In the Balkans by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 22, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 28.

In the Balkans

By Editor

How much is to be depended upon in the reports from the Balkans is a matter of question. We have said this over and over again during the war between Turkey and the Balkan States. We have no reason to believe that it is otherwise now. Since the war with the Turk was over, it has been told by those in good authority that very many battles were reported that never took place, and some of the severest engagements were not reported at all. Just now, at any rate, the Balkan States are demonstrating the truth of the old heathen proverb, “Whom the gods would destroy they first make mad.” It would seem, looking at it from a plain, common-sense view, that the little Balkan States are certainly making fools of themselves, that after they had fought and conquered under the most solemn compact of loyalty and earnestness and zeal, then if they were unable to settle the affairs, that they could have left it to some one mediator, or two mediators, among the great nations of Europe. What will probably be done is that they will so weaken themselves as to be open to attack from any quarter.

A despatch from London, under date of July 7, tells us that after ten days of more severe and deadly fighting than anything in the last Balkan war, the Servians have lost more men than in the whole previous campaign. Desperate fighting with varying fortunes is proceeding along the Vardar and Bregalinitsa rivers, which seems to be in favor of the Bulgarians. It is declared that Bulgaria has invaded Servia through Belogradchyk, and reached Nish,— Servia's most important fortified town,— thus cutting the Servians off from their capital. The Bulgarians evidently have defeated the Servians. It is said that the fighting was inhuman, that men regardless of life, threw away guns and used bayonets as daggers, and the slaughter was unmerciful. Both Rumania and Turkey, it is said, are preparing for war. Reports of the conflict between Bulgaria and Greece are uncertain. In fact, according to latest news, nothing of the above, regarding great victories, may be true.