The silent struggle which has recently been waged between Prince
Alexander of Bulgaria and his Russian officers has ended in the dismissal of the latter. Various reasons are assigned for this step, but the substantial one that the Russians held them- selves bound to take their orders from St. Petersburg, instead of the Prince. As this position was inconsistent with the restored Constitution, Prince Alexander requested Colonel Redgher, the Chief of the Staff, to resign, and on his refusal, ordered him into arrest. He thereupon resigned, with his sub- ordinates, and the management of the Army has been restored to Bulgarian hands. The Russian Government affects in its inspired papers to approve this decided step ; and, at all events, will make, for the present, no effort to punish it, or to remove Prince Alex- ander. The Bulgarians, therefore, have their destinies com- pletely in their own hands, and will probably restore their Russian drill-masters, on the understanding that they are to be servants, and not rulers of the Principality. Mr. Forster, who has been visiting Sophia, thinks they would do better without an army, as they cannot hope to resist a great Power ; but be forgets that if there is ever to be a Federation of the Balkans, the only hope for independence, each State must contribute its quota of effectives.
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