A NEW FACTOR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2242, 31 August 1914, Page 6

A NEW FACTOR

RUMANIA EXPECTED TO JOIN IN KING MAY ABDICATE (Rec. August 80, 5.5 p.m.) Paris, August 29. It- is reported- that King Charles of Rumania is abdicating on account of ill-health. If f>o, Rumania will probably join the Allies, in the hope of realising her aspirations in Transylvania. ' ■ . * King Charles of Rumania is seventy years of agej FJid has been on the throne for twonty-sjx years. Rumania could put an army of about 290,000 men in the field. Transylvania, , a former principality, occupies the extreme eastern portion of the -Kingdom of Hungary. The population numbers about 2,500,000. Until 1848 the chief influence and privileges, as'well'as the only political rights wore divided among tie three "privileged nations" of the Hungarians, Sneklere, and Saxons. The Hungarians and Szeklers together number about 800,000; and the Saxons 233,000, but by far the inosti numerous elomont, though long excluded from power and political equality, is formed by . tho Rumanians, who number and aio spread all over the country. By the compromise of 1867 Austria graaited the union of, Transylvania with Hungary which ..was completed in 1868. ■ Transylvania lost every vostige of autonomyj and was fully and completely incorporated with Hungary. Since that time tho Magyarisation of the principality has. steadily been carried through, in spite of the bitter pro-' tests and discontent of both tho Saxons and Rumanians.