Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 10.djvu/485

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.
LEFT
415
RIGHT

WORKINGTON 415 WORLD WAR to make it clear that he was not him- self responsible for the injury sustained, that no fellow worker had been at fault, and that the accident partook of a char- acter which put it outside the normal risks connected with the industry. It thus came about that a small proportion only of the injuries suffered were ever compensated, and the injuries had to be borne with as best they could be. Leg- islation in the direction of securing com- pensation for the injured worker had long been the subject of consideration and discussion in European countries, and legislation having that purpose in view was introduced in Germany in 1884. The new laws, which were made the model of laws having a similar pur- pose in other European countries, also attracted attention in the United States, where a number of States passed legis- lation on similar lines. This legislation had the effect in most cases of doing away with the necessity of a lawsuit, and of providing scales of compensation for injuries during working hours and connected with the work regardless as to the direction in which responsibility lay. These laws in most cases required that accidents of every kind should be reported to a public board having the duty of determining the amounts of com- pensation. The injured worker or his family are thus enabled to receive their due without expense or delay. WORKINGTON, a municipal borough and seaport of Cumberland, England, at the mouth of the Derwent; 7 miles N. of Whitehaven. Its harbor, furnished with a breakwater (1873) and several quays, is safe and commodious. To the coal mines in the vicinity the town chiefly owes its prosperity; and there are large iron works and other industrial establishments here. The salmon fishery near is important. Mary, Queen of Scots, landed here, on her flight from Lang- side, May 16, 1568, and was entertained at Worthington Hall (the seat of the Curwens from about 1160 till the present day). Pop. about 25,000. WORLD WAR, the war fought be- tw^een Serbia, Russia, France, Belgium, England, Japan, Italy, the United States and^ their allies (generally termed the Allies), and Austria-Hungary, Ger- many, Bulgaria, and Turkey (known as the Central Potvers). It began on July 28, 1914, with Austria-Hungary's declar- ation of war on Serbia, and ended on November 11, 1918, with the granting of an armistice to Germany on the part of the Allies. The Deeper Causes, Efforts for Peace. — The assassination of the Archduke Francis Ferdinand, heir to the Austrian throne, and his consort at Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia, on June 28, 1914, pre- cipitated the World War but it was not the cause. The million Slavs of Serbian race in Austria-Hungary had long as- pired to unite with their brothers in Serbia in the formation of a great Ser- bian Empire, and in this purpose they were encouraged by the government of Belgrade. Austria recognized the men- ace that threatened the disruption of the Empire, and in 1913 had sounded Italy on the question of striking a decisive blow at Serbia, but met with no encour- agement. The Dual Monarchy, assured of Germany's support, only waited for a favorable opportunity to attack Serbia. The crime of Sarajevo provided a cause for making war, for demands were made on the little kingdom which no sovereign state could honorably accept. Germany shared with her ally the fear of a great Slavic union and there were other scores to be settled when she was strong enough and conditions seemed favorable for making war on her en- emies. The Austro-Serbian embroglio offered that opportunity. Germany since the accession of William II. dreamed of a World Empire, but wherever she at- tempted to extend her dominions she found France or England had been be- fore her, while the Monroe Doctrine blocked her way in South America. In 1906, 1908, and 1912 navy bills were passed by the Reichstag tnat resulted in the building of a navy second only to that of England. Germany's arrogant and aggressive attitude alarmed her neighbors. France was already in alli- ance with Russia and the Anglo-Russian agreement of 1907 completed the triple understanding. For eight years Ger- many tried to break up the Entente by alternately threatening and making friendly advances. Austria annexed Bos- nia and Herzegovina in 1908. Russia, France and England protested but were unprepared for war in such a cause. Germany supporting Austria waved her shining sword and treated the protest with contempt, but the Entente survived the blow firm and unimpaired. In 1908 Germany despatched the "Panther" to Agadir, a direct provocation to France, but Great Britain's support averted war and Germany was pacified by the cession of a portion of the French Congo. Other disappointments for Germany follov/ed. The Italian annexation of Tripoli and Cyrenaica after the war of 1911 ended German hopes in these territories. She believed that Turkey would win in the Balkan War that followed, but the re- sult was that a new and formidable Slav