The European Situation
By L. A. R.
REGARDING the situation in Europe, the November Review of Reviews is authority for the following statement: “The Near Eastern question is probably worse to-day than it ever has been. All the original elements of unrest have been aggravated. Macedonia, far from being liberated, has been transferred to a new bondage. The equilibrium of the Balkans, about which so much has been solemnly written, has been attained, first, by nearly doubling the area of Greece (which did the least during the war), by adding seventy-five per cent to the area of Servia (which had the second easiest time), while leaving to Bulgaria (which did most of the fighting) only about ten per cent. According to the agreement regarding ‘autonomous Albania,’ the tribe of the Malissories, who hate the Montenegrins with a murderous bitterness, are to be transferred to the government of King Nicholas. Rumania, which did no fighting in the first war and practically none in the second, has obtained a valuable strip of territory at the expense of Bulgaria. Turkey and Greece are at swords’ points metaphorically, and may be so literally before these pages reach our readers. The Turk has not been expelled from Europe. According to the agreement between the Bulgarian and Turkish representatives signed at Constantinople, on September 18, a large proportion of the territory taken from the Turks by the Bulgarians is restored to them.” One of the most direct results of the war in the East has been a general war scare throughout Europe, which has driven all the great nations to a more determined preparation for war. The nations are now arming as they never have before in all their history. “As to the general situation in Europe, it is the same—only worse than before the allies attacked Turkey, and were prevented by the great powers from finishing their task. The first effect of the Balkan victories was to upset the general European equilibrium. The victories on the plains of Thrace gave a tremendous impetus to the growth of armaments throughout Europe. We have already, in these pages, noted the additions to the armies of Germany and France, the augmentation of the military establishments of Belgium, Switzerland, and Holland, and the intensified bitterness of the Anglo-German naval rivalry. Finally, Russian intrigue and Anglo-German jealousy in Asiatic Turkey have revived in that portion of the sultan’s domain almost forgotten animosities and complications. King Constantine of Greece has been traveling over western Europe telling the German emperor and the French premier how much Greece owes to both French and German civilizations. Meanwhile the Bulgarians are working, despite enormous odds, to bring about an understanding with Turkey which shall enable them to renew the conflict with Servia and Greece. If it had not been for the jealousy of these so-called great powers, a Balkan federation on modern lines might have been formed, based on justifiable national aspirations, religious liberty, and freedom of commerce within a territory that would form a dignified European state. As it stands to-day there is hardly a frontier in the whole Balkan region across which hatred and jealousy are not likely to look at each other for many a year to come.” Thus we see that to-day there are tokens of trouble, omens of a dark and bloody conflict yet to come. That day will dawn when the great battle of Armageddon takes place under the sixth plague. Rev. 16:12. It will be the consummation of the world’s ruin. To-day every movement that the nations make for increase of armament is a preparation for that time, and a real and effectual gathering of the nations for Armageddon. Just before that battle is fought, Turkey as a nation ceases to exist, the river Euphrates is dried up, East and West unite, and soon the clash of arms is heard, and hill and vale of the whole land run red with blood. See Joel 3:9-16; Rev. 19:11-21.