Germans on the Danube The formidable military preparations which the
Germans are making on the Bulgar-Rumanian frontier point to an early crossing of the Danube and an invasion. of Bulgaria—though ice-floes in the river may prevent the successful construction of pontoon bridges for a few weeks. Troops are increasingly being massed along the border—the lorries are there and the pontoons are there, and there is a report that large numbers of " invasion barges " that were lying in Dutch canals have been taken by canal to the Danube. Bulgarians seem to be convinced that the Germans have made up their minds to move upon or through Bulgaria within a few weeks, with Bulgarian permission if possible, without if not. Already Bulgaria contains thousands of German " technicians " or " tourists " who only await the signal for action. The Bul- garian Government still takes its stand on neutrality, and the pro-German Minister for Agriculture, M. Bagrianov, has for undisclosed reasons resigned his post. But can the Bulgarian Government control the Army? If German forces entered Bulgaria and the Turks moved into Bulgarian territory to meet them, would the Bulgarian Army, even if ordered tet do so, refrain from fighting the Turks? It is believed that it would not. But if the German Army is admitted into Bulgaria that country would thenceforth be in as pitiable a plight as Rumania
