1867 Eyeball Effect

Chapter 749: 1867 Eyeball Effect

"Have we found out what the Austrians are really after?" Prime Minister Gladstone asked.

The moment Prussia announced a debt moratorium, the London Government suspected Austria. A brief investigation revealed the role the Vienna Government had played.

There was no way to keep something like this secret. Without Austria stepping forward to cheer them on, the Berlin Government would never have dared do it.

Foreign Secretary Granville George Leveson-Gower said, "On the surface, the Austrians want to drive a wedge between us and Prussia. In that regard, they have already succeeded.

"Our intelligence agents have discovered that Austria's railway freight volume has surged recently. A deeper investigation found large quantities of strategic supplies converging on the ports.

"The Austrians appear to be preparing for a war, but there have been no unusual troop movements. They probably are not targeting France."

After the Paris Revolution broke out, the London Government had kept a close watch on Austria's movements, fearing that the balance of power on the Continent might be shattered if they let their guard down.

In terms of interests, France and Austria had fought over Continental hegemony for many years. Now that France had fallen ill, Austria had every motive to kick it while it was down.

But France was no soft persimmon either. Even with internal turmoil erupting, it was not an easy target. Austria would not act rashly without sufficient preparation.

Gladstone looked at the world map and nodded thoughtfully. "If they have not mobilized militarily, then the target Austria intends to strike this time is probably not very powerful.

"The Vienna System has only just been established. The Austrians will not slap their own faces. This war is most likely outside Europe.

"The Far East, South America, the Near East, or a