Norwich bulletin., 1915-02-11
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

RUlgaria--The history of the Bul-
 2arIan nation has been that of one
 difficulty after another until the Bul-
 gars have become iuured to trouble
 and at their best when confronted by
 such crises as that which now seems
 to lie before them. Their whole life
 as 2 people has been a. continuous sIc-
 ce5sion of struggles against over
 wha.ming odds. struggles in which
 they have suffered bitterest misery
 and hardship and in which they have
 never failed to show a sublime stead
 fastness and endurance. according to
 8 study Of this youngest of kingdoms
 prepared for the National Gcog raphic
 Society by James D. Bourchier.
 Bulgaria. probably more than any
 other Balkan land, this writer says,
 has felt the weight of Turkish mis-
 rule and oppression It lies in the
 central part of the Balkan peninsula
 near to the reach of the great Turkish
 military centers of former days.
 AdrianCple and Coustantiuople, and
 enlbrHces a rich agricultural country
 from which the Ottoman overIords
 have drawn heavy returns. Due to
 this value of its soils and to its handy position, Bulgaria. has been held more
 firmly under the yoke of the Turk
 than any other Christian nation in
 this ill-fated territory.
 The Bulgariaus were the last 10 recover from the Turkish oblivion into
 which they had been sunk for hum Qr6dS Of years by their ASiatic con
 queroTs, AIr. Bourchier continues, and
 III their efforts to find political freedom and union for their race they have found themselves not only confronted by the power of Islam. but with the hostility of all surrounding sister na- tons. During the years of their Writh- lnSs under the Turkish heel, the Greeks added religious oppression and economic expressions to the efforts of the Turks Russia has repeatedly lOonaed threatening on their horizon 1 while Rumauia and Seryia--both earl 1 fer free of the Islauic domination 1 have added to the persistent little nations's $ troubles.
 Out of their centuries of suffering ! and dogged efforts the Bulgariaus 1 have developed q. fine determination. a, heroic love Of race and country which shows no limit of individual sacri- 1 flee in it's behalf. They have tenacity, | they have shrewdness, and they have a familiarity with desperate situations, l which, if it has not bred contempt, at ] least has bred q courage for what | ever trouble Fate may have in store. It was not until 1885 that Eastern Rounanta revolted from Turkish rule ! and united with Northern Bulgaria, l and tt was not until October. 1908, 1 that Prince Ferdinand proclaimed Bulgaria an independent kingdom. 1 Thirty years passed after the Bull 1 gaFian war for independence before | their freedom was officially recognized
 in Europe. Virile, laborious, thrifty, 1 peT5everfnG, courageous and anxious ! for progress, the Bulgarians are doT- ! Ing to dream great dreams for their little cuntry, and tday, as ever, their l immediate future seems to be beset by : all manner of difficulties.
 l 6erlin.-'Lize Washington more an l acconlplishnne ent of careful planning i than the outcome unconscious growth, l Berlin, third greatest among the war l capitals and sixth among. the cities of l the world. is 9 solid city of splendid l spacing, where everything is of ples- l ter. asphalt, stone, steel and cement, ! and where everything 1s new. Prior l t~o the war, 1t was the first city in ! Europe for revelry. Life never ceased upon its central streets. When the l hurrJIass crowds Of workers ought | their places of employment in the morning. they regularly met a throng, i heavy -lldded and leisurely. going l home. There ig a saving that the