The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-02-24
QUEEN FOR 25 YEARS.
Wilhelmina. of Holland. Refuses Cele-
bration of Silver Jubilee.

wears, says the New York World. she
celebrated the event very quietly with
her husband, Prince Henry, their lit
tie daughter, Princess Juliana, and
her mother, Dowager Queen Emma.
i She would not allow her subjects
to spend any money on festivities in
! her honor, stipulating that the ap-
| preparation made by the State for
| this occasion should be donated to
| the fund for the war sufferers in
Holland. The newspapers, in recent
ly noting this kindly act of charity,
brought to the minds of people in
other countries the first remembrance
| that the young queen had actually
| passed a quarter of a century upon
the thorne.
Only 35 Years Old.
She will be 36 next August, and
was a very plump and dimpled little
girl of 10 when her father, King Will
liam III, died and she became queen.
She was under the guardianship Of
her mother until she reached the age
of 1S, since which time she has been
very much of a sovereign.
Her position is not an easy one
these days, as the head of a nation
Of 100000 people crowded into an
area of $4,000 square miles, less than
the States of Massachusetts and Con-
necticut put together, with about
100000 Belgian refugees and 1000
interned British soldiers and sailors
as unlimited guests.
Army Kept on the Watch.
There is the army still modified,
which is costing 100000 a day. 1t
was increased last July from 100000
to $4,000, the navy being enlarged
at the same time through govern
ment grant to build two new cruisers
and four submarines for the defense
of Hollands colonial possessions.
And there is, above all else as a
source of anxiety, The Netherlands
Overseas Trust, the great CONNER
cial enterprise which has charge of
all trade entering and departing from
the country, which is officially recog-
nized by both sides of the belliger-
ents, who, naturally, glare at one an
other across little Hollands narrow
strip of territory and fasten eagle
eyes upon the doings of the N. o. T.
The Overseas Trust.
Mr.. Van Aalst is the president Of
the Netherlands Overseas Trust, the
ablest fnancier of the nation and a
man held in high esteem both in Lon
don and Berlin. He is, however, the
representative in the Trust of the
Queen, who has the privilege of ap-
pointing the president. She is a
large stockholder in this lucrative
enterprise, which was founded by
King William I, and has remained
under royal direction ever since.
At the present time the N. o. T. is
responsible to the British government
for every item of every cargo that en-
ters Dutch, ports. The N. 0. T. is al
so held accountable in London for the
final destination of every item Of
every cargo wherever it relates to
contraband of war. Dutch citizens,
on the other hand, and Germans who
have a perfect right to cross the wa
ter, since they are not at war with
The Netherlands, find it hard to re-
sist the seductions of Teutonic gold
for what can be smuggled across the
frontier. Prices undreamed Of in
times of peace can, it Is said, be
easily obtained for the commodities
which Germany desires and which
Holland possesses in plenty.
Determined to Avoid War.
It is not believed either in London
Or DGIllu ludC SSuCOA "1AAAOAAoA1e" Ao-o
the slightest intention of permitting
her country to enter the war: She
fears both Germany and Great Bri-
tain, being dependent upon the first
for the integrity of her territory in
Europe and dependent upon the Sec
ond for the integrity of her colonia|
empire. The one is at the mercy OF
the German army, the other at the
mercy of the British fleet. The
queens hope is that she may be
among the negotiations of the peace
which must eventually come and that
she may thus have the opportunity OF
placing Holland upon higher plane
of international Importance. Hel
country was the first to recognize tho
flag of the American colonists, but
on that account Hollands delegate
to the conference at Paris was not al
| lowed a seat at the council table.
| The Diagnosis.