The record-union., 1897-04-20


of great value to the student of war.
1t 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 if al
lowed to wage war untrammelled by
the interference of other Powers. and
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 experts say
that Turkey, on paper at least, has one
of the most formidable armies in the
world, and although it is generally adj
mitted that its strength may not be
anywhere near as large as thus set
out, still there actually exists a mill
tary force besides which that of Greece
is absolutely insignificant in numbers.
In addition to this numerical superior
ity, the War Department experts say
that the Turkish forces for some time
have had the benefit of thorough train
ing by a number of German army Off
Gals, the best drill masters in the
world At present the Turkish Com
mander-in-C Chief, Edhem Pasha, has at
his back one of the ablest strategists
in all Europe in the person of Lieu
tenant General Baron Conan Won Der
Goltz, a German officer loaned" to
Turkey by Emperor William. This
officer is said to unite in himself all
the qualities of most fitted scholar
and an experienced soldier. He par
tfcipated in the war with Denmark, in
the Franco-Prussian war and in the
Austro-Prussian war and in addition.
he is the author of three military books
that are regarded almost as text books
in the service. 1t is reported here that
Baron Won Der Goltz is really the au-
thor of the plan of campaign under
which the Turkish army is now fight
ing.
The War Department is preparing to
collect all of the technical information
that may be derived from the war Cap
tain Scriven, the military attache of the
United States Embassy at Rome has
already telegraphed the Department for
permission to go to Turkey to watch
the progress of the war, and the nee
essary permission will be given him.
If he finds it desirable that some one
should act in like capacity with the
| Greek army, the Department probably
I
tache at Vienna, to the scene
The President is taking an active in
terest in the struggle between the
Greeks and Turks. Secretary Sher-
man came over to the White House
this afternoon, and the President i'm
mediately left all other business to con-
fer with his premier on the subject
Secretary Sherman previously had
lnyor +oII
about to start for Turkey the latter
part of May, is naturally deeply con-
cerned in the developments in that tur-
bulent quarter.
None of Mr.. Terrilrs kilograms so
far received verify the assumption that
he has undertaken the protection of
the Greek residents in Turkey On the
whole, the authorities are glad that the
| report is not supported, for although
| such request could not we'll be de-
clined, it is remembered that our Min
listers in China and Japan. and the
State Department as well, became in
| volved in a mess when they undertook
the protection of the Chinese and Jap
anese through the killing of several
japanese students, and there is always
risk that trouble may follow the as
| sumption of such responsibility.
| Admiral Selfridge has cabled the Sec
rotary of the Navy a request to have
the cruiser Cincinnati, now at Mersine,
under orders to come home. remain on
the Mediterranean station for a time
She was to be relieved by the Raleigh.
| but Secretary Long has given instruc-
tons that both ships shall remain
there. This will give Admiral Selfridge
a fleet of five ships the San Francisco.
the Minneapolis, the Marblehead, the
Cincinnati and the Raleigh, a number
sufficient to insure the adequate pro-
lection of all American interests in
Southern Europe, in the opinion of the
| NAVY Department.