Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-29
Causing Much Alarm in Diplomatic Circles
and May Cause England to Join
the Triple Alliance
TEE DEATH OF MINISTER BALTcREFF
Now Charged Up to Russia By the Bulgarian People
Who Are Greatly WoIked Up
Over the Murder.
EERVIgs TaousLEs LOOKING Up AGAIN
yBY CABLE TO THE DISPATCH. ]

LONDON, March %. - Copyrighted J.
The murder at Sofa of the Bulgarian Fin
ence Minister, NJ. Constantine Balteheff, is
asevere blow 10 the Stambouloff government,
as Baltchef leaves no man in the ranks of
the Government party who combines his
real administrative ability with his thorough
knowledge OF the country. The present
excellent condition OF Bulgarian finances is
mainly due to his management There is
DO doubt that he was shot by mistake for the
Premier. Both he and StamboulOf' are men
OF small stature and somewhat corpulent,
not easily distinguishable from one another
In the dusk of the evening.
As Baltchef was not violent partisan,
but cool man of business, of amiable tenn
per and personally popular, it is very un-
likely the shot could have been intended for
him. While it is an open secret that NJ.
Bitrova. the former Russian representative
al Sofia, now Russian Minister at Bucharest.
chershes intense hostility to Stambouloff,
which would make the news of the murder
of that energetic opponent of Russian infiu-
ence not absolutely disagreeable to him,
popular indignation in Bulgaria, whatever
the truth may be, will certainly attribute
the murder to Russian agents, less noisy
now in Bulgaria than they were a year ago.
but not less numerous.
Serious Results May Follow.
NJ. Bsltchef was young man of sc. In
1883 he spent several months in London, on
special financial mission for his Govern
ment. and made most favorable impression.
He went from London to conduct negotia-
tioDs with Servia at Belgrade, and being
appointed Under Secretary OF Finance at
Sofa. became minister on the retirement of
SaIabatcheff Should his death be followed
by any disturbance in the financial position
Of Bulgaria, it NAV have serious conse-
Quences.
Russian agents at Sofa. as we'll as in
Roumania, where an election canvass is
going on, loudly proclaim that extensive
mobilization of the Russian armies is TAX
lug place all along the Austrian frontier.
The present SerVian Premier, NJ. Patitch,
IS on the eve OF going to
St. Petersburg, and the impression is
confirmed this week that King Milan has
agreed with him as to the change Of front in
seryia against Austria and 10 favor of Rus
Iia. If The Servian loan can be covered by
the Russian Government, it is believed the
whole Servian army, 100000 strong, will be
uniformed and equipped on the Russian
model.
Russian Presents to Servia.
Russia has already sent to Belgrade as
present sc, O00 of the sheep-skin coats worn
BY the Russian infantry. All this may
mean nothing, or it may mean much, when
taken in onnecticn with Crispi's declara-
tion. made this week, that Italy must hold
herself prepared for an outbreak of war be-
fore the summer.
In his quarrel with Queen Natalie. King
Milan seems to have gained strong point
in his new alliance with NJ. Patitch. He
has accepted the Minister'S proposal that
both himself and friend, with the Queen,
shall live out of Servia during the minority
of King Alexander, returning only in case
of the illness of the young King. If Queen
n aLGlle refuses 10 dCCSpb lulS pIOpOSdA
the Minister will move the Schuht-
selma 10 order her expulsion
from the kingdom, and her refusal will
bring odium upon NJ. Garachinini, her hus-
bands former friend, now become her cham
p!on. Thus once more We nave the war scare
So full bloom. It is an annual thing, and
seems to be as much a part and parcel of
European economy as the yearly epidemic
of diseases which are incident to the ap-
proach of spring,
Russia Massing Her Troops
Everybody who talks politics, which
means nearly every man, woman and child
nowadays, is discussing the alarming tele-
grams which have lately been received from
the Continent with regard to the massing of
Russian troops on the Austrian frontier, ss
we'll as the new agreement OF alliance which
has been come to by France and Russia.
While rumors of this alliance have filed
the ears of Europe for years, asd we have
heard the same thing repeated over and
over again with diminishing interest, the
announcement that it is fait accompli seems
20 have stirred up lively dread in some
quarters that the great European war,
which is always being talked about, and
which will probably be averted for many a
Ionc year, is matter which cannot be de-
Lived beyond avery short time.
: The iUica seems to be that IN the event of
.nch a war France would naturally attack
Germany on the west, while l;ussia would
,our her armies against the common enemy
aver the eastern border. By the terms of
tbe Triple Alliance, Austria aud Italy will
naturally go TO the help OF Germany, and if.
&c 4 is believed to have been the case the
mission of the Empress Freiet5c was accom-
rlished during her late visit to England.
mat country will probably take part with
those forming the Triple Allis1Iee.
Dresding the Coming Conflict.
This latter would increase theveight and
.rsstige Of the alliance, though Of course