The Washington critic., 1885-11-18
SERVIA-UILGARIA.

RNIA-BULGAR1A.
1tis more than likely that the Powers
will interpose to prevent the war be
tween Servia and Bulgaria from so cX.
tending as to seriously involve the
peace of Europe. 1t is true that the
conference now going on at CONSTANT
nople seems laggard in producing re
suits, but that is owing TO the uns1tis-
factory and uncertain instructions
which were given the representatives of
the several powers in attendance. 1t is
probably thought by other European
rulers that there is no danger of the
pending hostilities reaching beyond
the territories of the two peoples now
in conflict; but it is also possible tha,
both Austria and Russia, and especially
the latter, may desire that there should
be such an extension.
Russia, ever ambitious for the en-.
largement of her boundaries, especially
in the direction of the Bosphorus, aud
always feeling that a foreign war adds
to the stability of her Government
would not object to shedding the blood
of many of her subjects or spending
millions of borrowed money to attain
her end. Austria is always restless at
being practically a European pocket,
and Is as covetous of few feet of land
as miser is of so many dollars. If il
were not for these and other minor cx-
traneous reasons Europe would soon
put a stop to the quarrel Of King Milan
and Prince Alexander.
There would be but one way of ac-
complishing this-by compelling Servia
to 60 back upon her victorious tracks
and submit to a peaceful arbitration of
her grievances, if wrongs she has in
cured by the Bulgaria Roumelian
union, which does not seem TO be the
case, Both Bulgaria and Roumeia
were, until about two months ago,
under the suzerainty of the Porte
Servia was and is an independ cnt
nation. Eastern Roumeia is just
south of Bulgaria, She awoke
one morning and announced her union
TO her sister, Bulgaria, just across the
Balkans. Prince Alexander accepted
the offer of union, and in doing 50 in
no way interfered with the rights of
Servia, but certainly infringed upon
the suzcrNin rights of the Sultan. The
Servians Immediately began to cry
aloud that the compact between Bul-
garia and Eastern Roumelia was in the
nature of q menace to their interests.
They forced King Milan to at once pre-
pare for war. They are an enthusias-
tic people. The Servian fiat was that
the union between Bulgaria and East
ern Roumelia must be dissolved or
some additional territory for Seryia
must be provided as an offset to that
union. Servia could not wait and the
consequence is her invasion of Bull
garia from three different points If
the war is allowed TO proceed there is
not much doubt as to the way in which
it will terminate. Although United
Bulgaria has about 5000, 600 people to
Servia's 1000, 600, the latter has by far
the better army, and is in every way in
better shape for war,
Meanwhile Greece is anxious to take
hand in the controversy against Bul-
garia. She wants Macedonia. And there
is something little strange and signif-
cant in Turkeys attitude. Although
the commencement of the trouble was
direct blow at her she has not made
any announcement of her intentions.
She has taken the precaution, however,
to put her armies in fighting order.
She is evidently not half so much
worried about Bulgaria and Servia rs
she is concerning what the powers
may do, She fears that there may posi-
bly, grow out of the ENHANCEMENT an at
tempt to force the partition of Turkey
in Europe and the fall of the Ottoman
Empire on that continent which
has been so often threatened and
prophesied.
1t is striking commentary upon
the sensitive and complicated CON
dition of European affairs when
such formidable troubles can be fer
mented by comparative handful Of its
inhabitants.