This period also saw numerous upheavals in the Balkans. Throughout
these Germany made it clear that it would permit nothing in that
part of the world which would work out to the disadvantage of its
ally--Austria.

In spite of temporary reduction in the tension existing between
Germany on the one hand, and England, France, and Russia
respectively on the other, the differences between these countries
became more marked, diplomatic clashes more frequent, and their
mutual suspicion of each other more pronounced. England especially
resented the ambitious naval program of Germany, which seriously
threatened British supremacy on the sea and forced England to
tremendous expenditures to maintain its overwhelming naval strength.
France was menaced by Germany's increase in the peace strength of
its army, which was accomplished in 1913 by means of special
taxation known as the "Wehrbeitrag."

The German-French relations were influenced considerably, not only by
French colonial policy, but also by conditions in Alsace-Lorraine. We
have already heard of the French attitude in regard to these so-called
"lost provinces." Right after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, and
for a considerable period afterward, the desire for restitution and
the demand for the reconquest of the lost territory undoubtedly was as
sincere as it was widespread among the French nation. It is, however,
no less true that these sentiments decreased in fervor, and most
likely would have subsided entirely if they would have been permitted
to take their natural course. Instead of this, this question gradually
became a political issue of the first magnitude, and now one political
party and then another would use it for its own purposes. It was thus
that the French-German animosity was kept alive and nurtured. On the
German side the more or less uncompromising attitude toward all things
French as far as Alsace-Lorraine was officially claimed to be a matter
of political necessity. At any rate it gave continual opportunities to
French politicians to make capital out of the conditions as they
existed in Alsace-Lorraine. One of the most severe outbreaks of
anti-German and antimilitary feeling in that part of the German Empire
happened in December, 1913, in the small Alsatian garrison town of
Zabern, when some Alsatians of French antecedents and sympathizers
were wounded in a clash with German officers and soldiers. Unimportant
as this affair was, in a way, it result