The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-11
TURKS AS ~DIPL0MATISTS.
THEY HAVE BEATEN TIE AMBASsA-
DoRS ALL ALONG THE LINE

m tho EUROPEAN uEtp huaNa NAohhn "uNIs
pe.., the Sultan Believes ne Cas- Get Out
or the way In Army snd
Na1y Are In n Sad state or Generalization
Special Gable Dsspaton to TIE SUE.
LONDON, July lo.-A week ago in.informed
p,rsous woro talking Is though the treaty Of
p.aoo between Turkey and Greece were as good
a stgued, sealed, and delivered. Some news-
v.pcrs depicted the Sultan with 4 pair Of wings
and q halo around his head, sailing heaven
ward to his we'll learned reward.
But events have more than justified TEE
euN's pessimism. Europe realizes that tho job
Of turning or persuading the Turks out of
Thessaly, which was to have been accomplished
with neatness and despatch, has barely COM
menced, even theoretically.
Al least o month ago In this correspondence
tho case for Turkey was set forth argumenta-
lively and In detail. and this week, by q most
remarkable coincidence, tho Constantinople
correspondent Of the Standard, who Is in the
closest touch with the British Embassy there.
has made public a recent conversation with
the Sultan. In which his Majesty took up
exactly the same attitude, explained 1t In al
most the exact languag used n month previ-
ously by THE SUN. and justified It by tho iden-
teal arguments.
II the situation has altered during the past
weok, it has not been for tho better. Turkish
diplomacy has boon for tho moment rs con-
spicuously successful in Constantinople as
the Turkish arms were In Thessaly. The Am
bassadors have been beaten all along tho limo
because they used o threat which they knew
they were not in q position promptly to carry
out, and they know that the Sultan knew 1t.
United Europe has the weight and might Of q
colossal steam hammer and tho Sultan is rs
well aware Of tho fact as tho Ambassadors.
But he also knows that It Is q particularly pom
dsrous bit Of machinery. He has had his
hand between the hammer and tho anvil moro
than once, and he has seen 1t descend as though
to crush him, and yet 1t has stopped abort
within an inch OF his fingers as the show ham,
mers Are made to do at the thrilling exhihi-
tons visitors may witness at Woolwich and
lsewhere. II tho hammer should ultimately
mean business. the Sultan 10 confident that
his eye and hand are quick enough to got out
Of danger at the last moment, and that IL the
situation
Other delusions appear to DO cherished in Ger.
tain ~quarters. IT cannot understand" said Mr.,
oonduriotis, the Greek Minister at Rome, to q
newspaper reporter yesterday. how Europe
has forgotten 20 easily Turkish methods and
habits. II Turkey 10 ablo to put her finger
10 her nose and defy Europe In the matter Of
reforms without being one bit the worse fol
her oontumacy and impudence, do you suppos.
sho win now clear out Of Thessaly unless q
strong foot kicks her QUIT The powers so IA
have lone nothing. and I do not believe the!
will do moro in tho future. The so-called per
feet accord between the powers does not CT
ist II Il had existed. there would have becl
no war"
So far Mr.. Conduriotis showed himself wei
informed. But It became apparent that even o.
phrewd Q man and d~iplomatist cherished tn
delusfons referred TO. He spoke. for instance
Of che Greek army O. though It exists as o com
petent fighting force.
-Our army" he proudly declared. was neve
~thoroughly beaten. despite all that is said :
ths-oontrary. It 1nds itself. now stronger. n
tnforced. and reorgsnized- Greece is in o posi
ton to recommenco hostiliies, and her army 1
IN Q condition to give Q very good account @
, itself. for all the conditions are much moro "a
vorahle."
But TIE Sun reporter. who Is on tho spot an
is-a moro competent witness to the facts tina
the s~anguine diplomatist, declares that there
little fight left In tho Greek soldiers- Ger
emolenits's troops, for aome reason not eas
to understand, are in high favor with the popr
Lace Of Athens and the Government, and LII
GrAl supplies Of wine, brandy, cigarettes. an
other ~luxuries reach them at Thermopyla
They are % wen Of, In fact, that they have b,
come fat ~inSolent. and lazy. The earthwork
which wero to have furnished an impregnabl
obstacle to tho Turkish advance arc not eve
get half inished.
AL the other divisions are half starvet
ragged, and mutinous. The regiments ngt
with each other for tho wagon loads Of brea
when they arrive. and tho officers are powerles
70 maintain even o semblance of d~isciplin,
Whole companies have deserted and taken I
the mountains and brigandage; and this 10 tn
miserable caricature Of an army with whic
the Greeks boast OF stopping the victorior
Turkish march upon Athens in the event Of Ii
resumption of tho war.
Tho state OF affairs in the Greek navy. frol
which 80 much was expected, 10 little bett'
than in tho army. The sailors repeatedly hay
been In open mutiny. and the ooaling depo
are % depleted Of fuel that It IL doubtful
halt the feet could be taken to sea II hostilih'
were resumed tomorrow.
DTERN DEMIXDa ON THE PORT