Evening star., 1897-04-19

y
At the close of the cabinet meeting NJ.
Hanotaux. the minister of foreign affairs.
received the Greek minister to France NJ.
Delyanns.
ELAsSONA DESERTED.
Inhabitants Have Fled, Fearing the
Approach of Combatants.
Headquarters of the Turkish Army in
Macedonia. Elassona, April 19.-The town
OF Elassona Is deserted by its Inhabitants.
who have fled northward and toward Sa-
lonica. fearing that the fighting between
the Turks and Greeks will extend to this
place.
LONDON. April 19-In spite of the fact
of its being a holiday here today. there
was great activity at the foreign Office.
where the fun staff was at work the whole
day long. The Italian, German. Austrian,
Swedish. French and Turkish ministers
had long conference with Sir Thomas H.
Sanderson. the permanent secretary of the
foreign Office.
The latter informed representative of
the Associated Press that the powers had
not yet decided to interfere in the war
between Greece and Turkey. which, he add
ed. should be sharp and decisive. as the
Greeks have little chance Of ultimately
winning.
INTEREST IN MILITARY CIRCLES.
Army Omcers Generally Expect
Turkey to Win.
The progress of hostilities in the east
is being watched with the keenest inter-
est in military circles here. Already there
has been a great. demand for accurate
maps of the scene Of the first outbreak
and this has been responded to by the
military information bureau of the War
Department giving orders for the prepa-
ration of such a map as was issued dur
ing the war between China and Japan
publication of great value to the student
Of war.
II may be said that while the sympa-
thies Of the army officers lie largely with
the Greeks they fully expect that the
Turks will prevail In the end IL allowed
TO wage war untrammeled by the inter-
ference of other powers. There are signs
TO indicate that such an ARRANGEMENT has
been reached by the principal military
and naval powers of Europe as will make
this. possible The War Department ex-
pefts say that Turkey has. on paper at
least one of the most formidable armies
in the world. and although II is generally
admitted that its strength may Rot be any
wnere near as large as thus set out. still
there actually exists a military force be-
sides which that Of Greece is absolutely in
significant in numbers
IL addition to this numerical superiority
no
Turkish forces have had for some time the
benefit OF thorough training by a number
OF German army officers, the best drill
masters in the world
Al present the Turkish commanderin
chief. Edhem Pasha. has at his back one
OF the ablest strategists In all Europe. in
the person OF Lieut. Gen. Baron Comar Won
Der Gohz. a German officer loaned" to
turkey BY Emperor William. This officer
Is said to unite in himself all the ouslI,is.
OF most gifted scholar and an experienced
soidier He participated in the war with
Denmark. In the Franco-Prussian war and
IN the Austro-Prussian war. and in addI-
tion. he IS the author of three military
hooks that are almost regarded as text
books in the service.
1t Is reported here that Baron Won der
Giotz Is really the author Of the plan of
campaign ulder which the Turkish army ,x
pcw lighting.
The War Department Is preparing to coI-
lect all OF the technical informatior tho,
may be derived from the war. Capt,in
Scriven. The military attache Of the United
States embassy at Rome, has already teIe-
grabbed the department for permission 10
go to Turkey to watch the process If the
war and the necessary permtuuaon viii he
given him- II he finds IL desirable that
some one should act In q like capacity with
the Greek army the department will prcba-
D3y senc Major Dorst. our military a,tacae
at NieIna TO the scene.
NO PaEsIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION.
OAciai. Decide That Present Cond,-
lions Do Not Require IL.
Ii his been suggested that the President
would probably be called upon to issue a
PROCLAMATION of neutrality now that war
has actually begun between Turkey and
Greece The government officials have al
ready looked Into the precedents in such
cases and have concluded that the condi-
tions at present do not require tie issue of
such a notice.
= The purpose OF a neutrality proclamation
is TO guard American citizens against the
consequences Of infraction of the neutrality
which Is imposed upon nations not party to
war II does not directly concern either
OF the beiligerents. but II intended to warn
American citizens that IL they espouss. the
cause of either combatan:. they will alb
solve their own country from extenfiinx
protection to them Conditions may arise
later on. II In said at the State Department.