The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-02
War IS TO SPREAD
LONDON SPECULATES ATTITUDE
OF OTHER COUNTRIES
BALKANS TO BLAZE UP

BALKANS TO BLAZE Up |
Scandinavian Nations Are Causing
ing Some Anxiety In English Coun-
cils-Italy Expected to Enter War
-Bulgaria's Attitude Unknown
Roumania VIII Probably Join.
Events are moving rapidly toward
the further extension of the Euro
pean war, and, according to the best
sources of information available in
London from whence comes this arti
Gle, the impending developments are
calculated to bring remarkable sur
prises in their train.
Germany and Turkey have up to
the present been confident that, In
the event of hostilities spreading
within the area OF the Balkan Statess
Bulgaria would take up arms against
Servia and thus avenge herself upon
the powers which spoiled her Of the
fruits Of her early victories in the
Balkan wars.
For some tim epast secret negotia-
tions have been going on with view
to removing the Bulgarian griev-
ances In this regard, and there is
good reason to believe that these
have made satisfactory progress
thanks chiefly to Italy's willingness
to meet Servian aspirations. These
plans, of course, assume the SYM
pathy of Italy, even if not her actual
cooperation with the Allies.
After the speech delivered by ex-
Mayor Nathan of Rome, Italy's par
ticipation in the war is regarded as
certain development of the new
year. The influences Of the Masonic
lodges upon Italian policy is consid-
cred to be factor which will indubu-
tably decide the resitations of the
Rome cabinet.
The question Of Roumania's atti-
tude is also believed to have been
settled in a way satisfactory to the
general scheme Of policy of the AL
lies. From the outset, when it was
feared that Bulgaria might throw in
her lot with Turkey when the latter
entered the fray, the allied statemen
counted upon Roumania's forces to
Offset those of King Ferdinand. Now
that the Bulgarian danger is believed
to have been ayerted, Minister Jones'
co.'s declaration that Roumanian In
terests are indissolubly bound up
with the Triple Alliance is welcomed
as an especially significant contribu-
ton to the cause Of the Allies.
In these quarters where the belief
that Bulgaria has been won over is
still treated with skepticism, 1t is
suggested that Jonesco's statement is
in the nature Of q. direct warning to
King Ferdinand's government.
10 Offset this is a dispatch from
Sofia saying leaders of the Agrarian
National Liberal parties delibered
speeches in the Bulgarian parliament
Tuesday calling for the formation Of
genuine national ministry. The
deputies also urged occupation by
Bulgaria of Macedonia, which, it was
argued, could be carried cut In agree
ment with the Triple Entente powers.
! Austrian troops, said the speakers,
were approaching the Bulgarian from
tier, and it was feared they would
cross with a view to cooperating
with the Turks.
While the diplomatic wire pulling
is thus believed to be favorable to the
allied cause in southeastern Europe,
there exists some anxiety as to the
success of German endeavors In the
same line in the northern part Of the
continent. The Scandinavian Nations
since the beginning OF the war have
admittedly been taking precautionary
measures by ordering partial mooili-
zation, and the reports which now
come from Canada of the calling In
of the Swedish and Danish reserves
in the Dominion are an incidental
demonstration Of the extent to which
these measures go.
But authorities on Scandinavian
affairs agree that none Of the three
little northern nations-Norway,
Sweden, and Denmark-seek mill
tary adventures, and that they are
solely actuated by determination
to protect their neutrality. The Ger
man campaign in Sweden, however,
is regarded here as potent factor OF
danger.
Fear Of Russia rather than love OF
Germany is at the root of the SWed-
ish attitude, though there is strong
pro- German leaning on the part OF
the aristocratic and military cliques
of the population. Sweden's mill
tary preparations have gone much
further than Norway's or Denmark's.
Complete mobilization has been or
dered for certain districts, including
the fortresses that are the keys Of
the country's long and exposed
coasts. On the other hand, Sweden's
observance of neutrality has been
scrupulous.
Another point to which attention
has recently been drawn by the Scan
dinavian authority, Edwin Bjorkman,
in a contribution TO an English paper,
is that the heavy expenses Of their
defensive measures have had a good
effect in bringing home to all three
countries the fact that their cause is
a common one, namely, the preserva-
ton Of their independence; and this
to some extent has led them to for
get their mutual differences.
Although the relations between
Norway and Sweden have not been
cordial, the understanding at which
they arrived almost Immediately af-
ter the war begun amounts almost
to a defensive alliance against all
comers. DR.. Eridjof Hansen's voice
has been raised in favor of extend
ing this understanding beyond the
duration Of the preesnt war.
Nevertheless, some traces of anx-
iety as to developments among the
little nations of northern Europe are