The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1897-05-01
GREEK AND TURK.

| u1tEGh hND Chh.
| The New York Sun says, when the
war in the East opened, the Greeks ap-
parently had certain advantages of
position. In Epirus they were pal
| pably we'll situated for advance into the
Turkish territory. while in Thessaly
they held the passes 10 front OF their
main camp at Larissa, and were operat-
ing at only short distance from their
water base at VIOLA. The Greeks, also,
had their naval forces. apparently,
reader for use than the Turks.
But these advantages were seen to
be counterbalanced by the superior
numbers of the Turkish army. The
Turks, too, have again proved good
fighters, as they did during their last
war with Russia. On both sides there
is plenty of enthusiasm.
To incline the balance in favor of
the Greeks Under the always heavy
handicap of inferior numbers there
seems to be an absolute need of genius
in leadership. Given region easy OF
defence and remarkable skill both in
planning and executing campaigns,
aided by greater familiarity with the
field of operations, at least in Thessaly,
the Greeks could conceivably over
come the disadvantage of fewer men.
Their insufficient material and trans
port are however, against them.
But although it is difficult to judge
at this distance. so far there appears
to be no sign of genius in soldiership
on the Greek side. The telegram from
Crown Prince Constantine, 81 am
fighting, myself, and so is Nicholas"
does not carry full assurance of STRAIT
egic ability at work, although it is
| much to have well-defned commander
ship on the spot. But the participa-
tion of the Crown Prince in the fight
ing is doubtless to stimulate and en-
courage his men by showing himself
ready to share their dangers and hard
ships. Then he must reflect that
Greece has not had the experience of
| recent war for the training of her
officers and for making them better
veterans. The grert Pleyena camp
aign OF Turkey has no counterpart oh
her side. She did mobalize her troops,
! it is true, about that time, but she
took no active part in the fighting.
She mobilized them again about ten
years ago, but also without hostilities.
The division of the Greek feat in
Egean waters has thus far seemed to
be engaged in minor operations, al
though its reported attack on Plata
monia may have been stimulated by
the hope of relieving little the hard
pressed Greek army in Thessaly. In
the Gulf of Arta the fleets lombard
ment of Prevenza has been conducted
with a psrsistency which promises
| much.
And so long as the Greeks them
selves keep up heart and hope, SYM
pathiziug onlookers need not despair.
At any hour the situation may change
in their favor. And although, next to
lack of numbers, the chief disadvan-
tage of the Greeks seems to be the
lack of experience in warfare on a
large scale among officers and men,
yet it must be rememb mbered that there
is no forcing house of military educa-
tion like the battle field. Let the
Greeks be able to keep the Turks ba tx
a little longer and they will soon be-
come veterans. Could they hold their
own in the Thessalian field, and con-
tinue their aggressive work in Epirus,
the fruits of the campaign would still
be theirs.
If this, however, should not be pos
sible, we do not think that Greece
would pay for her boldness by any loss
of territory. The great powers, that
now seem willing to have her punisheh
by Turkey, and so made to feel that
they were right and she was wrong,
would presumably interpose to prevent
anything like Ottoman conquest. They
might not forbid the temporary over
running of Thessaly, but we cannot
conceive that they would permit any
rood of fChristendom to be permanently
| tro N sfarrad to tho c,ua of tho oracoant