Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-02-25


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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 III. of Turkey little
need be said. During his reign Of 32
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
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
memory of wars of the past; one
can scarcely tread 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 total of
1893, 900 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 1850
900 men, or grand total of q, $50 900
men in land forces alone. The employ
ment of the navies of the same ma
tons could mean the engagement of
total of 122 modern battleships,
/ 1902 other vessels of war and 362, 561
men.
The total wealth of these same ma
tons is represented in gigantic fig
ures, no less than $4,000, 100000. OF
all the European powers, France is
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. 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 1878, 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 clash? 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 guerrilla
campaign second to none. the Greek
and all the mixed bloods of the ORR
snt combined the Teuton and the
Slav, the Norman and the Anglo
Saxon. with little chance for the Latin
to escape, II Italy sees At to keep faith
with her allies-all likely to BE- in
volvei in setting the Old World
ablaze! A continent of peoples clash
ing and struggling for that pride of
place which diplomats choose 20 term
the balance of powerl" How long?
The spring Flay tell.