Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-10-06
WAR CLOUDS IN THE EAST.

Looks Like There May be Trouble In
Near Future.
Events which threaten to change
the political face of Europe, says a
London cable of Sunday, are crystal
lizing with lightning rapidity. AL
most over night the horizon Of the
near east, which seemed gradually to
be assuming a peaceful appearance,
has become crowded with war clouds.
News has reached here from sew
eral sources that two definite strokes
are impending which cannot fail to
bring matters to q crisis, and perhaps
force an immediate war; One is the
proclamation by Prince Ferdinand,
of the independence of Bulgaria,
which will include Rumelia, taking
for himself the title Of "czar." The
other is an announcement Of Austria
Hungary of the practical annexation
of the provinces Of Bosnia and Herze-
govina as appendages of the Austro-
Hungarian crown.
Either action will be equivalent to
the leasing up Of the treaty of Ber-
lin, while Prince Ferdinand's course
seems almost certain to precipitate
a war between Bulgaria and Turkey.
over the east Rumelian section Of the
Orient railway sinks into insignifi-
canoe. Both armies are reported to
be quietly and swiftly mobilizing near
the borders. Bulgarians are said to
be buying munitions and horses on
an extensive scale.
Bulgarians have faith in their ar
my, which has reached a high state
of efficiency, although 1t Is perhaps
lacking in officers and the war, for
which Bulgaria has long been sus-
pected Of preparing, could be fought
with more advantage for her now
than when the Turkish government
had time to recognize its forces,
which have become enraveled by the
corruption and neglect Of the old re-
gime.
The emperor of Austria, it is un-
derstood, has dispatched letter to
the president of France, setting forth
his intentions regarding Bosnia and
herzegovina, although the contents
of the letter are kept secret, and he
is sending similar notes to the other
powers.
1t seems incredible that Emperor
Francis Joseph, who has always been
a scrupulouS observer of forms,
should reveal his plans to the rulers
of other nations before he has COM
municated them to his own parlia-
ment One explanation is that the
letter was not intended for delivery
until Tuesday, when identical notes
would be presented to the other pow
erS.
While Austria's action with regard
to the two provinces may not tech
nically be called annexation, it is be-
will IN
ever it may be called. Apparently
the emperor is determined that the
destiny of these provinces shall be
Austrian, not Turkish. For thirty
years they have been administered
by Austria Hungary, but they have
always remained theoretically Turk
ish territory, and Austria pledged
that her administration should not
derogate Turkish rights
English public opinion is with Tur-
key in the Bulgarian dispute, as all
the powers except Austria seem to be,
and it remains to be seen what the
English attitude will be toward an
neXation if that becomes a fact.
Austria is suspected of encouraging
the recent Bulgarian-Turkish trouble
for her own interests, but the British
government has made proposals 10
the settlement of the railway case,
under which the other powers have
agreed to give support to the plan
which contemplates the temporary
restoration of the way to Turkey Ito
save her face" and then transference
of the company to the Bulgarian gov
ernment.
The English press expresses sur
prise that Austria and Bulgaria
should plot against Turkey and asks
if the great powers will submit to
having obstacles placed in the way
of the regeneration Of Turkey.