quickly followed by disasters more serious. Italy went to Tripoli and in making war upon Turkey attacked a Power regarded in Germany as an ally, whose army, German trained, was confidently expected to stand with the Triple Alliance on the great day of European conflict.
Defeated by Italy, Turkey was next compelled to face the alliance of the Balkan States, whose union was the direct product of Russian diplomacy. With the victories of Lule Burgas, Kumanovo and Jenidje-Vardar, Turkish power in Europe collapsed and the small Balkan States, increased by great territorial gain, stood on Austria's southern frontier, barring her road to the Ægean, and in the case of Servia threatening to play the role on the Danube that Sardinia had played on the Po and unite the southern Slavs as Sardinia united Italy.
To prevent this Austria resorted to desperate tactics. Like Germany, she had expected Turkish victory, and the Osmanli ruin found her unprepared. Toward Servia she adopted bullying methods. To break up the Balkan alliance, which was in fact a Russian creation and an adjunct of the Triple Entente, she promoted the dissension among the Balkan allies which resulted in the second war.
But again Austria backed the wrong horse. Not only was Bulgaria defeated and Servia still further increased in territory and in prestige, but Austrian support for Bulgaria had alienated Rumania, hitherto the steadfast friend of the Triple Alliance,