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BEBBICE 491 BEBENGABIUS gxiage has affinities to the Semitic group, but Arabic is spoken along the coast. They are believed to represent the an- cient Mauritanians, Numidians, Gaetu- lians, etc. The Berbers live in huts or houses, and practice various industries. Thus they smelt iron, copper, and lead; manufacture gun barrels, implements of husbandry, etc., knives, swords, gun- powder, and a species of black soap. Some of the tribes breed mules, asses, and stock in considerable numbers, others practice agriculture. BERBICE, a river of British Guiana; flows generally N. E. into the Atlantic. It is navigable for small vessels for 165 miles from its mouth, but beyond that the rapids are numerous and dangerous. BERCHTOLD, LEOPOLD ANTHONY JOHANN SIGMUND, COUNT VON, Austro-Hungarian statesman upon whose COUNT LEOPOLD VON BERCHTOLD shoulders lies the responsibility of hav- ing signed the note that brought on the World War. He was born April 18, 1863. At the outset of his public careeer he was secretary in the Foreign Office at Vienna, and rose by gradual stages in the diplomatic service until he was ap- pointed Ambassador to Russia in 1906. Feb. 19, 1912, he became Foreign Min- ister of Austria-Hungary, succeeding Count Aehrenthal. Count Berchtold was a man of personal probity and agreeable personality. He lacked stamina to carry out his intended policies, and soon be- came the plastic agent of stronger men in one of the most intriguing courts of Europe. It is alleged that he instigated Bulgaria to attack Serbia after the first Balkan War had come to a close, the dual monarchy having viewed with intense disfavor the growth of Serbia's strength. This plan having failed of its desired re- sult, Berchtold made overtures to Italy for an attack on Serbia, but these were declined. This check deferred the war against Serbia, which, however, was kept always in mind v/hile awaiting a favor- able pretext for its declaration. The op- portunity came in June, 1914, when the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdi- nand, the heir to the Austrian throne, and his wife at Sarajevo furnished a colorable reason for holding Serbia re- sponsible. A note was promptly de- spatched to Serbia, signed if not drafted by Berchtold, couched in the most offen- sive language and making demands that were incompatible with the sovereignty of any self-respecting state. Serbia made a conciliatory reply, offering to accept all the terms except those that were mani- festly impossible without abdication of her sovereign power. No answer, how- ever, would have been acceptable, for war had already been decided upon and was declared almost immediately after the receipt of Serbia's answer. In the early months of the war, Berchtold remained at the head of the Foreign Of- fice, but resigned January, 1915, and was succeeded by Baron Burian. He became Chamberlain of the Imperial Court in February, 1917. See World War. BERDITCHEF, a town of Ukrainia, 108 miles W. S. W of Kiev by rail, fa- mous for its five annual fairs. At these, cattle, corn, wine, honey, leather, etc., are disposed of. Pop. about 100,000. BEREA COLLEGE, a coeducational (non-sectarian) institution, in Berea, Ky.; organized in 1858; reported at the end of 1919: Professors and instructors, 81; students, 1,794; volumes in library, 35,000; productive funds, $1,345,588; in- come, $58,492; graduates, 1.479; presi- dent, William G. Frost, Ph. D., LL. D. BERENGARIUS. OF TOURS, a theo- logian of the 11th century. He was born at Tours in 998, and was afterward arch- deacon of Angers. He was thoroughly versed in the philosophy of his age, and did not hesitate to apply reason to the interpretation of the Bible. He denied the dogma of transubstantiation, and no less than seven councils were held respecting him, at three of which he was fondemned, and at four he was prevailed on to make retractions. He died in 1088.