The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-07-28
.SERVIAN RULER
IS TO Be FEAREL
Prince Alexander Who VIII Soon
Take the Throne, Will Prove a
Powerful Mon
ENTHUSIASTIC ON WAR
lie Bachelor But 10 Perfectly Willing
to Marry II 1t viii Prove
Benefit to His
Country.
ENTHUSIASTIC ON WAR
(By Henry Wood. Rome Correspond
emf Of the Tinted Press I

[By Henry Wood. Rome Correspond
ent Of the United Press.]
ROME, July 2S.-The temporary reg
ency of Prince Alexander, likely any
moment to become permanent through
the death or abdication Of King Peter.
now 70 and i'll, is now keenly beinA
watched by the concert Of Europe
powers as striking for the first time
what promises to be the dominating
note in the next chorus Of young Euro
pean monarchs-namely, ardent, art
i've militarism.
Still only &c years of age, young
Alexander has already showed him
self as appertaining to that category
OF hereditary princes which includes
the crown prince Of Germany and Fran
els Ferdinand of Austria. Trained In
Russian military circles as were the
other two in their respective coun.
tries, to the theory that military ef-
flciency Is the best guarantee Of peace
Prince Alexander has imbibed along
with these two future. fellow sover-
eigns the idea that while that may all
be true, still it is something OF a
shame that an excellent, effective mill
tary machine should exhaust itself do
ing nothing more strenuous than look
ing fierce. ...
AS the head of the military party in
Servia, Prince Alexander, in the tenn
porary regency accorded him in order
that his father may give a little
much-needed care to his health. Ed
rope expects to get a line on what
may be expected of the other military
hereditary princes who are anxiously
awaiting to fill their fathers shoes.
In general it is not expected that the
quieting for those who dream of dis
armement and universal peace.
Although up to the present moment,
one of the most untalked-of amongst
the heirs to European thrones. Prince
Alexander has q matter of fact al
ready made a career for himself I'M
equalled by that of any prince OF the
other reigntng houses. His opportuni-
ty for this came with the breaking
out of the Balkan wars two years ago.
At that time he was only "a years Of
age but he was nevertheless placed in
the supreme command of the Servian
forces, probably the youngest COM
mander-in-chief ever to take the field
in a European war.
Nevertheless the prince quickly
demonstrated his fitness for the post.
Just returned from his military
studies in Russia, wearing glasses
and looking a great deal more tho
student than the "generalissimo" he
showed himself a master Of military
tactics.
The princes first big battle took
place October % and "a, 1912, at Kn.
manovo, the last stand of the Turks in
their defense OF Uskub. The enemy
was completely routed and fled in
such disorder that 90 field guns, IL
howitzers and 5000 dead were left
behind them. Two days later, the
prince at the head Of his army, and
with his two leading generals at his
side, marched into Uskub, the ancient
capital Of Servia before 1t was taken
BY the Turks, and now the largest city
Of the new kingdom Of Servia.
Less than a month later Alexander
captured the army of Zeki Pasha after
a three days battle before Monastir.
The Turks had 1900 killed and
wounded and surrendered $4,000
men and &C field guns to the young
prince. So carefully planned was the
aggressive action Of the Servians and
so adroitly placed were their troops
that the prince suffered only LOO
killed.
These and similar military sue
cesses in both the Balkan wars result
ed In Servia having in the end twice
the territory she had before. and con-
tributed to placing Prince Alexander
quickly at the head Of the military
party in Servia. They contributed al
SO to cement his belief in the super
iorty Of active over passive militar-
ism and it is expected by Europe that
this belief will play an important part
in his present and future policy in the
Balkans.
Aside from oeing the youngest rul-
er now on a European throne, Alex.
ander also enjoys the distinction of
being the only bachelor European
monarch His wooing of Mars has
been So ardent and SO Intense that
Venus has not even had a look in.
Matrimony however, is inevitable for
the occupant Of a European throne
and Prince Alexander's temporary
occupancy is expected to hurry up a
match for him.
Those who know the prince best
however, declare that in this respect
he is likely to show reactiona-y ten
denotes. Just at present European
hereditary princes are showing
marked inclination to balk at all pro-