The herald., 1897-04-20

Possibly at later stage in the war,
in the event that the Turks are defeated,
there may be rioting at Constantinople
or some of the larger Turkish cities, but
that is not feared at present.
1t has been suggested that the presi-
don't probably will be called upon to is
sue a proclamation of neutrality, now
that war is begun between Turkey and
Greece. The officials have looked into
the precedents in such cases and have
concluded that the conditions at pres
ent do not require the issue of such a
notice. The purpose of neutrality
proclamation is to guard American citi-
zens against the consequences Of in
fraction of the neutrality imposed upon
nations not party to a war. 1t does
not directly concern either of the bel
ligerents.
The progress of hostilities is being
watched with the keenest interest 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 by giving orders
for the preparation of such map as
was issued during the war between
China and japan. 1t may be said that
while the sympathies of the army off,
GERS lie largely with the Greeks, they
fully expect that the Turks will prevail
in the end, If allowed to wage war un-
trammeled by the interference of other
powers. The war department experts
say that Turkey, on paper at least, mas
one of the most formidable armies in
the world. In addition to this numeri-
cal superiority the war department ex-
perts say the Turkish forces for some
time have had the benefit Of thorough
training by a number of German army
officers, the best drillmasters in the
world. At present the Turkish COM
mander in 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 Golz, Ger
man officer "loaned" to Turkey by EN-
peror William. This officer is said to
unite in himself all the qualities OF
most fitted scholar and experienced SOL
der.
The war department is preparing to
collect all of the technical information
that may be derived from the war. Cap
tain Schriven, 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 neces-
sary permission will be given him. The
department may also send Major Dorst,
our military attache at Vienna, to the
Greek army.
The president is taking an active in
terest in the struggle between the Greeks
q
over to the White House this afternoon
and the president Immediately left all
other business to confer with his pre-
mier on the subject. Secretary Sherman
previously had a long talk with Mr.. An
CELL, who, being about to start for Tur-
key, the latter part of May, is naturally
deeply concerned in the developments
in that turbulent quarter.
None of Mr.. Terrel's kilograms so far
received verify the assumption that he
has undertaken the protection Of the
Greeks resident in Turkey. On the whole
the authorities are glad that the report
is not supported for although such a re-
quest could not well be declined, 1t is re-
membered that our ministers in China
and Japan and the state department be-
came involved in mess when they un-
dertook the protection of the Chinese
and Japanese through the killing of sew
eral Japanese students and there Is al
ways risk that trouble may follow the
assumption of such responsibility.
Admiral Selfridge has cabled the Sec
retary of the navy a request to have the
cruiser Cincinnati, now at Mersine, un-
der orders to come home, remain on the
Mediterranean station for time. This
will give Admiral Selfridge a fleet of five
ships, the San Francisco, Minneapolis
Marblehead, Cincinnati and the Raleigh