Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-08-18
FERDINAND HAS RULED, BULGARIA
 THIRTY YEARS
Defeat of Central Powers May Mean Loss of Throne
 to German Prince.

l Paris, Aug. 1l.-Thirtv years ago 1 Prince Felinand of SaNe- Coburg ar- rived in Sofia and was installed on the throne of Bulgaria. At that time he was practically unknown to the world. 1 Today he is very much in the lime light as an active participant in the war on the side of the Central powers. Ferdinand's course of late has not enhanced him in the eyes of his own 1 subjects, nor has it been altogether to the liking of his colleagU 2s in Berlin and Vienna. Already there is consid- erable speculation in European cap itals as to the fate in store for him when peace is finally reached. It is generally conceded that his future de bends much upon the fate of the Aus trian empire, into whose keeping he has entrusted his fortunes.
 There is a revolutionary minority in
 Bulgaria, which will grow in import ance the more peace is denied the Bull garian people, and the more the Aus tlian empire-which supports the Prussians of the Balkans policy of the despotic Ccburger and his crooked and subservient ministers-crumbles Much cleverer than the busted King Constantine of Greece, Czar Ferdin and seeks to make the best of two worlds by clinging to Vienna, where he fled when the Bulgars- after their defeat by the Serbs and Greeks, and the retrocessicn of part of the Dob rudja to Rumania-sought his life. and by disseminating through cunning agents in Switzerland the report that he was anxious to break away from l the German alliance.
 l If, as a result of the war, the Bull gars find that their sacrifices and sufferings have nearly had the pur- pose of serving the selfish ends of Germany, and have not gained them l the territorial ambitions which Ferdin and has promised them, they are like l ly to make as short work of this au- | tocrat as they did of princes who ruled previously in Bulgaria.
 Ferdinand has not added to his reputation as military leader in the ,, present conflict. Friends and ene- mics agree that he is diplomat first and a man of war last For more than year he has been trying secret diplomacy with the aim of making a comfortable separate peace, and get ting the allies to recognize enough of his conquest of Macedonia to satisfy his by no means moderate subjects. 1 The Bulgarian ruler knows that hc holds high trumps. If he makes peace and betrays his German, Austrian and Turkish allies, Turkey will cease to have direct communication with Eu
 rope. The supply of German shells and German officers will cease, and Turkey will inevitably collapse
 The statesmen and military leaders of Europe have come to regard terdln- end as an accurate barometer of the war. His policy toward the different alternatives of peace, war or compro- pise oscillates without ceasing. When the smallest odvantage is gained by the Germans, Austrians or Turks, he immediately sends up his terms. If the entente allies make gain he inn
 mediately lessens his demands.
 Ferdinand's intrigues for peace and treason are believed to be the prime cause for his many mysterious ab- sences from Sofia. When he is away his women folk run the country's civil affairs. Crown Prince Boris is al- ways with the army and his brother, Cyril, is regarded as a man of small ability. As Ferdinand's second wife, Princess Eleonora of ReussStrclitz, who was nurse before her marraige, 1 is nothing but nurse still, the real work has to be done by Ferdinand's eldest daughter, EudoXia. aged 20.
 Eudoxia is the claverest member of Ferdinands family. She manages the
 Sofia palace, receives ministers and envoys and apologies to them for Ferdinands mysterious absences. She directs her fathers business specula- tions and his enormous private wealth:
 and in particular runs his big land development scheme near the Turkish
 frontier. Eudoxia is lively and pretty
 with an ambition, Sofia declares, to be
 married quickly, and cynics add that
 Ferdinand chose the German side in
 stead of the allies because Germany
 has vast supplies of bridegrooms of
 royal, princely and ducal blood.