Weekly journal-miner., 1916-01-12
DANUBE OPENING THE
 SALVATION OF TEUTONS

BELGRADE. Serbia, Jan. 6.-(Cor- respondence of Associated Press) - What great military and economic ad- vantages were gained by the Germans and their allies with the opening of traffic on the Danube, has been shown by the activity in shipping which de- velopcd directly the Serbs had been driven from the banks of the river. Fighting along the Danube was still in progress when the Austrians start cd to clear a channel through the mine fields which the Russians, Serbs and English had laid out. Meanwhile large tows, carrying military supplies needed by Turkey and Bulgaria, were being brought down the river from Austro- Hungarian and German ports and assembled at Semlin, ready for the minute when navigation became possible. Austrian river monitors. notably the Sava and Temes, had in the meantime patrolled the Danube as far as Lem Palank and later to Ruschuck, both Bulgarian ports. and in so doing mad cleared the river of some Russian armed merchant vessels stationed in the Rumanian port of Turn-Severin. That these vessels were not sunk or captured by the Aus trians is due to the fact that, on the day which the Associated Press cor respondent made the trip up the river IS a guest on the Sava, they were be- ing conveyed down stream by Ru- ma1ian monitors. the Russians them selves flying the Rumanian flag.
 The Bulgarian port of Lom Palanka was the scene of great activity. For over fifteen months no boats from up stream had arrived there. Now the jetties were crowded with barges from Austria and Germany. On the previous day King Ferdinand of Bull garia and Premier Radoslavoff had been at Lom Palanka to assist in tLe resumption Of traffic between Bulgar
 "a and the Central powers, an event which Germany and Austria Hungary thought important enough to have in augurated by Duke Albrecht of Meek lenburg, brother-in-law of Emperor William, who was passenger on the first convoy arriving.
 For the first two weeks nothing but military supplies were shipped down stream, principally arms and ammuni- ion for Bulgaria and Turkey. Both these countries stood in need of heavy artillery and artillery ammunition. Some of the later boats brought a large number of heavy motor trucks. combat and scout acroplanes, ambul- ances and sanitary supplies. Since then ordinary merchandise has been admitted to shipment The returning barges and boats carry raw material Q: all sorts and foodstuffs. During the last few days a regular passenger and mail service to Lom Palanka has been n operation, until today traffic on the Danube may be considered normal with the difference that never before 'lad it known such proportions. The military supplies of which Bulgaria nd Turkey can make use are many, and on the other hand Austria Hun gary and Germany offer a1 eager mar let for the agricultural and animal industry products of the two first mentioned countries.
 Some anxiety had been felt in Con
 5tantinoplc and lately in Sofia that the heavy demand which the war made on their relatively scant stores of artil- icry ammunition might soon create a problem it would be difficult to solve n case a free route of communication were not opened up. This, in fact. was the principal reason why the long ] -clGNGI OHCuSlAC against DNl bid No' undertaken, when it was. though the attitude of Bulgaria necessarily played an important part in ;his But Ger man and Austrian war stores were not ne sole factor. The Central powers could make good use of Turkish and Bulgarian wool. skins. hides. cereals and copcr ores and Turkey and Bull garia needed the revenues which would come from the sale of these material. It Is to be doubted that history ever before presented all in stance i1 which the opening of line of communication met SO adequately the needs of four allied peoples en- gagged in war, or that from this condi- [ tion SO urgent a necessity had sprung. | For the first time since the outbreak oi the European war Germany and I Austria Hungary are relatively indc- ! pendent economically, while Turkey and Bulgaria now nave within their
 reach an inexhaustible supply of war ' .,,,t.r;,I- ;ra,-bausti1,tp today he