River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-02-18

rulers to-day is King Charles of Ru-
mania. He is nearly 70 years old, and
in poor health. In his 40 years reign
he has developed the country into the
most prosperous and powerful of the
Balkan states. His wife is Carmen
Sylvia" The melodra1na of this royal
house was furnished by Prince Couza,
the present kings predecessor, whose
profligacies shocked his people so
much that they compelled him to alb
dictate.
Three Monarchs Interested.
Greece comes into the present mix
up on account of her Macedonian in
terests, and also because the declara-
ton OF Cretan independence gave an
noyance to Turkey at 8 very critical
moment. King George is one of the
most interesting figures saf Southern
Europe. His government has been
wise and sober, ard he and Queen
Olga are immensely popular.
King Peter of Servia has been called
the boycotted monarch" because,
with the exception Of Emperor Francis
Joseph, all the rulers of Europe have
refused to visit him or to accept visits
from him. This because King Peter
has refused to dissociate himself from
the assassin of King Alexander and
Queen Draga. The aSSaSSinS, indeed,
in spite of the protests of foreign pow
ers, are among those who still hold
high office in the kingdom, fact that
lends some color to the rumor that
the present king was privy to the hor-
rible crime of the palace. Neverthe'
less, Servia has had the support OF
the western powers in her claims FOR
compensation from Austria. Tie
Crown Prince George is wild, harurn-
scarum youth, whose chief faculty is
that of getting into scrapes which dis
tress the Servian authorities.
Prince Nicholas of Montenegro sue
ceeded to the throne in 1860, after
the murder of Danilo |. His court is
poverty-stricken, partly owing to the
princes own extravagances and mania
for gambling. One of his daughters
is the present queen of Italy.
War Would Mean Change.
OF Abdul Hamid II. of Turkey little
need be said. During his reign of SO
years he has lost most of his domin-
ions in Europe, and as the regenerated
Turkey, under constitutional rule, has
ShOrn him of most of his govern
mental power, he becomes much less
n in,
ruling OF the Ottoman empire.
If there should be war there surely
will be some radical changes in the
map of Europe. Truly, in the event
of general hostilities, some historic
battlefields would be trampled again
memory of wars of the past; one
can scarcely tread a square mile OF
ground without putting ones foot
upon some battlefield of bygone
time
The total war strength Of the Euro
pean nations at present concerned in
the diplomatic negotiations over the
Balkans is represented by a total Of
$4,000 troops, which includes en-
listed men and reserves. But reckon
ing the number of men actually avail
able for duty, though unorganized, a
European war could mean the employ
ment in the work of killing of 1880
600 men, or grand total of 81, 1000
men in land forces alone. The employ
ment of the navies of the same ma
lions could mean the engagement of
a total of 122 modern battleships,
1902 other vessels of war and 3G2, ISL
men.
The total wealth of these same ma
tions is represented in gigantic fig
ures no less than $4,000, 100000. OF
all the European powers, France ~
best able financially to face war.
The individual wealth Of France is
greater than that of any of her rivals,
and her internal financial responsible
tiles are less.
Always Prepared for War.
There has been no serious European
outbreak since the RusSo-Turkish war
Of 1S77-2 though for several years be-