Valdez daily prospector., 1915-01-27
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1915
BALKANS BUY OFF BULGARIA.

The puZZllIlS SlludtloI III lhC DA. kans at last seems to be clearing up. To those interested in the great game of international politics of which the fighting is the wars out ward expression, the latest diplomatic coup makes a strong appeal.
 Before 1912 few Americans recog- nized in the Balkan states anything more than meaningless labels for a vague region between Turkey and the big nations of northern and west ern Europe. The alliance of Greece, Servia, Bulgaria, and Montenegro showed these little states as virile nationalities of high courage and mlE- tary capacity. The second Balkan war, fought over the territorial spells of defeated Turkey, brought sadness to millions of American admirers.
 After little more than year Of peace, Servia became the unwlttlns cause of the present great conflict. Instantly the question arose, What will the rest do?" Valiant little Mon- 1enegro immediately jumped in and sent against Austria the few thousand soldiers left alive from the previous wars. The rest hung back, Greece, openly sympathizing with the Allies, awaited the time to strike again at Turkey. Rumania, Latin nation whose people favored the Allies and whose king, a Hohenzollern, favored Germany and Austria, preserved a difficult and tense neutrality until King Carol died, a few weeks ago, and his successor, Ferdinand, show ed himself willing to yield to the popular will. The great enigma, how ever, was Bulgaria, the strongest of all the Balkan states until her strength was shattered in the after math of the Turkish war, and still capable of making vast trouble for any of her neighbors.
 Bulgaria, it seems, has decided up' on a definite course of action. She will take a leaf out of Rumania's book, and stay out of the war-for a consideration.
 It will be remembered that Ru- mania, a traditional foe of Bulgaria, at the close of the Balkan war de- manded that Bulgaria give her a slice of territory as a reward for her nell trality. She might have jumped on to Bulgaria's back when that nations back was turned, but had refrained. Therefore, Rumania naively explain ed. she deserved Dobrudja. district about the size of Connecticut, giving her access to the Black Sea. And when Bulgaria refused, she marched across the Danube and took it.
 Bulgaria has meditated revenge for that. as for the lands wrested from her simultaneously by Servia and Greece. But she has yielded to the voice of diplomacy. And the diplomat ic masterpiece in question, it is re- ported, is English. Bulgaria has made terms backed by the written guaran' tee of Great Britain, with the ac- quiescence of France and Russia, about to this effect:
 As a reward for her neutrality Bull garia w regain Dobrudja from Ru' mania. Servia, for immunity from attack by Bulgaria, will give back a goodly slice of Macedonia. Greece may contribute Kavala. Turkey 's expected to be, involuntarily, the chief contributor to this territorial collec tion in which Great Britain, in behal1 of the Allies, has passed around the diplomaic hat.
 With Bulgaria sewed up, the othel Balkan states are free to follow thei1 ambitions. Rumania is expected tt plunge into the melee soon on tho side of the Allies, and strike for the conquest of, Pennsylvania and Buko vina, where 100000 Rumanians ars unwilling subjects of the Austro-Hun garian empire. An invasion Of tha section would please Russia by re lieving the pressure on the Russian forces invading Galicia. Russia will have access, too, to the great oil sup plies of Rumania.
 Greece likewise, with Bulgaria talk en care of, can proceed without fear She has been yearning to go to thu help of Servia; together, the two na tions might take from Austria thu provinces of Bosnia and Herzegovina These are Serb in population, ant may remain Servia's if won. Servi' might also absorb Montenegro. witl her consent. and thus reach the Adr1