Evening star., 1914-10-11

the idea that his condition was Seri
Gus.
In some quarters there is belief
that his death may hasten the partici-
patton of Roumania in the war. which
has been urged by Il large part of the
Roumanian people. in favor of the al
lies.
Preparing to Abdicate.
King Charles has been reported seri-
ously ill. His indisposition was sup
posed to be entirely political 1t has
been predicted lately that he was pre-
pairing to abdicate.
The succession to the throne of Rou-
mania in the event of the king remain
ing childless. was settled by the con-
stitut1on upon his elder brother, Prince
Leopold of Hohenzoilern-Sigm gmaringen.
Leopold renounced his rights in favor
Of his son, Prince Wilhelm Prince
Wilhelm. in 1883. renounced his rights,
in his turn. in favor of his brother,
Prlnce Ferdinand, who was born in
1865.
Sided With Germany.
King Charles of Roumania was of
the house of Hohenzollern At the
beginning of the war he was inclined
to side with Germany and Austria
Hungary, and was reported as ready
to cast his lot with these countries!
Such course encountered strong op-
position in Roumania, particularly in
the legislature.
Recent dispatches have said that the
king, because of a promise he had
made to Germany, desired to mobilize
the Roumanian army to assist Ger
many in the war. 1t has been said on
many occasions in the last few weeks
that Germany counted on the inter-
vention of Roumania.
A story published in Paris the lat
ter part of September related that
when King Charles asked the cabinet
to order a mobilization of the army,
one of the ministers replied:
I'VE are quite willing, if it is against
Austria"
King Charles turned to him and said: !:
Il gave my word to Emperor Will
word"
The president of the council here in
terposed, saying:
The country knows no Hohenzollern.
1t knows only the King of Roumania,
who does not have to give his word to
any one whatsoever
King Charles then decided to call
council of the crown, with the ex-min-
listers in attendance. Only one sided
with him in favor of Germany.
Opposed by Averesco.
1t is then reported that the king tried
to persuade Gen. Averesco to attempt
q coup d'etat and arrest the ministers.
Gen. Averesco refused. saying:
Sire. you would be the first victim of
such an attempt"
1t has been said also that a number
of superior officers in the Roumanian
army have declared that they would
desert and join the Russian army
rather than fight for Austria.
nf ha
prime minister of Roumania, and at
present holding the post of secretary
OF the Roumanian legation in Paris, is
sued a statement in the French capi-
tai, early in October, in which he de-
nounced King Charles for his attitude
In the matter of Roumanian neutrality.
In this statement N. Jonnesco said in
part:
"From the commencement of the Eu-
ropean conflict the Roumanian people
have been hostile to Germany and Aus
tria. This hostility is pushing the
people to drastic action. The cry is for
greater Roumania and the liberation
Of our brothers in Transylvania.
King Charles Dilemma.
Undoubtedly the situation has placed
King Charles in a. dilemma, for he al
ready has made his choice between
his duty as king of a free people and
his duty as Hohenzolierp. The lat
ter proved too dear to his heart: he
is serving his caste and will do SC
until his death.
When Russia proposed to King
Charles that he occupy Transylvania and
Bukowina, he refused, declaring his
troops were needed to guard the from
tier Today Bukowina. which is just as
Roumanian as Transylvania, is occu-
pied by Russian troops and has been de.
clared a Russian province
This DOlicy of KipD Charles uyJn ~x;~~
him in history the role of a traitor to
the interests Of his country, although he
Is hero In his stanchness to the
dohenzollern and Hapsburg traditions
II his policy Is persisted in IL viii
mean that the Roumanians in TransyI-
venia VIII shortly be delivered from the
1ustrian 1 yoke by Russia. and hence
pire" '"n Gin-