonika.

The Balkan railway question had been rankling for years. The Slav
wanted an east-and-west line to connect with the Adriatic. The
Teuton a north-south one to reach the Aegean. Neither would allow
the other's plan to mature. I used to get much amusement in mixed
company by proposing various railway lines and hearing the violent
denunciations or applause that followed, according to the political
aims of those present.

The Turks have been freely blamed for neither constructing railways
nor allowing others to do so. But to be fair, one is bound to admit
that they knew very well such lines would be used for strategical
purposes, and they lived in terror of the Slav Adriatic line. Before
judging Abdul Hamid harshly, let us consider at what period we
should have allowed Russia to build and control a line across India
"to advance trade."

The year 1908 opened with the railway question. Russia and Serbia
furious about the Uvatz-Mitrovitza scheme. The Morning Post, it is
of interest to note, was markedly pro-Austrian.

I remembered four points: (1) The Austrians' boast that they would
be in Salonika by 1909; (2) The Pasha of Plevlje's statement that
Austria had more troops in the Sanjak than she was entitled to; (3)
The oft-repeated statement of Serb and Montenegrin that the Austrian
gendarmerie officers superintending "reforms" in Macedonia smuggled
in arms; (4) That Serbs and Montenegrins were also arming and
carrying on a sharp Great Serbian propaganda in Bosnia, the
Herzegovina, and the Sanjak.

In the great race Austria now seemed a neck ahead, riding Uvatz to
Salonika.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

1908. A FATEFUL YEAR

Europe was now definitely divided into two camps, each arming
against the other. Plots thickened, and events crowded on one
another. So knotted did the Balkan threads become, it is hard to
untwine them. One thing must be remembered, and that is that at the
centre of the knot was always Constantinople. To which Power or
group should it belong?

I arrived in Cetinje at the end of April to find things about as bad
as they could be. Depression was general, and the place in a hush of
terror. Every one hastened to warn me against every one else. The
Prince was due next day on his return fr