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.. TX- But even in their anxiety to engage in Y greement among the members of the other camp. The great triple aliia nee between Germany, Austria and Italy stretched across the continent of Europe from the Baltic sea to the Mediterranean anH divided Europe into three geographical sections. The entente as was called was composed of England, France, and Russia. These were the two great forces that faced each other in readiness for the struggle that was to decide whether free people or autocracies were to guide the destinies of the world through future years. The triple alliance was composed of two great Autocracies, Ger many and Austria with one democracy, Italy. The entente was composed of two great democracies, England and France, with oae autocracy. Russia. Thus it was in a measure it was a case of de mocracy opposed to autocracy though the primary cause for these alliances was fear, fear that the opposing forces would become too strong for the safety of the rest "Germany and Austria planned this war long in advance. They iaiended to begin a year earlier than they did, but postponed it on account of Italy 's unexpected attitude. They had counted on Italy as an accomplice in their crime, but that government honorably re fused to have anything to do with it War was finally decided up on and the date set at a secret meeting. July 5, 1914, in the Kaiser's palace at Potsdam, The plan then adopted was carried out to the letter. On July 27th Austria made an unprovoked attack on Serbia. August 1st Germany made unprovoked declaration of war against Russia, following it two days later by declaring war against France, and on the 4th against Belgium. The pretext given for declaring war against France was most trivial—a lying story that a France airplane had been seen flying over Germany territory. All the na tions attacked were taken by surprise.'' a Germans and Austrians needed some sort of pretext This was fur nished by the assasination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir apparent to the Austrian throne, at Sarajevo, in the province of Bosnia, an unassimilated portion of Austria on June 28, 1914. Un der the instigation of Germany, Austria siezed on this event to make exorbitant demands on Serbia, a small neighbor to the south, on the 4. war of it conquest the