Bulgaria Clamors For War On Turkey.

New York Times 100 years ago today, September 23, 1912:
Army Is Taking Active Measures and Reserves Will Be Held for Emergency.
ORATORS ROUSE THE PEOPLE
Now is Bulgaria's Opportunity, They Say — Expect the Aid of Greece and Servia.
    ST. PETERSBURG, Sept. 22.— An investigation of conditions in Bulgaria discloses a unanimity of sentiment that that country is on the eve of a long-cherished war against Turkey. Unless the conferences which M. Sazonoff, the Russian Foreign Minister, is having in London with British statesmen are fruitful for Macedonia the war party is likely to gain the upper hand.
    The army is already taking active measures. The railroad tracks are guarded throughout their whole extent, detachments are stationed at the bridges, and requisition commissions are canvassing the frontier towns.
    The bakers and flour dealers have been summoned before the authorities, the rice growers of Thrace have been ordered to use the utmost expedition in gathering their crops, and the export or cattle to Turkey has been stopped.
    The manoeuvres at Shunila will be carried out by 60,000 troops, but it has been decided to dispatch no more troops to that district. It is doubtful if the reserves will be disbanded.
    The serious situation is reflected in suspended credit.
    The pacific policy of King Ferdinand is now challenged by a systematic campaign for war. The massacre of 152 Bulgarians by Turks in August at Kotschana stirred the nation deeply and meetings have been held in all parts of Bulgaria, at which Turkey has been fiercely denounced. Processions of mourning with flags draped in crepe, have been held in Sofia. Orators have appealed to the nation to force the Government to bare the sword for the sacred cause.
    The insurrection of the Albanian tribes has opened the eyes of Greece and Servia, and for the first time Bulgaria faces the Turkish problem in accord with those two countries.
    More important, there is an earnest conviction that the present international situation offers the Bulgarians the best chances of success. They missed an excellent chance during the counter revolution at Constantinople in 1909. But the present opportunity is regarded as better by the Bulgarían leaders, because it is thought that Austria will now decline to move, owing to the internal relations of the Triple Alliance.
    Although Russia declares that she is not prepared for war. it is believed in the Balkan States that she, with Great Britain and France, is now in a position to defend the Balkan Slavs.
    Failure of King Ferdinand and his Ministers to induce the powers to insist on the adoption of autonomy in Macedonia, or an appeal to arms, will probably result in terrorist excesses, as the Macedonian leaders declare that they are convinced that only desperate measures will prove effective.