Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1915-04-16
BOSNIA THORN IN
LITTLE SERBIA'S SLED

Europe for so many years, today's bull
letin of the National Geographic So
ciety says:
Bosnia has long been an ambition
of Servia's and an Austrian thorn in
her side Serbs have filled the Bos-
nian villages and mines, and the Ser
Wan tongue is that spoken by most of
the population. When the Bosnians,
in 1875, threw off the Turkish yoke
which had become so calling as to be
unbearable, the Servians came to the
aid of their rebelling countrymen, and
during the war there grew up an un-
Outstanding between Sarvian and Bos-
nian leaders that was to have brought
the union of their respective territor-
les with the accomplishment of Bos-
Man freedom from the Porte. Russia
joined the Balkan Alliance in 1877,
and the Bosnians soon saw the objects
of their revelation achieved.
"The reconstruction of the Balkans
made imperative by the war was eff
fected by the Congress of Berlin in
1878. Servian leaders knew that Their
dream of a Greater Servia would new
er receive attention from representa-
tives of - Powers, but, nevertheless,
they were unprepared for the disposi-
ton of Bosnia and Herzegovina that
was finally taken. For that matter,
Servians were not the only interested
parties caught unprepared. The Ser
VANS were bitterly angered and made
anxious by the act of the Congress au-
thorizing Austrian occupation and ad-
ministration of the rebellious Turkish
provinces. In the first place, Servian
expansion into rich and large terri
tory was definitely blocked; in the sec
ond place, the Austro-Hungarian giant
closed more tightly around Servian
territory The name of Octopus of
the Balkans was coined at that time
for application to the Dual Monarchy.
Bosnia is a land of wooded noun
tains and fertile valleys. There is
very little unproductive land within
it's confines, for what is not in grain,
fruit, or meadow cultivation, is pas
ture land and forest. Moreover, Bos-
MIA is rich in minerals, which include
coal, iron, copper, chrome, manganese,
cinnabar, zinc and mercury. Gold and
silver were worked among its noun
tains by the Romans, and, in those
days, it was celebrated for its richness
in these precious metals. 1t has, also,
valuable salt mines and marble quar-
ries.
This province, however, is chiefly
agricultural. More than 80 per cent of
the population is engaged in farming
the country according to the most an
tiquated of methods. Much of the
fruitful land remains uncultivated.
The chief European cereals and fruits
are raised. Tobacco is one of Bosnia's
best known products, and many dis
eliminating smokers in all parts Of
the world insist upon the Bosnian leaf.
This tobacco, however, does not COM
pare in richness with the product Of
American, Cuban or Australian fields.
1t has a pale yellowish leaf, and has
spicy fragrance similar to that Of
burning autumn leaves. Dried plums
and tobacco are two important items
of the export. The annual tobacco
crop amounts to more than 5000 tons.
The province has an area of 1910
square miles, and a population q
nearly 100000. This population is
but little mixed. There is a sprinkl
ing of Austrians and HungarianH,
mostly officials; gypsies, Italians AMI
Jews. The Jews speak Spanish and
are the descendants of those who fled
in the 10th century from Spain to es-
cape the Inquisition. Serajevo, with
about $4,000 inhabitants, is the capital
of Bosnia. This town is filled with odd
contrasts of the past and present, ii
the institutions, customs and conven-
fences of distant yesterday by the