King Milan, in his Proclamation to his people, of course
pleads provocations. One of these, a violation of his frontier, is believed to be either an invention or an accident exaggerated into an outrage. Another, "the tariff war," even if it exists, has never yet been held to justify hostilities. And another, the massing of Bulgarian Volunteers on the frontier, was simply a measure of precaution following the mobilisation of the Servian Army, and the open threats uttered by the Press of Belgrade and Vienna. The best reason, so far as there is a reason, is the first—the disturbance of the balance of power caused by the rising in Roumelia ; but the true reason has yet to be sought. It may be mere ambition ; but it is quite as likely to be the determination of the Austrian Government to seize, through King Milan, the districts commanding the best railway routes between Austria and Constantinople. We shall know the truth presently ; and meanwhile it is only neces- sary to observe that Milan could have attacked Turkey if he wanted compensation, and that the Turks are expending all available means in strengthening Salonica, which can be attacked seriously only by the Austrian Navy. The Greeks are not strong enough.
