Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-28
THE BALKANS
The Romance, the Tragedies and
the Political Importance of
the Cockpit of Europe

In the Middle Ages, through the
Grand Monarquc and up to NapOleon's
era what is now Belgium used to be the
cockpit Of Europe. but the nineteenth
century replaced 1t with the Balkan
states. There has been for generations
dynamite in this congcrics of rival small
nationalitcs and diverse races. Their
geographic position has made them
coveted, more or less. By Austria, Italy
| and Russia, for they have vast
strategic importance and likewise an
economic Importance quite beyond their
size as the gateway to the Orient. Con-
troll Of the Balkans was one factor Of
the Berlin. to. Bagdad Railway which
represented war.inciting Gcrmanic
ambition. Then. too. the Balkan states
are hot -bloodcd and hot headed and
their constant broils bring into the con.
ilict their various big protectors TO
whom they have allied themselves.
Yet the history and the aspirations
Of this section nrc very i'll known to
Americans. Before they became first
page war stories in tho M,YkCnscn
and other drives they were little more
than names. With such Il splendid
book available as "The Balkan PENN.
sula" (Ilarcourt. Brace L. Coz. there
can be no longer eXcuS" for ignorance
either of the past Of the Balkans. which
explains much Of their recent events,
or Of their present. as still a matter
professor Of modern history ut the
University Of Chicago and author of
the excellent "l'olitical History of Mod =
crn Europe" has performed II desirable
task exceedingly well in this compac,
and readable history which discusses
the Balkan peninsula and its numerous
racial and natiOnalistic mutations from
the earliest days to the present day.
He discusses amply enough the Mon.
golian and other invasiOns from the
East and the place of the Balkans in
history under the Romans and the
Byzantines and Turks, their struggles
to throw of the Ottoman rule. their
influencing by tn" Hapsburgs and the
R0manofis, and other matters. cspe.
cially the key nature of their geo.
graphical placement and their politira
and economic Importance proceeding
th"refrom. The story is full Of romance
In addition there is full conSidcra.
tion of the roots of the World War ~
planted deep in the balkans and mar.
rativc OF the part they played both il
the war and in the peace. 1t is point",
out that the Balkan peninsula, includ'
ing Greece, Serbia. bulgaria. Monte.
negro and Rumana. together will
rthnic relations adjoining. had dc,
terminins influence in the explosion
that led to the war Of the nations JUS
ended. Th" book shows that thu
balkans furnished the stage setting fol
the World War and that it may be th'
stage for other world wars if its press
ing problems drift toward chaos. DR.
Schcvill describes vividly in its most in.
tense form the intcrartion of ma,
tiOnalism. the rivalry ol European
Powers for control and the conflict be
tween European and A>atr civilian
tiOns, which have characterized tin
sanguinary Balkan annals. His bool
is the first in any language to covcI
the history OF this confused and i'm
portant part Of the world from tn,
migratory period to the present time
Ills book is comprehensive and writer
according to the modern school Of his
tory. with emphasis not on battles ant
dates. but on the underlying psycholus!
and philosophy, political and economic
There are fifteen maps which illuminate
the text