Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
THE DANUbIAN STATES
Excellent Condition Of Rou-
mania and Bulgaria.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
CONSTANTINOPLE December 23-The
growth of number of strong military pow
ers in southeastern Europe is sure to be
come factor of no little Importance in the
future developments of the eastern ques-
ton. At comparatively short notice the two
Danubian states. Roumania and Bulgaria,
could put together into the field an army
of COO 600 men, and a general mobilization
in both countries would bring into existence
a considerable larger force. It is unneces-
sary to forecast the political consequences
which might ultimately result from such a
combination; for the present a Rumano-Bul-
garian alliance would at least give pause
to any predatory designs which may be en-
tertalned by powerful neighbors and enable
the two states to figure rather minor
pieces than as pawns on the eastern chess
board. AS guardians of the great water way
of the southern Danube the two countries
have many interests in common, while there
IS nothing conflicting in their respective ma
tional aspirations, for Rumana disclaims
all idea of territorial ACKNOWLEDGMENT in
Macedonia, only seeking to preserve the
kindred element in that country against
the encroachments of Hellenism while no
sane politician in Bulgaria dreams OF GUST
ing Roumania from the Dobruja-the very
inadequate reward which she received for
her sacrifices in the war of Bulgarian iber-
alton
Some forty years ago Roumania had
scarcely emerged from condition of semi
barbarsm. The exaCtions of the phana-
rlotes-the tax gatherers of the Turks-and
tho tyranny of a corrupt arlstocraey had
reduced the people to the utmost misery
and had almost eXtinguishad their national
sentiment. TIL 1854 tne peasants were
serfs and to a much later day the boyars
or mobiles intrigued with Russia against
the independence of their country. Today
Rumania is as independent as Holland or
Belgium foreign intrigue has been baftied
Is not entirely suppressed, patriotic spirit
has been engendered in the population ana
the country possesses a civil and military
organization which compares favorably
with those of many old established states
The scheme of national defense has been
completed in recent years; Bucharest Is now
the most strongly fortified city IN Europe
except Paris, a great chain OF tortfesseS
from Focshani to GalatZ, bidding defiance
to invasion from the north, and IN time or
war Rumania can summon an army OF
10000 WeIl-armed men, which may De In
creased to 100000, or, in case OF great ma
tional effort, to half million men Inc
active army with its reserve, the territorial
militia have ali been remodeled. If, as has
been generally supposed, Russia has in later
wears abandoned the idea of reaching Con-
stantinople by land, her eyes nave not peeh
closed to the formidable obstacles which
her southwark march must now encounter.
King Charles Accomplishment.
These remarkable results are in the main
due to the military aptitude as We'll as the
political sagacity of King Charles. Every
Hohenzollern is a born soldier, and the
present sovereign of Roumania was brought
up to military career. In the war against
Denmark he gained his first experience in
active campaigning, which proved inval
liable to him in years to come. On arrival
in Rumania he found the national army in
a state of deplorable Reorganization; the
troops were little more than undisciplined
levies; the men were for the most part
without uniforms, some were armed with