The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-10-16
CLOUDS ARE HEAVY
AND THREATENING.
Political Horizon Of Europe
Overcast and Storm Is
Gathering.
.uN REST EVER YWH E RE.
---- ---
-, 4, - a..
UNREST EVER YWH E Z
AS Usual, Balkins Are Centre OF
This General Disturb
ancc.
-
by FnEDEn1CK WERNER.


a general feeling Of uncasiness is in
the air AS usual. the storm Is gath
cring in the always disturbed south-
eastern corner of the cont\nent-the
Balkans. For many years Europe has
suffered under the never ceasing dis
turbances in the Balkans, and war has
only been averted because Russia and
Austria. while both wanting to seize
new territory there. were too much
IRENE that might be considered casus
belli. That this was the only reason
was amply proved when Austria
promptly took advantage of Russia's
weakness to seize Bosnia
and Herzegovina. Now. however, a
new and far more dangeroAs compli-
cation has arisen. and the danger point
has moved from the frontiers of the
troubled territory into its very heart.
rope are fixed on Athens and Con-
stantinople. and all the inps OF the
International mischief are ready to
obey the within of an unknown Greea
statesman called to govern the politics
of his native country from the wtlds
of Crete or of some passing Gts-Id
Vizier placed at the helm of the Otto
man empire by some conspiracy OF
army officers.
SpOlIlnS IOE FiBut
Both countries are spelling for a
fight. and their leaders inspire no con-
fidence. NJ. yenezelos is the embodi-
ment OF Greek national ambitions. and
the Young Turks are only united in
a mad desire to restore their countrys
vanished prestige Nothing is, there
fore. surer than that the Cretan ques-
ton win be reopened. and that with
each side determined not to yield an
inch. and each looking for external
support. In this regard Greece is the
more fortunate OF the two, for her
territorial integrity is guaranteed by
is keenly watching events in the diplo-
matte field. and has naturally become
convinced that the European concert
IS rapidly dissoiving into two groups
Bulgaria has betrayed the impending
collapse by breaking with Austria,
whose further advance on Salonika
would conflict with her own terri
,orial aspirations. Next. Italy, rendered
nervous by the annexation OF Bosnia.
IS agog to prevent an Austrian swoop
On Albania. Their nervousness has i'm
oelled both countries towards Russia
and the two little Serb states which
move in Russia's orbit Behind tbs
group Of terrttorially interested pow
ers stand Britain and France. The
,ther group consists OF Germany.
Austria and Roumania. the latter at
:ached to Germany by dynasttc ties
and to Austria by virtue OF the sur
lender of Bessarabia, which Russia
enforced generation back.
IN spite of the kaiser's assurances
OF friendship. backed up by the bluff
of the Deutsche Bank, which offers to
take care OF the new German loan,
while barely able to look after German
financial schemes. Turkey will UNI
doubtedly turn to the frst group. be-
cause France has the money Turkey
must have and England the ships that
will settle the Cretan question II the
worst happens. But the knowledge of
this is gall and NORWOOD to our
German jingoes. and adds to the bitter
feeling against England in cert3in cir
Giles here. which many people think
will ultimately lead to an English
German war
German Dreams.
Evidence of German dreams Of ex-
pansion in Turkey and the near East
is conta.- ed In the plans OF the two
banks specially organized for opera
lions in that region. Both of them. ]
learn. have decided to double their
canital for the purpose of extending
their spheres OF activity.
The larger of the two, the Deutsche
Orient bank. will increase its capital
from 100000 to sS,o00,000. and tho
Deutsche Palatine Bank from s25,0OO.-
900 to 100000. The two institutions
are confessed rivals. and this increase
of resources denotes a common pur-
pose OF waging more active campaign
for concessions and other business. as
Well as a lively belief in Germany's
future in the near East,
Rally Middle Classes.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg
has let it be understood in private con-
versation that he means to rally the
middle classes-about three-hfths of
the population-round the standard OF
protection under which Germany has
made such progress in prosperity. He
hopes thereby to stay the rising cur
rent of popular opinion in favor OF a
revision of the tariff treaties, which
begin to expire coincidently with the
general elections twelve or fifteen
months hence, and at the same time
command a majority sufficient to crush
the hundred or hundred and fifty So
cial Democrats expected In the next
&Reichstag.
the increasing cost OF living. The agi-
tation for the admission Of foreign
meat Is one proof of 1t, and there is a
feeling among the middle and lower
classes that the Agrarlans, large land
owners and farmers. are favored by
the treaties at their expense.
But one may hazard the prophecy
that the coming electoral campaign
will not be fought on commercial or
financial grounds. Germans believe in
protection. and as to finance they rec
ognize that they are living in new
Germany. greater In the world, more
prosperous, more comfortable. more
respected and more feared than the
Germany of fifty years or even TWEEN ~ :
five years ago, They know, too. that
these advantages must be paid for, and
put their hands In their pocket more
or less willingly.
But Germany is changing politically
The democratic spirit is gaining
ground, and among an increasing part
of the people. quite apart from the
Socialists. there Is a desire for large
measure of parliamentary control, The
sentiment is neither strong enough nor
deep enough to break out into violence
but 1t will none the less with the
Socialists In the van, create a political
not commercial or financial issue, at
the elections. What form the issue
will take, whether constitutional
amendment in the direction Of parlIa-
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