New-York tribune., 1917-12-11
AS to Bulgaria


ntent Of the State Department, The Trib-
une still believes that grave mistake IS
being made as to Bulgaria. Since there
arc thousands Of Bulgarian subjects in
the United States-many Of them to say
the least, loyal to their native land-they
constitute a menace to the lives Of Ameri-
can soldiers and a danger to American
security. Precisely the same reasons that
made war with Austria-Hungary inevita-
ble now dictate a declaration Of war on
Bulgaria.
The present Gar of Bulgaria is one of
the most astute, if among the least honor
able. men alive. His ability to deceive
has been proven in innumerabe instances
in very recent years, and some Of the
gravest misfortunes Of our present allies
have grown out Of the fact that they
permitted ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the advice
Of those who knew Balkan facts-to be
beguiled by Ferdinand until the time had
come for him to throw aside the mask.
In June, 1913, without warning and in
the most treacherous fashion conceivable,
the Bulgarian army attacked the Serbs
along the Bregalnitza River in Macedonia.
Although the two governments were at
odds over the division Of territories con-
ouered from Turkey, they were still allies,
and on the night preceding the attack
Serb officers were entertained by their
Bulgar brethren-only TO be murdered
beyond the outposts the next morning.
This Bulgar breach Of faith, which led TO
downright massacre, did not bring victory
to Ferdinand. On the contrary, Bulgar
armies were defeated by the Serbs and by
the Greeks. Rumania invaded Bulgaria
and Turkey retook Adrianople. In the
disputes which followed the disaster Cen
eral Savoff, chief Of the Bulgarian General
staff, publicly confronted his critics with
the statement that the attack had been
made or the written order Of Ferdinand.
and further asserted that he possessed the
written order. This statement was never
challenged
After the disastrous Second Balkan
War. Ferdinand who was born an Aus
trian subject, secretly signed q treaty with
Austria which pledged his country to join
in an attack upon Serbia, and in return
Austria guaranteed to him the possession
of Macedonia, including Monastir and Ka-
vala. with the eventual seizure Of Salonica,
then, as now, Greek territory
At the outbreak Of the present war Bul-
p.ria proclaimed a neutrality that fell in
with German and Austrian plans because
neither was ready for immediate Balkan
operations. From August, 1914, until
midsummer Of the next year Ferdinand
continued 10 profess friendship for the
Allied states, while, in fact, he was bound
By a treaty TO their enemies and was pre-
pairing to strike Serbia when Berlin and
Vienna gave the word.
When, at last, the situation in Gallipol
compelled the Germans to go TO the aid
Of the Turk, Ferdinand ordered the Bull
garian army 10 mobilize, but at the same
time assured Britain, Russia and France
that it was only defensive step. Serbia,
realizing the truth, asked permission to
attack Bulgaria before her army was
modified. This permission was sternly
n refused both by France and Britain, and
as a consequence Serbia was destroyed and
y Mitieleuropa was created
rs Ferdinand deceived Sir Edward
Grey and Delcasse he is now deceiving
the United States. lie is nothing more
than the creature Of Austria and Ger
many. He has neither the will nor the
power TO act in disobedience 70 German
orders. Moreover, the collapse Of Russia
has destroyed the last hope of that con-
siderable Bulgarian faction which is hos
tile 10 Ferdinand. sympathetic with the
United States and eager to free Bulgaria
from an alien domination and a foreign
prince.
BY his alliance with Austria and Ger
many Ferdinand has acquired for Bull