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Asiatic Russia: Bulgarians
Bulgaria is a principality under the suzerainty of Turkey. It was created by the treaty of Berlin, 13th of July, 1878, and was to have been governed by a Prince elected by the National Assembly or Sobranje, with a popular legislature and constitutional government. Prince Alexander of Battenberg was duly elected 29th April 1879, but having been removed at the instigation of Russia by a coup d'etat, 21st August, 1886, he resigned the crown.
On 7th July, 1887 Prince Ferdinand was nominated.
Bulgaria is bounded on the N. by Roumania, on the W. by Servia, E. by the Black Sea, and S. by Eastern Roumelia, the Balkan Mountains here forming a physical frontier. The area within these limits is 24,700 sq. m., with-1881—2,007,919 inhabitants, of whom 70 per cent. are members of the Greek Church, The union of Eastern Roumelia with Bulgaria was proclaimed on the 18th September, 1885. Eastern Roumelia has an area of 13,862 sq. m., with 976,100 inhabitants in 1885, viz., Bulgarians, 682,757; Mussulmans, 200,499; Greeks, 53,045; Gypsies, 27,201; Jews, 6,993: Armenians, 1,867. The E. boundary is the Black Sea; the S. and W., a line from Cape Seityn, on the Black Sea, to the Rhodope Mountains, and then N. to the Rilo Mountains. The area, therefore, under Prince Ferdinand is 38,562 sq. m., with 2,984,019 inhabitants.
The government is in the hands of a general assembly called the Sobranje. The total army-1888-was about 30,000 men, with 55,000 more available for war. The country produces grain, wool, skins, timber, wheat, wine, tobacco, silk, and attar of roses.
MONTENEGRO.
Prince-Nicholas (or Nikita), b. Oct. 7, 1841; proclaimed Aug. 14, 1860; m. 1860, Milena, dau. of Voyevod Peter Vukotich or Vucotic. Heir-Danilo Alexander, b. June 29, 1871. This Principality, which has always claimed to be independent, which claim has recently been admitted by Turkey, has an area of 3486 sq. m., and a population of about 220,000, of whom 10,000 are Mohammedans, 4000 Roman Catholics, and the remainder Orthodox Slavs. The surface forms a series of elevated ridges with lofty mountain-peaks, many of which are covered with forests. Chief products are maize, potatoes, sumac, scoranzas (sardines) castradina (smoked mutton) and hides. The only manufactures are coarse woolens. Agriculture is the principal occupation. There is no standing army, but in war every male above the age of 14 years is forced to serve, which musters about 29,000 men.
SERVIA.
Alexander I. born August 14, 1876. Son of Milan I.
Servia was formerly an autonomous province of Turkey, now a kingdom under Alexander I. The executive power is, by the constitution, vested in the King, and the legislative in the King jointly with the Skuptschina or National Assembly. There is also a Senate or Council of State always in session, which examines and elaborates projects of laws, etc. The Skuptschina of 178 members is elected three-fourths by the nation and one-fourth, by the King, and is renewed every 3 years. Besides this there is a Great Assembly of 538 members, none being royal nominees, called when required to decide vital and constitutional questions. All tax-paying citizens are electors. State religion is Greek Orthodox, but others are tolerated. Area, 18,800 sq. m., with a population of about 1,901,118. In July 1876 war was declared against Turkey, at the close of which Servia was declared independent, and received an accession of territory-though by no means proportionate to her wishes. The country is mountainous. Agriculture is carried on in a primitive fashion. Wheat is grown for export, maize, hemp, flax, and tobacco, and prunes are grown. Lead, zinc, quicksilver, copper, coal, and iron are found. Horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs are bred in great numbers. Army, peace footing, 13,000; war footing, 153,000. AUSTRO--HUNGARY.
Emperor-Francis Joseph I., Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary and Bohemia, b. Aug. 18, 1830; succeeded Dec. 2, 1848; m. April 24, 1854, Elizabeth, dau. of Maximilian Joseph, Duke of Bavaria, b. Dec. 24, 1837. Heir Presumptive- Archduke Francis Ferdinand, son of Archduke Charles Louis, b. Dec. 18, 1863.
The Austro-Hungarian monarchy proper is formed by the collective States and nationalities which in 1868 were united under the rule of the house of Hapsburg. It is almost entirely an inland State, the only access to the sea being from the E. coast of the Adriatic. The empire extends from lat. 42° 10' to 51° 4' N., and from long. 9° 35' to 26° 35' E. It is bounded on the N. by Russia and the German Empire; E. by Russia and Turkey; S. and S.-W. by Turkey, Italy, and the Adriatic Sea; and W. by Switzerland and Germany. Its total area is 261,649 sq. m., and its population -1885-41,056,206. This includes Bosnia, Novi-Bazar, and Herzegovina (24,247 sq. m., and 1,137,879 inhabitants), which were placed under the administration of Austro-Hungary by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, after the Turco-Russian war. The boundaries are formed in some parts by rivers, in others by mountain ranges, and in others again by arbitrary lines. Much of Austro-Hungary is mountainous. The Carpathians, one of the most important European ranges, extend over about 800 m., or from Presburg to the Wallachian and Serbian frontiers. In Northern Hungary and Transylvania the peaks of this range reach a height of about 8000 ft. The Alps occupy the S.-W. portion of the country, and form its highest lands, many of the peaks exceeding 12,000 ft. in height. The Hercynian mountain system extends over Bohemia, Silesia, Moravia, and much of both Upper and Lower Austria, but seldom attains an elevation of over 4000 feet. Next to Switzerland, Austria is the most mountainous country of Europe, and about of its entire area is more than 600 ft. above the sea level. The Danube, which, next to the Volga, is the largest river of Europe, is navigable through its whole course of 825 m. in Austro-Hungary. The Dniester, which, like the Danube, flows into the Black Sea, has its source in the Carpathians in Eastern Galicia, and pursues a winding course through the S.-W. The Vistula and Oder, both rising in Moravia, empty into the Baltic; and the Elbe, which receives the Moldeau, Adler, Iser, and Eger, falls into the North Sea. The Rhine flows for about 25 m. of its course between this country and Switzerland, and the Adige rises in the Tyrol and discharges its waters into the Adriatic. Austria has many lakes, the largest being the Balaton and Neusiedler.
PRODUCTS.-The vine, olive, and tropical plants flourish in the open air in Southern Dalmatia, and corn is everywhere cultivated. In the N. zone the corn and the vine give place to the hardier cereals. The soil of Austro-Hungary is generally fertile, except upon the mountains, and immense cereal crops are raised. Agriculture is conducted in a slovenly manner in many divisions, but in others a more intelligent system has been introduced. The forests cover nearly one-fourth of the empire, and are of great value. In mineral productions Austro-Hungary is probably richer than any other country of continental Europe. Gold is obtained in Transvlyania; silver in Hungary. Tin is found in Bohemia; copper and lead everywhere. The deposits of iron are very rich. The richest quicksilver mine in Europe is situated at Idria; zinc, antimony, and manganese are widely distributed, and the Austrian salt mines exceed in value even the famous English deposits. The empire is also very rich in coal. The empire contains over 60,000 m. of highways. The Danube, Theiss, Save, and Drave are navigable for steamers of considerable draught, and there are in all 4240 m. of navigable rivers and canal communication. The principal seaports are Trieste and Fiume at the head of the Adriatic, whence an extensive trade is carried on with the ports of the Mediterranean and Levant. The imports and exports of merchandise of the empire, not including bullion, have steadily increased during the past 10 years. The latest returns, 1886, are: - Imports, £55,837,258; exports, £53,210,931. Within the last 20 years Austria has made great progress in manufacturing. The cotton manufacture employs nearly 2,000,000 spindles, and the woolen factories over onethird of that number. Flax, hemp, and silk factories abound, and the iron and steel manfactures form one of the most important branches of industry. Leather, paper, sugar, beer, wooden goods, hardware, musical instruments, tobacco and cigars, and glass, are manufactured in great quantities, and it is estimated that the annual value of the industrial products of Austria is over £140,000,000, two-thirds of this total being produced in the western half of the country.
ARMY AND NAVY.-A new scheme of army organization has been adopted, by which the military forces of the whole empire are divided into the standing army, the Landwehr, and the Landsturm. Military service is compulsory on all citizens capable of bearing arms. The term of service lasts for 10 years-3 in active service in the standing army and 7 in the reserve, with further liability to serve 2 years in the Landwehr. The strength of the army in time of peace is fixed at about 268,419, to be raised during war to 800,000 men. It is composed of 144,000 infantry, 35,000 cavalry, 25,600 artillery, 9800 engineers and train, while the miscellaneous establishments comprise 24,000 men. The navy consists of over 110 large vessels, including II ironclads of recent construction. The navy is manned by over 5000 sailors. It is recruited partly by a general levy from the seafaring population of the empire and partly by voluntary enlistment. The term of service is 8 years, There are two harbors of war, Pola and Trieste.