The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-01
THE FAMOUS GENERAL SAVOFF:
 THE MOLTKE OF THE BALKANS

an appointment greeted with greater una
 nimity.
 To those who know the Bulgarian Gen
 eralssimus and have followed his past
 career. all this was in perfect accord with
 the fitness of things. During period of
 some 9 years General Savoff had passed
 through variety of searching tests and
 had come out with an enhanced reputa-
 tion He had in turn occupied nearly all
 the important positions in the Bulgarian
 army, and had everywhere displayed the
 same high qualities al leader and organ
 izer. As far back as 1885, when he was
 still youthful captain, the responsibi ities of a general were thrust upon him,
 and as commander of the left wing of the Bulgarian army at the battle of Slivnit-
 za he proved himself a brave leader no less than a consnmmate tactician.
 A few years later when the all-power- full Stambouloff was looking for man to undertake the task of reorganzng the Bulgarian army, his choice fell upon Savoff, who as minister of war, endowed the then prncipalty with a military force in conformity with all the modern re- quirements. Bulgaria was then travers- ing stormy days and dangers threatened the country all sides. The ambition of the two ministers was to inaugurate an independent national police and the
 success of these efforts could only be in- sured by making of Bulgaria military
 factor that could not be safely neglected.
 Soldiers were then also politicians; and General Savoff. who had quarrcled with the dictator. was temporarily driven into
 private life. dragging in his fall the om- nipotent premier. He had, however. made his mark as a first-rate organizer, and his reinstatement in 1897 as commander of one of the eastern divisions was an act of justice. Here he was to win fresh titles, which soon secured for him the enviabe position of head of the military academy at Sofia. For a man who was born leader of men there could be noth- ing more attractive than the delicate mis-
 sion of training future leaders: and to the performance of his new duties he brought the same enthusiasm and energy which had distinguished his former work. He seemed to instil a new life into that institution, and to impart 10 his pupils the same restless activity which forms
 the principal trait of his own character. l In the meantime events had been fast developing in the Balkans, and doubts began to be expressed in many quarters that the Bulgarian army was not equal to the work which it might at any mo- ment be called to undertake. After l period of stress the military machine had been somewhat neglected and many parts 1 allowed to get rusty When. in 1902, 1t was decided once more to renovate the entire military organization of the coun- l try, the man who ten years previously
 had given such good account of himself resumed, as if by right, his former post of war minister. His second admlnistra- ton lasted some five years, which will sl- ways be remembered a s the most fertile chapter in the history of the Bulgarian army Every department of that vast organization was overhauled from top to bottom: the armament of the troops was replaced by the latest patterns Of war weapons and engines, and entirely new services were created
 But the greatest piece of creative work which General Sayoff performed during the second term of his ministry was un-
 doubtedly the great military act of 1904, which to this forms the basis of Bulga- ria $ war force. For a parallel one VIII have to go to Prussia's history after the Napoleon wars. The comparison is not l merely superficial. for in both cases it was the same idea which prompted 1 similar policy--the recognition that the
 nations had historical problems to solve.
 and that this could be accomplished only of arD