THE WAR CLOUD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 5

THE WAR CLOUD.

POSITION IN THE BALKANS. PEACEFUL EFFORTS OF THE POWERS. AUSTRIAN EMPEROR'S PROCLAMATION. THE SITUATION MORE REASSURING. ' } By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright. (Received October 7, 10.15 p.m.) , London, October 7. The situation in the Balkans still continues very grave. Bulgaria yesterday asked Russia to immediately recognise her independence, and appoint a Minister at Sofia, but Russia replied that she declined to anticipate the decisions of the European congress It*fs expected that the Bulgarian agent at St. Petersburg will be recalled. The Porte, besides protesting against Bulgaria's action, addressed a . circular Note to the Powers, emphasising the necessity for Turkey defending her rights by force. Signor Tittoni (the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs), speaking at Milan, expressed the hope that the concord of the Powers would be preserved. Italy was, he added, forearmed against all eventualities. " - • The Austrian newspapers warn Turkey to acquiesce in Bulgaria's action, otherwise she will run a great risk of losing her European provinces. Several Austrian papers refer to the proclamation of independence at Tirnovo (the ancient Bulgarian capital) as a defeat for the. great diplomatist, King Edward. Diplomatic circles in Paris regard the situation as more reassuring The idea of a European conference is assuming concrete shape, and it is thought that Great Britain, France, and Germany will simultaneously propose that course. ANNEXING- THE PROVINCES, THE AUSTRIAN PROCLAMATION. (Received October 7. 11*10 p.m.) Vienna, October 7. The Emperor Francis Josef's proclamation to the provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina dwells upon the splendid results following Austria's steadfast endeavour to introduce a regime of law and order enabling every man to enjoy the fruits of his labours under the protection of a well-ordered Government. Considering it their solemn duty to tirelessly move towards the same goal, the Emperor declares that the time has come to give these provinces a fresh proof of his trust in their political maturity. They would henceforth be allowed a voice when questions were under consideration concerning their home affairs. The Emperor recalled the ties existing of yore between his glorious ancestors on the Hungarian throne and the two provinces. KING OF THE BULGARIANS, PRINCE FERDINAND'S NEW TITLE. (Received October 7, 11 p.m.) Sofia, October 7. After the proclamation ceremony at Tirnovo, the President of the Sobranje (National Assembly) asked Prince Ferdinand if he would accept the title of King of Bulgaria. Prince Ferdinand. consented.

PREPARING FOR WAR. EXCITEMENT IN SERVIA. " DOWN WITH AUSTRIA!" Paris, October 6. The Vienna correspondent of Le Temps telegraphs that the Bulgarian army is now moving towards the frontier, and that the Turkish army is advancing to meet it. London, October 6. Austro-Hungary is mobilising two army corps on a war footing in readiness for an outbreak of hostilities. It is believed in Vienna that war will result from Austria's action in annexing Bosnia and Herzegovina. Servia is also preparing for war, and has summoned 120,000 of her reservists to join the army. There is much excitement in Belgrade, where the streets are thronged with citizens who favour war against Austria, shouting, " Down with Austria!" Great enthusiasm exists throughout Servia in favour of war, and in Belgrade demonstrations to this effect commenced in the morning were continued by crowds throughout the night. Large numbers of those taking part in the demonstration gathered outside the Legations of Britain, Italy, Turkey, and Russia, where speeches were made expressing admiration of these Powers. There were immense rejoicings around the monument of the Tsar, who was described as the liberator of Servia. Turkish advices received in London state that Austria is approaching the Porte with a view to arriving at an amicable settlement of the position involved in her seizure of the provinces. GERMAN OPINION. EFFORTS OF THE POWERS. ATTEMPT TO AVERT WAR. Berlin, October 6. Germany considers it impossible to revise Bulgaria's action. In her opinion, Europe is only able to try to prevent hostilities between Bulgaria and Turkey, and the risk of a general conflagration. The representatives of the Powers at Sofia have been instructed to induce the Bulgarians to avoid everyV

I thing calculated to cause further I provocation to Turkey. The German press condemns Prince Ferdinand for issuing his manifesto announcing Bulgaria's independence of Turkey. Britain's mediatory proposals regarding the Orient railway are approved by the German Government. REJOICINGS IN BULGARIA. PROCESSION IN SOFIA. London, October 6. There was great enthusiasm in Sofia, the Bulgarian capital, yesterday at the declaration of independence. Thousands of processionists, headed " by military bands, marched to the Agencies of the Powers, which they loudly cheered. The city was illuminated at night, when the rejoicings were continued. Prince Ferdinand and his Ministers are at Phillipopolis, in Southern Bulgaria, where the rejoicings were planned on similar lines. The Orient Railway Company demands an indemnity of £600 a day from Bulgaria for the seizure of its plant until the line is restored. RUSSIA NOT CONSULTED. A WARNING TO AUSTRIA. INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS. St. Petersburg, October 6. M. Isvolsky, Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs, has assured M. Clemenceau, Premier of France, and M. Pichon, Foreign Minister, that he wag not consulted by Austria prior to her announcement of her intention to annex Bosnia and Herzegovina. • Her contemplated action was thus a surprise to Russia, since her references in official communications to ultimate annexation had been made in most general terms. M. Isvolsky has since warned Austria of the far-reaching consequences of her action. He proposes to visit London to discuss the situation. Russia has strongly protested against Bulgaria's action in declaring her independence, London, October 6. Unofficial telegrams from St. Petersburg state that Russia insists that an international congress shall,

meet -at St. Petersburg, when she will demand compensation in return for recognition of Austria's annexation. Meanwhile Russia will try to avert war with Turkey, but it is feared that her efforts will be fruitless.

TURKEY BADLY TREATED. BRITISH SYMPATHY. A DROP IN CONSOLS; London, October 6. In confirming Reuter's communique that Britain has . refused to recognise any infraction of the Berlin Treaty, the Times says that the sympathies of responsible people in Britain are with Turkey, the nation having been badly treated. The hope is expressed by the Times that the Turkish Government will not permit itself to be provoked into taking any active measures of retaliation which would do the new regime no good. Consols which stood at £85 15s on Friday last, are now quoted at £85. THE YOUNG TURKS. AIMS OF THE PARTY. . The situation which hae been created in the Balkan Peninsula by Bulgaria'® declaration of independence and the permanent annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina by Austria-Hungary, depends so much on the attitude of Turkey for its final acceptance without leading to an outbreak of hostilities that some particulars ot the aims i of the Young Turkey party that has, by an almost bloodless involution, taken the place of the old Hamidian regime, are of special interest and importance at the present juncture. Writing on August 16 from Salonika a correspondent of. the London Times says: —

"The ultimate objects of the Young Turk party are not in doubt, aud Europe need have no illusion about them. It is a party of patriots, who are bent on saving the Empire and on restoring the complete independence that it long ago forfeited. They mean, if it is humanly possible, to save every inch of. territory, and to place their country oh a level with the great Powers. The committee is now hard at work elaborating the legislative and administrative programme which it proposes to submit to the electors. The programme will have a severely practical side, dealing with the incidence of taxation, the improvement of agriculture, and the development of the economic resources of the country. But its main appeal will be a national one, for liberty and equality for all races and-religions. All are invited to remember that they aro Ottomans and citizens of a great Empire. The Young Turks axe firmly convinced that it is possible for Greeks, Bulgars, Serb®, Albanians, Ylachs, and Jews, all the warring medley of races and religions, to live as 'brothers,' and have ? common patriotism as Ottomans, without forgetting—and it is not proposed to ask thorn to forgettheir own blood, language, or faith. This "belief in equality and in Its magical effects is what the Western observer, who relies on hie previous knowledge of the Turks, finds most difficult to accept as genuine; but, whatever the future may have in store, however the perverse turn of events may cloud the present prospect, or the- clash of hatreds subvert ideals, I hay© convinced myself of the absolute sincerity of the Young Turks.

"When wo reflect on Turkish history, the Turkish character,- and the plain fact that no dominant race can find, it easy to surrender supremacy and invite equality, the programme of the Young Turks may well form food for astonishment. Their practice has, hitherto, not fallen short of their precepts. They have already given every kind of proof of their sincerity, and there is no doubt that their action has received the emphatic endorsement of the nation. The explanation of this magnificent courage on the part of the Turks, in so far as it i« explicable in any Western sense, is to be found in their recognition of the absolutely desperate plight of the Empire, and more particularly of Macedonia. It was realised that with no other programme wfte success possible, and, having once adopted it, the Turks have, so far, carried it into effect with a thoroughness which must command the admiration of the world. One is reminded of the patriotic self-sacrifice of the Daimios of Japan, who deliberately surrendered their ascendency when they realised that they stood in the way of their country's progrees; and one perceive that the fatalism of the East, which seals the fait accompli, may in the hour of national crisis prove a source of strength instead of a fatal weakness.

BULGARIA'S RULER. The ruling Prince of Bulgaria, Ferdinand, is the youngest son of the late Prince Augustus of Saie-Coburg and Gotha and the Princess Clementine of BourbonOrleans, the daughter of King LouisPhilippe. Born in 1861, lie was elected to govern Bulgaria by the unanimous vote of National Assembly in 1887. It lias always been the ambition of Prince Ferdinand to become King of his country, and the cable* this morning inform us that tihat title has been bestowed upon him. He last visited England ill 1905, on a visit to King Edward, of whom ho is a kinsman, being descended from the grandfather of Queen Victoria. In 1893 lie married Princess Marie Louise of Parma, who died eight yaws ago. His second wife, whom lift married laAb March, is the Princess Eleanora, the elder sister of Prince Henry of Reuss-Kostritz, a principality lying between Saxony and Bavaria. Prince Ferdinand has two eons, the elder of whom, Prince Boris, is 14 years of age. SERVIA'S ARMY. Austria and Servia have for many years been at loggerheads. In time of war Servia could put an army of 300,000 into the field. Every man, from his twenty-first to his forty-fifth year, is liable for military service. The Serb bears what is often called "the burden of conscription"' willingly, and as a matter of course. It is the natural thing; it exists in the surrounding countries. The Serb knows that any day he may be called upon to fight for his existence as a nation. All told, the Servian population is about 3,000,000. Compared with the Austrian army, Servia's ie insignificant. Austria, in wartime, could ; muster something like 3,500,000 troops. . The armies of Bulgaria and Turkey are described in a special article on page 7. BOSNIA PROVINCES. Bosnia and Herzegovina (including Herzegovina and Novibazar, all three having a joint administration) were formerly the most north-westerly province of Turkey-in-Europe, but have been under Austrian occupation uiace the Treaty of Berlin, 1878,

Novibazar, where the railway trouble arose earlier in the year, has been described as the gateway of the iEgean. It was in connection with the rival railway schemes that the breach between Russia and Austria became apparent. Austria's proposal that the Bosnian railway should be prolonged led to a counter-proposal on the part of Russia, who suggested a railway that would cut at right angles across the proposed Austrian line. In the words of one writer The Austrian and Ottoman railway systems would be linked together by the construction of a short rail-, way through the sanjak of Novibazar. The anomalous position held by that little district since the Treaty of Berlin is well known. Strategically the 6anjak is the key of the Balkans. It is a diplomatic | hybrid. It is under the civil administration I of the Turks and under the military occupation of the Austrians. It may be regarded,, as has 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 the unity of that stock never can be achieved unless all its branches become subjects or vassals of the Hapsburg Crown. As an opening, however, Novibazar is the doorway to the iEgean. The new line has behind it an attempt by Austria to obtain control of the Balkans. By way of a counter-stroke, Russia proposes a line which cuts clean across the vital line of Teutonic enterprise in the Balkans. THE BERLIN TREATY. A congress held at Berlin in 1878, after the conclusion of the Rusco-Turkisli war, resulted in a treaty, which modified the terms of the Treaty of San Stefano. By its provisions mania, Servia, and Montenegro were made independent States, the latter also obtaining a port on the Adriatic. The northern portion of Bulgaria was made a self-governing State, under the suzerainty of the Porte, and the southern portion, known as Eastern Roumania, remained Turkish territory, but under a Christian governor. Austria wai. to administer Bosnia and Herzegovina, Roumania 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 phrase, "We have brought back peace with honour." .