The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1897-05-20
A SURPRISE TO EUROPE
TURKEY SHOWS HER STRENGTH TO
EUROPEAN POWERS.
The Porte Placed In n stronger Po-
sition Than Known In Fifty
Years.

London, May 1.-THE s,iltan's reply TO
the note OF the ambassadors at Constan-
tlnople Offering mediation, saying he
would be ready to discuss the matter af-
ter the great Bairim festival. which ondcd
last night. Justifies the fear that the pow
ers have aroused spirit they can not
easily subdue
Abdul Hamids attitude is cool to the
point of insolence. 1t is that of sover-
eign with n powerful army behind him.
and he is disposed to treat the powers
cavallerly.
Articles published in the seml-officiai
press of the continent show that the In
crease in the prestige OF the sultan Is the
chief concern of European cabinets. and
the prospects of n prompt enforcement
of general reforms for the Turkish em-
pire are thereby relegated to the very
distant future. The Journal Des Deoa Is
declares the result of the war has been
to place Turkey in a position she has not
held for the past half century, adding:
Her tremendous military effort Is
largely In excess OF what the struggle
against Greece required. 1t was done to
refute the allegation OF decrepItude, and
to demonstrate to the sultan's own sub
Jects and to those OF the smaller states
and to the great powers that Turkey is
able to hold her own against war with
Greece"
The British Russian and Austrian
newspapers echo these remarks. and 1t
Is generally felt that this fact Will have
to be reckoned with in the negotiations
upon the conditions of peace. In the
meanwhile the postponement OF the sui
tan's reply until after the great festival
Is Interpreted az meaning that his ma1es-
ty Intends that his army shall continue
| Its victorious advance until every strateg-
| lc point on the Othrya mountain range
Is In the hands of the Turks, and that
Il kt,1D
ders to stop lighting. The resumption OF
| hghtlng by the Greeks In EI,lrus is re-
garded as n foolish move, and only fur
nlshes Turkey with n plausible motive
| for refusing an armistlce.
The chancellorles are also occupied with
the difficult problem OF how Greece will
pay the war Indemnity which Turkey
seems certain to demand NJ Delyannis,
the former Greek premier. In his news
| paper sangulnely argues that Greece can
not be expected to pay an indemnity be-
cause the Turks declared war officially
| without provocatlon''
This view of the question Is not shared
elsewhere, and an International congress
| to administer the finances of Greece on
the lines OF similar Turkish commissions
Is mooted. The Greek commission would.
1t Is proposed, sit ut Athens and over the
Greek customs for the purpose of collect
Ing the Greek debt, and possibly for the
| war indemnity.
Indemnity Demanded.
Constantinople. May 17.-Sixteen millloI
pounds (Turkish) Is mentioned as tn,
amount OF indemnity Turkey will asl
from Greece. Placards have been postes
In the Stamboul quarter protesting
against the shedding of Mussulmai BLOOD
on the ground that the sacrifices Impose.
upon Turkey by war are out of proper
tion TO the advantages she gain.
prevesa About to Fall.
Athens, May ia private dispatch
from Arta, just received. says the Turk
sh garrison at Prevesa. at the rortheri
entrance to the Gulf OF Arta. which ha
been beslcged by the Greek land and sci
forces almost from the outbreak OF th'
var, has sent the Greek archbishop ans
Ave notables of Prevesa to the comman
der in chief OF the besiegng Greek arm,
with n message saying the Turkish fore
Is ready to capitulate 10 the rcgula
forces of Greece.
Emperor Williams Work.
Paris. May 17.-It Is stated that the Ge
lay of the sultan OF Turkey In arranging
for a cessation of hostili.les Is due to tn
direct advice of Emperor William of Ger
many, not to grant an armls;ice until tn
Greeks have again retreated.