China has, however, appealed to Russia for help, and as France and
England are equally interested in the matter, serious trouble may ensue.

Russia has more than doubled her fleet in the Yellow Sea, and has now
thirty-eight vessels in the neighborhood. England, France, and America
have also sent ships thither.

From the news as we know it, it seems as if Germany had committed a
very shameful act; but when we hear both sides of the question, we may
find that she has only done the right thing for the preservation of her
national honor.

* * * * *

The Sultan of Turkey has been getting into trouble again. Both Russia
and Austria have been making things unpleasant for him.

Since his successes in the war he has begun to think himself a very
important sovereign, and both Russia and Austria decided that if he were
not checked he might become a very dangerous neighbor, so they met in
consultation, and laid their plans for checking his ambition.

They first incited Bulgaria to rebel.

Bulgaria is a small principality on the north of Turkey, which is under
the sovereignty of Turkey. Bulgaria enjoys home rule, and is governed by
a prince elected by the people; the prince must not, however, be a
member of any of the reigning families of Europe. Bulgaria is, however,
a tributary state, and has to contribute toward the support of Turkey.