Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-10-12

jet to Be Discussed"
out tomorrow IN the Balkans IT Sir
Mortimer Brett lifted his little en-
ger?"
IF such knowledge is the prelude
to the scandal that concerns him"
Very we'll" he agreed good-natured-
ly. But don't despair II you are still
muddled after ten minutes talk on
Balkan politics; Count Won Bulow has
said that the man who comprehends
the situation in the Balkan State does
not exist But to understand how
Sir Mortimer's influence may plunge
Europe into war to-day. just as surely
as when Madame de Pompadour
twisted Louis XIV about her little I'm
ger. you must know something OF the
trouble that seethes and bubbles in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
Even the word Turkish Macedonia
is a mere geography name 20 me-
Hang IL, have got to give you a
lesson in geography as we'll as in his
tory?' growled Locke. Wei. Mace
donia is actually no state or country.
II is simply a term TO designate a
strip OF Turkish territory Immediately
20 the south OF Bulgaria Il is with in
dependent Bulgaria and insurgent
Macedonia that our friend Sir Morti-
mer Brett is concerned. In a word.
the situation Is this: Bulgaria. long
freed from tho Turkish yoke. would
help struggling Macedonia TO gain
her freedom.
Macedonia itself is an extraordin-
airy hodgepodge Of races-Greeks.
Turks. Serbs. Eosnians, Buigars-
there are a dozen dirty little races.
and half a dozen fanatic sects all
ready 20 hy az each others threats n
they were not too busy struggling for
their freedom. But Greek. Catholic.
Jew, they are all ready to die cheer
FULLY II they can down their Turkish
oppressor. IL IS Just this sublime
struggle for freedom that gives a
touch OF nobility 10 mongrel. snarIinE.
swapping Macedonia These Mace
domains for years have been putting
up one OF the Quickest running fights
imaginable. The House OF Commons
INDUCES In solemn pifie about what
they choose 20 call the Balance OF
Criminality. In other words. they pro
Tess TO think that the atrocities com
mitted by the Turks and the Mace
domains are equally horrible. But. as
a matter OF fact. English knowledge OF
Macedonian Affairs is doled out by the
London Times. which IN turn gets it's
facts from the English embassy at
Constantnople. professedly pro-Turk-
ish in its sympathles."
How do you account for that?" I
demanded with a show OF interest
Lockes lecture was not thrilling. but
listened patiently; for I realized
that HIS Information was necessary il
/ would understand Sir Mortimer's
predicament
The missionaries" continued
Locke, know only too well that the
unspeakable Turk Is an even greater
scoundrel than Mr. Gladstone chose TO
believe him. But the Foreign ONCE.
you will understand, does not intend
10 risk the peace OF Europe because
the missionaries rave about the out
raging and slaughter OF a few thous-
ands OF Macedonian women and chill
dren.
For several years they have con-
unued guerrilla warfare-if you can
dignity the dynamiting OF a railroad
or = bridge and the stealthy slaughter
OF unarmed bands as warfare. The
Macedonian campaign has been man
aged by body OF men who have their
headquarters at Sofia. in Bulgaria.
They fight In bands Their arms
are hidden in the fields or In the caves
or the mountains. When a Turkish
host surrounds one OF these bands II
finds peaceful peasants herding their
sheep on the hills or tilllng their
fields"
Such a hopeless struggle as this
might continue for years" interrupt
ed. Where does Bulgaria come in %
Bulgaria comes in right here with
a flourish OF trumpets, and Prince.
Ferdinand is at the head OF the pro-
cession.
Actually Bulgaria is independent;
nominally, Ferdinand does fealty TO
the Sultan. and at the same time is
under the thumb of Russia. He is a
petty princeling with as inordinate q.
sense OF his own Importance as a can
nibal king in a top hat He has sur
rounded himself with more state than.
a car or a kaiser. Ferdinand's great
ambition is to be crowned king. Now
he only rejoices in the title OF prince.
He has vainly implored his great mas
ter Russia's permission to assume that
title. but Gar Nicholas prefers that
little Ferdinand be humble. Then If
you won't let me be king, says Fer
dinand. I won't play with you any
more SO Master Ferdinand is most
anxious 10 exchange the doubtful
friendship OF Russia for more indul-
gent protector. He has decided that
he would like England TO be that pro-
tector"
But what has this to do with Bull
garia's going to the assistance Of
Macedonian" I exclaimed, impatiently.
simply this: Ferdinand knows that
before he dare assume the title OF
king. he must make himself more
popular with his subjects than ne is at
present Macedonia affords a con-
venient means OF accomplishing this.
But before he filings his army into
Macedonia terrfforv ha r,,ust 30 .,,~.