Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-06
Financier Demanded Right to
Name Date for Beginning of
HostiIities in Return for Lend
ingFunds for Montenegro Chest
Franco-Prussian Banker Sold
Short QuietIyj Gave Word for
Firing First Gum Saw Market
Slump and Reaped His Profits
BY CAPT. ALBERT II. TRAPMAN,
Special Correspondent With the
Greek Army.
Special Gable to The American.

Special Gable to The American.
SABONIKA. July 5.-From a source
absolutely reliable l have just learned
details Of perhaps the most eXtraor-
binary deal ever consummated for
the starting Of a war, a war which
sands Of lives
Back of the start Of the Balkan
war was a stock jobbing deal Not
that the war would not have been
started without this, but 1t might
have been delayed for months. The
boom Of the first cannon in the great
Balkan struggle was dictated by a
group Of fnanciers. The spectators
Of the Paris Bourse were made to
finance Montenegro.
In September the enterprising
King Nicholas Of Montenegro realized
that II he was to stand with the
other Balkan allies his army, his
handful of troops, must be brought
up TO date and his eXchequer must
he replenished.
Montenegro is poor, very poor. To
raise money in his own country was
cut Of the question Greece, Servia
and Bulgaria were too busy witt
their own troubles TO listen to talk
Of money from the little kingdom.
Crown Prince Delegated.
Two million was the sum asked
TO put the army on a war footing.
provide for commissary and do
other things. In this emergency the
Crown Prince, carrying with him his
fathers blessing and signet ring was
sent TO Paris TO see what could be
done
Three or four reputable banking
houses were sounded. They wanted
20 know what security for the loan
was TO be given. The sentimental
side Of the thing, the signet ring Of
q monarch and his word of honor, did
not tempt them and they turned down
the application for a loan, At last
the famous Franco Prussian imam
cier. Monsieur Gunsbourg. came for
ward
Il can not lend his majesty $1,000
000." he said. but / will enter into
business with him and share the prof
its. The conditions are these, that
he declare war when ! give the word.
/ win dabble in stock shares and he
and l viii share whatever profits
result"
Banker Sets Date.
The Crown Prince put the matter
up TO the King by telegraph and the
arrangement was made Gunsbour.
named October for the declaration
OF war
King Nicholas said he must have
at least five days more to prepare
Gunsbourg pointed out to him that
II was not necessary TO begin war
seriously. For his purposes, a dec
laration after the closing Of the stock
exchange for the day and a demon
stration in which Cannons were used
the next day was all that was nee
Bssary.
On these conditions, the King con-
Bented to act and the declaration of
war made October s. At sunrise the
next morning the Montegrin
guns fired few rounds and
the news was telegraphed around the
world that the great Balkan war had
been started by Montenegro
The Gunsbourg syndicate had sold
Turkish, Bulgarian Servian and
Greek bonds for all they were worth.
The break came when the news of
the opening guns was flashed upon
the world. The syndicate made more
than $4,000, coo The next day the
Crown Prince left Paris for Cettinie
with Sl,5O0,00O. II is on this sum
that Montenegro has sustained ever
since.
II is an open secret that the Bull
garian Ministers, Savoff and Daneff,
made huge fortunes out OF specula-
ton on the exclusive knowledge
which they alone possessed. but un-