TREATY TORN UP.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 320, 6 October 1908, Page 7

TREATY TORN UP.

THE BALKANS. BULGARIA TO DECLARE INDEPENDENCE' AUSTRIAN ANNEXATION. REPORTED DESIGNS ON BOSNIA. (by TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION—COrTKIO (IT.) (Rec. October 5, 11.58 p.m.) London, October 5. Tho Paris correspondent of "Tlio Times" telegraphs as follows:— Bulgaria wilt to-day proclaim her independence, probably through a national deolaration by the Sobranja, and on Tuesday Austria-Hungary will announoe tho formal annexation bf Bosnia and Herzegovina. Commenting on what it terms "this rery serious announcement," "The Times" severely censures "this flagrant breach of tho Treaty of Berlin," and declares: "Tho news will bo received in Britain with great regret add greater indignation." LATER. SUMMARY OF VIEWS OF THE POWERS. NO ACQUIESCENCE. THE DARDANELLES AND OTHER PROBLEMS. (Rec. October 6, 0.36 a.m.) . London, October 5. Later " Tho Times " correspondent telographed as follows: — "Count Kliovonhullor, Austrian Ambassador to Trance, has greatly overstated tho acquiescence of the Powers in Austria's proposals, since thoro is reason to believe that Germany views tho proposed breach of tho Treaty of Berlin with fundamental aversion, bub is not in a position to directly oppose her Austrian ally. "Italy is willing to consider Austria's proposals, but .stipulates tho restitution of Novibazar, and the revision of certain treaty restrictions imposed on Montenegro. "Russia virtually says that since Austria and Bulgaria intend to tear up the provisions of the Treaty of Berlin, wliioh they find inconvenient, Russia will also raise questions, including that of tho passage of tho Dardanelles." AUSTRIAN VERSION. CHANGE WILL NOT " OVERSTEP " THE TREATY. TITLE OF OWNERSHIP TO BE FOUND. (Rec. October 5, 11.25 p.m.) Vienna, October 5. Tho " Nouo Freie Prcsso" asserts that tho Emperor Francis Josef will address an autograph letter to tho Powers referring to tho necessity of changing tho present relations between Austria and tho occupied provinces Bosnia and Herzegovina, but stating that tho chango contemplated will not ovorstop the limits of tho Treaty of Berlin. The "Nouo Frcio Presso" believes it possible to find, within tho Treaty, a titlo of ownership which will convinco the occupied provinces that they will never be separated from Austria.

THE SEIZED RAILWAY. BRITAIN SUGGESTS COMPROMISE. (Rec. October 5, 11.25 p.m.) " London, October 5. Renter learns that the British Government has 'made proposals to Turkey and Bulgaria for tho settlement of the Oriental railway question. / The Porte has agrocd, if the railway is temporarily restored to tho company, that Turkey will consent to its transfer to Bulgaria if tho Porte's rights are safeguarded. Britain has urged tho signatory Powers to the Treaty of Berlin to recommend this solution. It is understood that the Powers have agreed. IN THE EVENT OF WAR. A BULGARIAN AGENT IN MILITANT MOOD. Bsrlin, October i. Bulgaria's Diplomatic Agent in Berlin states that in the event of war Bulgaria will onjoy an advantage over Turkey. His Government expects to obtain, groat results by pacific means if Turkey shows goodwill. BERLIN CONGRESS. A congress held at Berlin in IS7B, aftor tho conclusion of the Russo-Turkish war. The outcome of the congress was a Treaty, which modified the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano. By its provisions Rumania, Servia, and Montenegro were made independent States, the latter also obtaining a port on tho Adriatic. Tho northorn portion of Bulgaria was made a self-governing State, undor the suzerainty of tho Porte, and the southern portion known as Eastern Rumania, remained Turkish territory, but under a Christian governor. Austria .was to administer Bosnia and Horzegovina, Kumanie returned a portion of Bessarabia to Russia, while in Asia, Turkey ceded Ardalian, Kars, and Batoum to Russia. It Is of this treaty that Lord Beaconsfield used the famous phraso "We have brought back Poace with Honour." The Principality. "By the Treaty of Berlin (writes "Hazell's Annual"), Bulgaria was constituted an autonomous and tributary principality under the suzerainty of tho Porte. In 18S5 Eastern Rumelia was united to Bulgaria. Tho executive power is' vested in the Prince, assisted by a council of ministers, and tho legislative power in a single chamber, the Sobranje or National Assembly, elected for five years by manhood suffrage in the proportion of one member to every 20,000 of the population. Thero is also a Great Sobranje, consisting of delegates selected in tho proportion of 1 to 10,000 of the population, to which constitutional and other questions, suoh as a vacancy on the throne or the acquisition of territory, must bo referred. Bulgarian Army. "The army has been brought to a notable degreo of efficiency. Military attaches who have witnessed' tho operations, of tho troops aro agreed that they are capablo of holding their own against tho best European troops. The forcos aro divided into thrco categories: tho Regular Array, the Reserve, and tho Landsturm or Militia, and all Bulgarians are liable for personal service, with few exceptions, from the age of 20 to 45, substitution not being permitted. Tho country is divided into six divisional districts, and the annual contingent is about 21,000 men. "Tho pence strength is: Infantry, 1300 offi. ccrs and 28,550 men; cavalry, 200 officers and 3350 monj field artillery, 2SO officers and 5020 men; mountain artillery, 45 officers and 900 men; fortress artillery, 05 officors and 950 men; engineers, 18 officors and 1900 inonj transport 20 officers and 100 men; total, 1900 officers and 41,330 men. The total war strength is 3SIO officors, 202,500 moil, and 29,200 horses; plus at least 20,000 Ivomitajis, a force of semi-trained and experienced guerillas. The infantry arm is tho 8 mm. Mannliche rifle." The Turkish Arruy, on a war footing, is estimated at 4G.400 officers and 1,531,600 men. • Turkish Army and Navy. "The British officer who is invited to ro. organiso tho Turkish navy (writes tho "Dailj Mall" of Auguat 23) ought tq luivg cm;

task, fur lliero is no navy to reorganise. Iwo cruisers and a destroyer might bo persuaded to get up steam, but whether they could pass through tlio Dardanelles might be made tho subject of a bet. The rest of the fleet—for all tho uso to which it could be put—might as well bo on painted canvas; it certainly looks very pretty as it lies rotting in tho Ciolden Horn. Abdul Hainid, despite his reputed ferocity, is really a man of peaco. Early in his career as a recluse he came to tho conclusion that batleships under the windows of his palace wcro dangerous, and took measures to make thein harmless alike to foe and friend. Admirals arc at present moro numorous than sliips, and reorganisation, wo fear, must begin with them. As for tho ships—you can create, if you cannot reorganise—all that the Ottoman Umpiro requires is a few fast cruisers for coast defence. More difficult and much more important is tho task of reorganising tho army. AVo have oxporionco of this ourselves; but tho Turk 3 have one advantage—they have an army raised by oonsci'iption. No finer material exists than tho Turkish soldier, but, like the navy, lie has been left to decay while espionage has eaten into the hearts of his officers, and sown discord and suspicion where ouce there was esprit do corps. Tho duty ot' redeeming theso martini qualities is to bo onlrustcd to a Frenchman. The Young Turk, apparently, is bent on changing the fashion which hitherto lias dictated that all military training .should bo made in Germany. General von dor Goltz is to have a successor from Paris. Tho best we can wish him is that he may prove as able and moro fortunate. The Occupied Provinces: Railway Ambitions. Bosnia and Herzegovina (including Herzegovina and Novibazar, all three having i>. joint administration) were formerly tho most northwesterly province of Turkey-iii-Europe, but have been under Austrian ueoupation since the Treaty of Berlin, IS7B. Novibazar, where the railway trouble arose earlier in tho year, has been described as the gateway of the Aegean. It was in connection with the rival lailwa.v sohenlos that the breach between Russia and Austria became apparent. Austria's proposal that the Bosnian railway should bo prolonged led to a counter-proposal on the part of Russia, who suggested a railway that would cut at right angles across tho proposed Austrian line. In tho words of one writer: "The Austrian and Ottoman railway systems would bo linked together by the construction of a short i ailway through tho sanjak of Novibazar. Tho anomalous position held by that little district since tho Treaty of Berlin is well known. Strategically, the sanjak is tho key of the Balkans. It is a diplomatic hybrid. It is under tlie civil administration of the Turks. It is under the military occupation of the Austrians. It may bo regarded, as lias been said, either as a wedge or as an opening. As a wedge, it is driven in between Montenegro and Servia to split the Serb race and to show that tlio unity of that stock .never can be achieved unless all its branches become. subjects or vassals of tho Hapsburg Crown. As an. opening, however, Novibazar is the doorway to the Aegean. Tho now line has behind it an attempt by Austria to obtain control of the Balkans. By waj of a counter stroke, Russia proposes a line which cuts clean across the vital line of Teutonic enterprise in tho Balkans. The Dardanelles. Tho Dardanelles (Turkish) was closed against foreign men o' war by stipulations of 1841, 1856, 1871, and 187S; but was passed by a British fleet in February 187S to protect Constantinople from tho Russians. In 1891 an agreeriient between Russia and the Porte was reached by which tlio ships of the so-called volunteer fleet of Russia, bearing the flag of the merchant marine, aro allowed free passage of the Dardanelles; but when they carry convicts or soldiers, notico of this fact must bo given to tho Porte. Tho mutual hatred of Greeks and Bulgarians with regard to Macedonia is well-known, and it would seem from the cablegram published yesterday that Bulgaria's attitudo to Turkey has actually driven Greece into friendship with Turkey, whom a few years. a"o the Greeks attacked with disastrous results to themselves. Almost the whole Balkm situation would appear to be turned upsido down.