The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-03
CREEKS AND TURKS.

New York Tribune.

new YORK IrlDune-
The great powers, under Russian direc-
ton, are most efficiently backing up the
Turk. They have been bullying and buster
ing against Greece, because she has sent
her troops TO her northern frontier; threat
ening even to blockade her ports if she did
not desist. At the same time they have
with entire complacence watched Turkey
sending three times as many troops thither.
Indeed, there is good reason for believing
they or their leaders have actually insti-
gated, encouraged and assisted Turkey to
do so. The result is that near the foot of
old ymp there are now some 10000
Greek troops. standing alone for Christen-
dom and civilization, and some $50. 900 Turk
ish troops. backed up by the great powers.
standing for rapine and savagery. 1t is a
strange scene. the stranger when we re-
member that once before, almost on that
very ground. the Greeks stood and fought
against overwhelming odds. the bulwark of
rising European civilization against the
hordes of Asia; and to-day the very Europe
which that ancient heroism of Greece made
possible takes the side of Asian barbarism
against Greece
The Turks have chosen their position well.
Edhem Pasha. the chief butcher of Ar
menia, is in command. but the plan of cam
paign might We'll ave been drawn up by
the mighty Osman. SO much does it resem-
BILE that of Plevna. The. camp is al Elias
soma. the Olasoon of Homer's time, at the
t9rv of The famous Penems' II is the cen
ter Of all the roads between Macedonia and
Thessaly east of the Pindus mountains. A
side of the line is Larissa. where Prince
Constantine is marshaling his little army.
Between the two are five separate roads
not far apart. Along some of these must
go any army which passes from Greece into
Turkey or from Turkey into Greece In
the former case Elassona would prove an
other PleVna to bar its passage. In the lat
ter there would be small chance of effective
resistance on the road or at LariSsa- That
city stands in the great plain of Thessaly
and could scarcely be defended against "A
superior force. The Greeks would in such
case have TO abandon city and plain TO the
invaders and fall back to where they made
their stand of old. Thermopylae.
One circumstance which greatly handi-
caps the Greeks and favors the Turks Is
that the latter have a tine new railroad
from Constantinople to Salonica and thence
well on toward ElaSsona, while the Greeks
have no such facilities. The proposed rail-
road from Athens To Larissa has not been
built. and the common roads between those
places are very bad. All troops and sup
plies have therefore to be transported by
sea 10 Nolo. and thence 10y rail to Larissa.
That would serve we'll enough if the Greeks
had to reckon with only the Turks. for the
Greek fleet could safeguard that route
against the Turkish navy. But with the
navies of the great powers on the side OF
the Turks hat line of communication will
be hopelessly blocked. and the Greek forces
in the field will he cut of from all supplies
| and reinforcements. Ii is a desperate
plight for the Greeks. But desperate men.
In their last extremity, may yet strike a
blow which will bring unreasonable aftiic-
ton upon those who drove them TO IL. The
great powers many yanquish Greece. abol-
: ish its independence and place 1t under the