The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-10-14
CLAER PRESENTATION
Senator 'Lafe" Young
Writes of the Contest In the
Balkans and Gives Some In
side Facts as To the Fierce
Struggle.
CBy w. F..

(By w. F.. YELVERTON.)
washington, ID. c., Oct. 11.-For-
mer United states Senator La Fayette
Young, Familiarity known AS "Lafe'
Young. made the remarkable state
ment in Washington q few days &
HAT there were more people killed
in the battle of AdrianOple than in
the battle of Gettysburg. He said
this in the curse OF a conversation
with Secretary of the May Daniels.
Mr.. Young Is o editor of the Des
Moines, Iowa, Capital. He has just
returned to America after a trip to
Europe, in the course Of which he
went to- Belgrade and other cities in
the Ealkan states. While in the Bal
kans he wrote letters back to his pa
per. and a pert Of one Of these is re-
produced below. fye found much
about the Balkan war which he had
been unable to get from the newspa-
pers. since the struggle was. sc much
bigger than ne had ever dreamed.
In the early part of the letter he shows
how Indifferent the average American
is to the battles Of these europeans.
An excerpt from the letter follows;
belgrade, Servia, Aug. 14-Corres'
pondence of the Des MOines Capital
The American people know little a1t
probably care less in regard TO me
balkans" One American a to me
Il cannot recollect the time when IN,
newspapers did not contain the. hea.
lire, All about the var in the Bal!
kans." Being entirely uncOncerne'
III regard to people 80 far away.
doubt IL many Of my readers nav
ever looked upon the map to Sc
where the Balkan" states m no
have they inquired how many sue
states there are or who who CAV
them that name.
Possibly the information is q
hand that the Balkan states are M
one government. The 9
Americans is further explained by
man who talked with me on t.e-bos
going down the Danube. He sai(
What do we care about those Balka
states. They are settled by a Eet G
barbarians, each as mean as til
other and each having a desire I
murder the other. Servia killed he
King and e ten years ago. also
number Of others In the palace. an
threw their bodies put Of the secon
story windows. and the Bulgarian
inutilated the wounded. Who care
killing each other they are perform
ing a good work. l do not cal
which side kills the greater numbe
they all deserve death
This Is a fair sample Of Americs
FEELING. Even Wall street would n,
mink OF the Balkan states exceptir
Tor the export Of gold and the efe
on the markets.
After the "IOcal Color"
Knowing these matters to be.
thought l would visit the Balks
states to secure what the artists CT
local color I can ISL my reade
that l secured considerable local CO
or and was fortunate that l did n
secure the local cholera.
At Vienna the head porter Of r
MOTEL land the head porter is alwa
supposed to know everything) to
ME that l could not reach Belgra
AT all; that all trains were of. Rel
ing somewhat on his word I we
down he Danube from Vienna
budapest, intending to go on do'
the river in railway trains we
suspended. The head porter at
motel in Budapest told me that
trains were suspended, but at t
ticket to belgrade. Before / go fuft
er must state Belgrade is the CAPT
I" Servia and the word Belgra
means white city" Belgrade 1
about $4,000 population, or did Ia
oerore 20, 900 men went from II
lily To join the Servian army.
railroad train was on the Hungarl
sue of the Danube and belongs
inc Austria-Hungarian government
Hospitals In Sight.
4 left budapest early in the mo-
ing and after a weary ride and mt
delaying of trains and frequent
limitations OF my passport and
train reached 'Semlin.' on the H,
Iran side OF the Danube oppos
belgrade. but we did not res
H"ialin until $500 in the morning.
.he rain that was not falling at Cal
'a' was FILLING at Scmlin and '