The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-08
CHANGE IN MAP
National Boundaries in Europe
May Be Disrupted
By Action of Bulgaria in Declar-
ing Independence.
A WAR is PROBABLE
Number of Nations That May Be
Involved Is PrOblematical.
Present Trouble Has Been Brew.
ing for Some Time.

Sofia. Bulgaria. Oct. S.-'Long live
the car of Bulgaria. Such is the
popular cry for the self-crowned king.
His latest action in that unsettled sec
ton of the world, the Balkan states,
has created a Juror over Europe and
will probably terminate in a bloody
war. which may change the face of the
map in this district.
Just as the reform government in
Turkey was establishing itself this
new war cloud appears and Austria
Hungary, taking advantage of the
imminent crisis, has announced the
practical annexation of provinces of
Bosnia and Herzegovina. Either of
these acts is sufficient to cause the
greatest apprehension and those staple
powers of Europe who have been as
sisting Turkey in her reform, have
come out openly opposed to any
change at this period. Either action
is equivalent to the tearing up of the
treaty of Berlin, while Prince FeroI-
nand's course seems almost certain to
precipitate a war between Bulgaria
and Turkey.
1t is well known fact that for some
time Prince Ferdinand has been
modifying Bulgarian troops near the
border and to have been buying up
munitions and horses on an extensive
scale. The Bulgarians have great faith
in their army, which has reached il
high state of efficiency, while the
Turkish army has been degenerating
under the old regime. Prince Ferdi-
nand declares for the independence OF
Bulgaria which will include Rumelia,
and will make an entirely new power
in the world If he is successful in mis-
attempts.
The principality of Bulgaria was
nominally under the suzerainty of the
Ottoman empire. to which it paid an
the Balkan states. 1t is about the
size of Kentucky and has a population
of 3,730,000 people. 1t is a rich coun-
try, in which agriculture and cattle
raising are the chief industries. The
vast forests on the slopes of the Bal
the Balkans themselves include vast
deposits of iron, salt and building
stone. Coal is found along with gold,
silver and copper.
Bulgaria was colonized by the Blu
gars, a tribe of Slavonians, in the
sixth century. For a time in the ninth
and tenth centuries and again in the
twelfth century it was dominant over
| a great part of the Balkan peninsula
| The country was, however, unable to
! Withstand the Turks. and became part
| of the Ottoman empire in 1896
1t was not until after the middle or
| the nineteenth century that the Bull
garians began their struggle for ma
fional Independence. Russia's gnfu-
! ence is now dominant. In 1878, follow
| ing the defeat of Turkey by Russia,
Bulgaria, comprisig the land between
! the Danube and the Balkan mountains,
| was constituted by the treaty of Der
| lin an autonomous and tributary prin-
cipality under the suzerainty of Tur-
key, with a Christian government and
national militia. Eastern Rumelia,
now known as southern Bulgaria, was
l constituted at the same time an auton-
| omous province of Turkey, but as the
result of a successful revolution in
! 1885 it's union with Bulgaria was pro-
| claimed. The ruling prince of Bull
| garia has, up to the present, been cho-
for the purpose. Military service is
obligatory from the age of 20 to the
age of As.
Warships Ordered to SamOs.
Constantinople, Oct. S.-The pro-
clamation of the union of the island
of Crete with Greece may not be &C
| cepted by Turkey without retaliation.
1t is reported here today that the
Turkish government has ordered four
Of it's warships which are at present
at Smyrna to proceed to the island of
Samos. Those vessels are the cruiser
Samos is a Greek island and pays an
annual tribute to Turkey.
Guerilla Warfare Planned.
Vienna, Oct. 8.-Information has
reached the government that Servia
is planning the organization of a
guerilla warfare in Bosnia and Herze-
govina 1t is purposed to flood these
two provinces with armed bands. Aus
tria is taking precautionary steps to
protect her frontier. The railroad tun-
mel near the fortress of Peterwardein
in Hungary is now held by troops.
Jlngoes Storm the Palace.
Belgrade, Oct. S.-The clamor for
war with Austria-Hungary because OF
the occupation of Bosnia and Her
zegovina is growing here constantly
and scenes of wild enthusiasm are be-
ing witnessed on the streets of Bel
grade.
This morning a mob of demonstra-
tors forced its way to the precincts
of the palace and demanded to see
King Peter. The crowd was so threat
ening that troops and gen d'armes fin
ally had to be called out
They surrounded the palace and