Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-31
.STEELTON BULGAR
EXPLAINS CAUSES
LEADING TO WAR
Says Fatherland Fights to
Liberate Natives From
Oppression

Steelton Bulgarians are patriotic
ally defending their fatherland against
charges of the allied press that Bull
garia entered the war for other than
patriotic motives. They assert that
it was real humanitarian motives that
set their armies in motion across the
Serbian frontiers. The whole Bull
garian side of the causes which led
up to the war are clearly related, they
say. in an article by Stoyan V. Tsanoff
United Evangelical missionary.
The article follows:
OF all the belligerents, Servia has
got the worst end so far. She is al
most completely beaten; her army,
but a remnant left, is scattered in
the wild mountains of the surround
ing countries, and her people, from
the King down, are in plight and des-
pair regarding the future.
AS Bulgaria has been a factor in
this unfortunate affair, it is essential
to even repeat the causes of the Bull
gar-Servian conflicts for Bulgarians
utterly disavow the epithets blood
thirsty" 'perfidious," ''treacherous," +"
"barbaric," "atrocious," and what not,
as even the good papers of this neutral
and impartial country have so gener-
ousIy called them. Bulgarians claim
their country as being just, liberal,
tolerant, and humane as any other
civilized country. Furthermore, Bull
garia to-day stands on highest moral
ground in the controversy for the fight
only for her own rights-not to con-
quer or domineer over others.
Here is briefly the history of the
whole trouble: After suffering for 500
years under the Turkish rule, Bull
garia was finally liberated in her en-
tirety through the last Russo-Turkish
war in 1878. The European Powers.
however, fearing that Russia. might
use the newly created country for
selfish ends, called a conference in
Berlin, and, through the treaty of
Berlin cut Bulgaria in five parts
Bulgarian, Macedonia and Thrace
were turned back again to Turkey.
with the proviso, however, that she
grant them certain autonomy; two
Bulgarian provinces were created, one
under the sovereignty, another under
the suzerainty, of Turkey: another
part went to Rumania, while a west
ern strip was given TO Servia.
BuIgarias Lost Provinces
It was natural, of course, as it was
just, for the partly liberated Bulgar-
ans to work not only for their full
freedom, but to regain what they lost
through the Berlin treaty. The first
thing they took up was the fight for
the unification of the two Bulgarian
provinces. In 1885 Northern" and
Southern" Bulgaria arose and de-
clared themselves one country, agree
ing to remain under the suzerainty and
be tributary to Turkey.
What followed? While Bulgarians
feared that Turkey might declare war
on them for having lost the sover-
eighty over Southern" Bulgaria, they
were astounded to see Russia and
Servia nearly the only countries op-
posed to the Bulgarian unification
Russia did it for the queer reason
that she did not want Bulgarians to
do anything for themselves without
her saying so, and expressing 1t by
her Withdrawing the officers she had
| left to organize the young Bulgarian
army. Servia simply did not want
4 Bulgaria enlarged. and in order tc
! stop it one evening declared war or
Bulgaria, and in the morning the Ser.
Wan army crossed the unprotected
Bulgarian frontiers and began march.
ing toward Sofia. The Bulgarians haC
to leave the Turkish boundaries anC
rush through awful slush of rain anC
snow to meet the invaders from the
other extreme. The writer was a vol
unteer schoolboy in that campaign
and reminds his readers only how
quickly the Bulgarians drove the Ser
vians out of their country and pene
trated through Servia.
Thus Bulgarians secured their de
sired union, got rid of the domineer
/ ing Russian officers, and learned will
regret that Servia was their enemy.
The next step of union and progres!
which the Bulgarians assumed was tC
prevail upon the always-promising but
fulfilling Turk to grant the au.
tonomy prescribed by the Berlin
treaty for the Bulgarians under hi,
rule, while at the same time the Bull
| garian EXarch in Constantinople and
philanthropists tried to provide
schools, churches, and other uplifting
provisions for the people. After work
ing for this way nearly thirty years
Bulgarians accomplished much in
awakening the people, but very little
in securing the promised liberty. The
Macedonians and Thracians, tired OF
the Turkish misrule, began to rebel
and uprise, the turbulence lasting sew
eral years Here again Servians, to-
gether with Greeks, were on the spot
ready to organize bands to oppose the
Bulgarian strife for liberty!
Uniting Against the Turk
What nature had ordained, how
ever, man could not stop. The ten
sion reached the point where Bull
garia had to declare war on Turkey
for liberating her people. But, as Ser
via also had some native under Turk
ish rule whom she wanted to liberate
some one suggested that the two
Balkan states should use their better
senses, forget past indiscretions, and
unite for driving the old and COM
mon oppressor away. But before ALL
they had to come together and have
clear understanding who was to have
what in case the Turk was expelled
After repeated conferences, it was de-