New-York tribune., 1918-12-10

~
the greatest transformations in the
map Of Europe in all history is tax
ing place while the attention of the
world audience is fixed upon Allied arm
les along the Rhine and peace prepara-
tions on the Seine. New nations are
arising and old nations are acquiring a
size and Importance which will have
marked effect upon future European
combinations. In many quarters the
smaller nationalties are endeavoring to
create the situation which they desire
to see indorsed at Versailles
To take a single example of the great
changes now in progress, the announce
ment was made in the dispatches of
Sunday that the Hungarian province Of
Pennsylvania had by vote of it's local
assembly proclaimed its unon-or re-
union--with the Rumanian kingdom A
few days before, by way Of Vienna, came
the news of the occupation of the Buko-
vina by Rumanian troops
Thus, in less than week the state of
Rumania has added to its territories an
area five times as great as that of AL
sace-Lorraine, with population at least
twice as great as that of Frances newly
redeemed provinces. Nor is this all.
Before Rumania was freed from the
German yoke her Berlin masters had,
as sop to plundered people, accepted
the decision Of the council of the Rus
sian province of Bessarabia uniting
Bessarabia to Rumania. This affected
an area three times as great as that of
Alsace-Lorraine and a population al
most twice as large. Since the Germans
retired the Rumanians have reaffirmed
this act and Bessarabia remains in their
possession.
Here, then, is a great state rising on
the modest foundations of small one
In 1914 Rumania had an area Of $1,000
square miles and population of 7,500,-
600. The area was just short of that
of England and Wales. The new acces-
sions give Rumania an area of $4,000
square miles and population Of 13 ,5O0,-
600. That means that Rumania is to-
day larger than the mainland of Italy;
that is the Italian kingdom without Sar-
dinia and Corsica
But this does not exhaust Rumanian
possibilities. There remains the Hun
garian province of the Banat, with an
area Of 10000 square miles, in which
the Rumanians are the largest single
race group. There are, too, regions on
the frontiers of Pennsylvania which are
Latin in language. Certainly some of
these adjoining districts will ultimately
come to Rumania, and we shall see rec
ognized at Versailles a new Rumania.
with an area substantially equal to that
OF Italy and population of more than
l5,OOO,OO0, containing within it's from
tiers some of the richest mines and most
fertile lands in the world.
Thus, between the Danube and the
Black Sea, commanding the mouth of
the. great river, an advanced sentinel
of the Latin world, permanent barrier
against a new German onrush and an
equally formidable obstacle to any new
Russian drive to the Balkans, con-
siderable nation has arisen as a result
~ 'Ai'o Wal, oIdte DIS large DIS Italy
and containing more people than did
Italy two generations ago. Moreover.
this thing will be accomplished before
not at, Versailles.
In quite the same way the Jugo-Slav
state is taking form. We had the news
the other day that the Montenegrin King
had been deposed. This was onlv in
part due to dislike of Nicholas because
of his conduct during this war. It was
mainly the expression of the desire of
the Serbs of the Black Mountain tc re-
move every possible obstacle to union
with the Serbs of the larger state and
also with the Southern Slavs. In the
same direction have heen tho