The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-21


Hopeful though the Greeks profess 70 Be.
the fact that the Turks have reached
Tyrnzyos Is proof that the battle az MI
Iouna pass was Q defeat OK the Shris-
tssnx The next battle viii be fought AZ
Iartssa. and II the same result follows
the railroad 70 Trikaia VIII fah into us
hands OF the Turks. They may even Sc
cure thar 10 volo. which will give them
access TO the sea from another point
All ACCOUNTS agree that the Turkish
army is spiendidiy disciplined and tnas
the men fight with the reckless courage
OF the Mussuiman- The Greeks are no
less brave In hand-to-hsDd encounters
bu, they retire more readily under . de-
structive fire. The events Of the past Few
days give a new aspect 70 King Georges
sad remark that he saw no hope IL
seems now as IL he realized not only tnas
there was no hope Of avertins war. but
no hope OF success. The warm sympa-
thy of Gil civilized peoples buoys them up
with anticipation that the patriotism OK
the Greeks may enable them to make such
a supreme effort that the Turks viii yet
receive q check. and af,ord an opportun-
ity for mediation by the powers which
both sides may be willing to accept.
The FIRST reverses of q war are not al
ways decisive. but the forces must be
more equal than In the present contest.
There has been no difference OF opinion
among those competent to Judge that the
Greeks had moderated the strength Of
their foe. Turkey mas been getting ready
for a war for two o. three years. Her
army has been keyed up TO meet much
more formidable enemy than Greece.
Russia or England was the nation with
which she expected to cope. and Greece
is q small power upon which TO fling such
a gathering as the porte has made.
Turkey is fighting on land which for
merly belonged to her. Thessaiy, from
the Gulf of volo on the east to the
Gulf of Arta on the west. was Otto
man territory until but few years ago.
and the commander Of the sultan's forces
must be familiar with the obstacles he
has to overcome. II Larissa passes again
into their possession. the Turks will In
sist upon the evacuation of Crete. and
even though the powers refuse to with
draw their protectorate. Greece will have
TO yield to the demands already made
upon it by the European governments.
The war will probably soon be over.
but fresh troubles will arise between the
powers when the settlement OF terms OF
peace begins. 1t Is even possible that
England may be compelled to give up
Cyprus as the only alternative to war
with Turkey backed up by Russia and
Germany. The increase In the price OF
wheat is not caused by the present war.
II is due to the apprehension In COM
mercial circles that far greater con-
nict Is impending. England only raises
about one-1fth of her own food supplies
and IL war should seem probable Inn
mense purchases would be made Rus
sia would. OF course. cut OF her supply
Of wheat. and the condition OF India Is
such that the traffic from there would DO
seriously impeded. The United States
and Argentine would be drawn upon
enormously. and dollar would be the
least price.
England viii not be dragged into the
war II she can avoid IL. but the more abe
endeayors 70 avoid IL the more deter
minedly VIII Russia and Germany follow
up the advantage which Turkeys sue
cess viii AFFORD them. There are no indl-
cations that Great Britain 4 making I'M
usual preparations. but for some tine
there has been q quiet and steady
strengthening Of the reserve forces. Rus
sia has been openly getting ready. and the
concentration OF aa.ooo troops on the
southern seaboard Is evidence that the
ozar Il In 3 good position 10 carry out any
determination Re may form 10 end the
| prolonged condition OF armed expectancy.
The present aspect Of the situation puts
/ IL out OF the question that any material
aid can be expected by the Greeks from
a rising In Macedonia The one eontin-
( gency upon which that help could be had
I Is wanting. and the Turks would have TO
+ lie driven back across the mountains IN
1 order TO encourage any rebellion In that
/ territory. The success OF the Greeks at
/ Prsvess Is not 20 certain as II seemed on
| Sunday. and. even II IL were. that position
/ Is Of small consequence as compared to
those In che mountain passes which the
/ Greeks have been compelled TO abandon.
/ Defeat at Larissa would be followed by
an order TO the Turks TO march on Athens.
/ and though the powers might intervene
/ before the capital was reached. the vic
| tory OF lie Ottoman forces would be prac-
/ s1~affv co-aDiefa