The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-01
TROUBLE BREWING IN sERv1A.
Tho Execution Of King Milan's Would BE
Assassin Likely to Cause It-Russia Ready.

Tho Execution of King NIilan's would-Be
Assassin Likely to Cause It-Russia Ready.
1t seems not unlikely that tho execution at
Belgrade on Monday Of the Montenegrin Knee
witch, convicted of tho attempted assassination
OF Milan. the ex King OF Servia, may lead to COM
plicatiors between Russia and Servia During
tho progress Of the trial King Alexander received
warning from Vienna and St Petersburg to be
careful not to provoke a revolution In his country
through the execution Of any Of tho prisoners
under trial Tho tone Of the warning was un-
mistakable and no doubt. 50 far as Austria was
concerned has been the means Of saving tho
lives OF the Servians whose execution might have
caused the revolution that would bring about
Austrian intervention. By executing the Mon
tenegrin only, the Servians gain no cause for
revolution, but an affront has bean put upon
Russia against whose government the ex- King
Milan has bitter grudge; and Russia does not
forget such offence readily. In what way
her dspleasure may be visited upon Servla for
permitting the ex- King to remain In the country
depends on the nature Of the relations between
the governments Of Vienna and St Petersburg
and Of these nothing is known certainly as yet
That Russia is preparing for eventualties Of
some kind in the Balkan Peninsula Is quito evil
dent An officer of the Russian General Staff
is now making minute and detailed inspection
Of tho Bulgarian army. its mobilization depots
and general preparedness for war; and certain
railway arrangements for facilitating communi-
cation between Roumania and central and western
Bulgaria have Just been completed Sofia, tho
capital is in direct communication with
bucharest by railway running through Plena
to Nicopoli on the Danube where a ferry service
has been established by the Roumanians from
Turnu- Margure on the opposite bank Of the
river. From Plevna tho railway has been car
Il.
way to Varna on the Black Sea. The value Of
this line, also OF that from Bourgas on the
Black Sea south Of the Balka TO Sofia, for mil
itary purposes is apparent at glance. Russian
cooperation with Bulgaria now be carried
on either by or by land with tho consent of
Roumania as in the Russo Turkish war of 1877
under very favorable conditions As II In an
ticipation OF some contingency the whole OF the
troops in the Odessa, Nicolaief and Crimean
military districts have just been inspected and a
personal examination OF the stores. artillery and
commissariat made by the General commanding
in southern Russia.
Tie recent increase in the armament OF the
Montenegrin troops, and the visits OF Prince Mich
olas TO Constantnople and Athens. are no doubt
connected with the general movement noticed,
tho motive for which is to be found in the presence
of the ex-King Milan in Servia. II is one OF tho
curiosities OF Servian politics that a man who
hos been the OF SO many disasters to Servia
and in 50 many ways should be allowed to remain
in the country. He might have been King OF
United Servia and Bulgaria to-day, but for the
vanity that prompted him, in 1885. to delay his
! entry into Sofia for three days In order that he
might celebrate his birthday service in the metro
polltan cathedral. The delay was fatal. Prince
Alexander Of Bulgaria got Just the time needed
to bring his army into action, and on the battle,
field of SlivnitLa to destroy the last chance OF an
| Obrenovitch ruling the old dominions Of Dus
| han. The sceptre OF that domain, II ever IL IL
restored. will be couhded to flrmer and moro Wig
orous hands than those OF an Obrenovitch