New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-04
THE WAR CLOUD IN THE BALKANS.

our old friend is there again: but it is not "A
,n,o cloud like mans hand" that has
risen over: the Balkans. The heaven is black
with c,ouds and wind. and it will be against all
exncctation If there is not a great rain-of lead
ond stoo, For weeks and months the burden
Of the reports Of the best-informed and most
iudclous observers in Southeastern Europe mas
hoop that n rising in Macedonia is certain In the
spring with. of course. concurrent coiilsIoh
between Bulgaria and Turkey. Greece has APP
narently retired from the field. But the Al
bonian League has been busy, Servia has put
forth every effort for dominance in Macedonia
and RnIgaria. under Russian Indictment has
left nothing undonc 10 assure hersen the loic-
most Mace in whatever partition or other dis
positon Of Macedonia may he effected. AS Dur
oori, &c the strongest of all the Balkan States
that abut upon Macedonia. and lies nearest 10
Constantinoplc. she naturally begins the trouble.
For many weeks she has been massng troops
IN Eostcrn Kumclia. while at the same time
Turkish troops and munitions OF war nave peeh
steadily moved westward and norhward, just
MS they were moved toward Thessaly for weeks
before the late war with Greece. win all ther
decadcnce the Turks are still warrior nation,
and they are as vigant on sentry duty as they
are brave in the forefront Of battle. they may
be beaten but they will not be caught mapping.
We have spoken of Bugaria's action being
under Russian Indictment The expression Is
not unqualified. There is no doubt that nus
sian agents or the agents Of n great Russian
party have been urging bulgaria forward Al
the same time. the Russian Government is-at
least ostensbly-OppOsed TO any such move
ment 1t will he remembered that before the
Greco-Turksh War Russia Joined with Germany
and Austria- Hungary in declaring that neither
of the conbatants would be allowed to proht
hy its results SO now the same three Powers
have warned Bulgaria that If she gets into
trouble with Turkey she need expect no aid nor
sympathy, nor the raising Of n single hand 10
save her from the consequences of her folly. In
spite Of this warning Bulgaria has gone on with
her intrigues and wurlike preparations. perhaps
encouraged thereto by the remembrance that
despite the threats Of the Powers, both Turkey
and Greece did profit by the results OF their
war the former by acquisition OF valuable ter
ritory and the latter by the practical annexa-
ton of Crete. through having one of her
Princes made Governor of that island. 1t would
not be strange If bulgaria had come to the con-
clusion that she too. might with impunity defy
the formal warning Of the Powers, as Greece
did Indeed. she knows full well that, despite
all that has been said TO the contrary. the Chris
tan Powers of Europe would not permit the
reconquest Of Bulgaria by the Ottoman Turks.
And there Is. in the last resort always the great
Power at the mouth Of the Danube to be reck-
oned with. What Rumanla wants or means TO
do in any emergency is one Of the unknown
factors in the European problem. All that Is
known Is that she Is q militant nation, with
some of the strongest fOrtresses and one Of the
finest armies in Europe, all ready for instant
action and with scores 10 settle with both
Russia and Turkey
The clash between Bulgarian and Turkish
troops last week occurred at n somewhat unex-
Iected point but one which adds 10 the serious
ness of the situation. The outbreak has been
looked for in Macedonia itself. probably on the
line of the Struma River, since there have been
many complaints Of ill-treatment of Bulgarians
by Turks at Sores and Bulgarian troops have
been collected at DubnitZa and Kostendll. But
The first blood has been shed at Kizyl Agatch,
which is away over toward the Black Sea- on
the Tundja River. The place is, moreover, some
sixteen miles from the boundary, on the Bull
Garlan side. That would look ms If the Turks
had taken the initiative In aggression. II the
first reports Of the engagement are true, the
Turks seem TO have made dash upon Bul-
earlan soil. 10 occupy some point of vantage
II they should advance up the Tundja River TO
Jamboli they would menace Svno, Shumla and
Narna, and cut tie railroad that connects Burg
has with PhllIppopols and Sophia. That would