The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1913. THE BALKAN DANGER.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14015, 23 June 1913, Page 4

The Wanganui Herald. [PUBLISHED DAILY.] MONDAY, JUNE 23, 1913. THE BALKAN DANGER.

Xua latest information from the storm centre in the Balkans, indicates that relatione are very much strained between Bulgaria on thp one side and Scrvia and Greece on the other. Large bodies of Servian and Greek . troops are on the frontier facing the Bulgarians, and the respective armies are said to bo very inflamed. Indeed, skirmishes have already commenced on the Servian lines, and private reports declare that two companies of Servians were annihilated. Notwithstanding these pessimistic advices, bestinformed circles in London, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna anticipate a peaceful settlement of the dispute. The trouble is due to the Bulgarians wishing to compel their allies by force to observe the strict letter of their treaty obligations in preference to making the concessions which the Servians and Greeks demand on the ground that they conquered Turkish territory in Macedonia by their own prowess, and without the military assistance from Bulgaria which was promised to them under treaty. Bulgaria insists on a full concession of her demands, believing that a display of firmness will . enable her to win most of them. If nothing worse was to bo anticipated than a ferocious war between the small, but warlike, nations lately in arms together against the. Turks, probably Europe as a whole would be able to contemplate the situation with philosophic calm. From the point of view of Austria it might even, be distinctly advantageous if the two strongest Slav nationalities in the Balkan peninsula were to engage without interruption ia an enterprise of mutual destruction, thereby weakening Slavdom and eliminating the obstacles that at present stand in the way of an Austrian advance to Salonika. To Russia, however, the outbreak of hostilities between the late allies would be almost a calamity—for the very reason that it would play directly into the hands of Austria. Hence the Russian Government has plainly and curtly informed both the Servians and Bulgarians that if they abandon displomatic discussion of their dispute in favour of military measures then “Russia will not remain indifferent."

To Austria and Germany looking for a friendly Power in the Balkan peninsula to take the place of defeated Turkey as a prospective adherent to the Triple Alliance, Bulgaria naturally appeals as tho predominant military partner in the late war. It is said that overtures have already been made to Bulgaria -With that object. Tho completion of such an arrangement might be expected to bring Russia into the field at once; firstly, because she regards herself as the traditional protector of Bulgaria, which was freed from the oppression of the Turk by Russia iu tho war of 1877-8, and, secondly, because any further move by Austria, which has already secured a distinct advantage by the establishment of a so-called autonomous State of Albania, which must be under her influence, would be an extension of Teutonic power intolerable to Russian Slavdom.

An outbreak of hostilities between Bulgaria and the Serbo-Grcck coalition would increase the danger of the. long-expected collision between Austria and Russia. ■Should that happen, as Germany lias already announced that she will support Austria “in all circumstances,’’ it is not easy to see how France, on the side of Russia, and Italy, on the side of the twr Teutonic Powers, could keep out of such a struggle. And that is all tho more reason why it is likely to be avoided. Diplomacy has recently brought European peace through more dangerous crises than this, and it is not too much to expect that matters 'will be smoothed over now—at any rate for a period.