100 years ago

THE editorial today read: “The secret and motive of the assassination of the Austrian heir in the Bosnian capital have been dramatically disclosed in the extraordinary European crisis with which last week was brought to a close.

In commenting upon the crime at the time, emphasis was laid upon its ultimate political issues rather than upon its immediate personal consequences, but very few then quite understood how soon the political issues were to reveal themselves and to mature. The Sarajevo assassination was in its moral significance a dastardly and despicable act; in its political significance it seemed almost destined to mark a new era.

Germany is fully conscious that Austria’s battle against the Slavs is her own - that Austria, in fact, is her first line of defence. Great Britain, to a very large extent, is not touched by this drama and conflict of race. With France, however, we are politically linked with the Slavs through the Triple Entente, and in all probability our political influence, if not our armed power, would be cast in that scale should matters mature into war.

 

50 years ago

ENGLISH oak, which for centuries had provided Britain’s “wooden walls” until the Navy turned over to the ironclads was not currently in general demand for top-grade work.

As owner of private forest lands, Lord Inglewood (formerly MP for Westmorland and Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture) had told the Commons Estimates Committee he considered it “rather sad.” He said more could be done to develop uses for home-grown timber.”

 

25 years ago

COUNCILLORS had got on their bikes to put the new York to Selby cycle path to the test. They joined the route at Terry Avenue in York, cycling alongside early-evening commuters returning home along part of the 15-mile former railway path.