Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-02-27


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 81
years he has lost most of his domin.
ions in Europe and as the regenerateo
Turkey, under constitutional rule, has
shorn him of most of his govern
mental power, he becomes a much less
dominant figure than before in the
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
The entire area of central Europe is
a memory of wars of the past; one
can scarcely tread a square mile OF
ground without putting ones foot
upon some battlefield of a 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 10, $50
900 men, or a grand total of 81, $50 900
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 1862 ,561
men.
The total wealth of these same ma
tons is represented in gigantic fig
ures, no less than $215, 900, 100000. OF
all the European powers, France is
best able financially to face a war.
The individual wealth of France is
greater than that of any of her rivals,
and her internal financial responsible
tiles are less. Germany is not in a
healthy financial state. Turkey has
been financially corrupt for ages, but,
somehow, she always can get the
money to fight.
Always Prepared for War.
There has been no serious European
outbreak since the Russo-Turkish war
of 1S77-s, though for several years be-
fore that Europe had known little
peace. The Franco-German war of
1870, the Crimean war of 1856 and the
Austro-Prussian war of 1866 are all
near memories. In the Balkans them
selves there has been no real peace
for years past. The Bulgars, the Turks
and the Greeks have lived in a state
of turmoil.
For all The Haugue peace confer
ences and talks of treaties and arbi-
trations, Europe looks out upon the
spring with quivering eye and nerves
a-tingle. The jealousies of races and
nations scatter treaties and paper
bonds to the four winds. How long
before the clash2 The Turk in his
mad fanaticism, guarding religion and
race in the manner in which he enjoys,
the greatest fighting unit in the world.
perhaps, though always lacking lead
ership and discipline; the Bulgar no
less warlike and capable of a guerrilla
campaign second to none, the Greek
and all the mixed bloods of the ORR
emit combined; the Teuton and the
Slav, the Norman and the Anglo
Saxon, with little chance for the Latin
to escape. if Italy sees fit TO keep faith
with her allies-all likely to be in
volved in setting the Old World
ablaze. A continent of peoples clash
ing and struggling for that pride of
place which diplomats choose to term
the balance of powert" How long?
The spring may tell