BULGARIA: 30 Quakes

From him that hath not shall be taken away. Matthew: XXV, 29

Bulgaria is a hath not nation. No other suffered such cruel losses of territory after defeat in the World War. Her currency is still debased, her people impoverished. She is disarmed, and yet her public peace is menaced by the organized brigands of Macedonia. Therefore when 30 earthquake shocks smote Bulgaria, last week, the phenomena seemed like the act of a malignant and relentless God.

The City of Philipopolis, onetime capital of the ancient independent country of Rumelia, was laid utterly in ruins. Some 80,000 families have now no shelter. The enormous tobacco warehouses crumpled like smashed cigar boxes. A heavy rain destroyed the value of their stocks, prime, world-famed Turkish leaf.

After a painstaking inspection of the city, Prime Minister Andrea Liaptcheff of Bulgaria officially reported that not one single building remained habitable. The famed Simplon-Orient Express, connecting Paris and Constantinople, could not traverse Bulgaria last week. Towns shaken down included Borisovgrad, Russof, Kavala, Komatine, Negotim and Gajecar.

The terrified and superstitious population touched the apogee of panic, last week, when a rumor spread that Divine Vengeance had fallen because of a specific and impious act of the Bulgarian Parliament. This act was to meet and discuss the project of a U. S. loan on a Holy Day, namely last Good Friday.

During the week Little Tsar Boris of Bulgaria, and his sister Princess Eudoxia, and his brother Prince Cyril visited the devastated region and spoke words.