The San Francisco call., 1897-05-16
Russia and Germany Prefer
Further Humiliation for
the HelIeneS.
ENGLAND CAN Do NOTHING
BUT PROTEST.
1t Is Estimated That Since HostiIf-
ties Commenced 5000 Soldiers
~. Have Been Killed.
copyrighted, 1897, by the New FORK SUM-

LONDON, ENG, May 15.-The powers
gre waiting with what patience they may
until it shall please the Sultan to say
what he is going to do about the overtures
for peace in behalf of Greece. In the
meantime the latter has established
foothoId in Epirus which will enable her
to say that Greek troops are occupying
Turkish territory, even if all of Thessaly
is given over to the invaders.
The situation, however, is far from sat-
isfsctory to the powers, and least of all to
D.: England, who has been euchered and dis
comtited at every turn IN the great game
OF diplomacy in which the war has been
only one of the moves. It is well known
that Salisbury is anxious for peace at the
earliest possible moment and in favor of
vigorous control of the Sultan. 1t Is
quite safe to say that the British Premier
vii be isappointed.
There is no indication that Russia and
Germany are in any great hurry. and it is
eertaia the altan viii snap his fingers al
any other attempt to interfere with him.
Il is quite probable the Gar, and perhaps
Emperor William also, will prefer that
Greece be reduced 10 much humber atti-
tude than she now occupies. Athens
threatened and at the mercy of the Turks
would enable Russia to play the same role
she did for China at the close of the
Tar t.
would even be possible-in fact if not in
name-for Russia to gain the same ascend
ency in Greek affairs as England has done
In Egypt. The only power which would
seriously resent this would be Great Brit
ain, and her cowardice is now universally
recognized as one of the permanent factors
in the European situation. Her protests
might be noisy, but there would be no
guns behind them.
Salisbury and Balfour are fond of de-
clsring themselves real friends of Greece.
1t is perfectly clear to-day that this friend
ship is OF no more value to Greece than
that Of Salisbury's favorite setter. Eng
land might as well be without a voice in
dealing with Turkey at the present mo-
nent, as she Is so impotent In impend-
ing negotiations she will be outwitted al
every point, and the only resource she
thinks she has gained is better relations
with France, about which she is already
boasting. But any attempt at present to
turn this advantage to practical use will
be certain to bring her nothing but hu-
Q
any attempt to transfer their affections
over night from st. Petersburg to London
- would furnish the most grotesque specta-
Gle of modern politics.
King Georges real help must come
from st. Petersburg and will come as soon
as he is ready to pay the price. This
price will include Russian control oil
Greek finances in some form and through
this dom inant Russian influence over the
Greek Government
If England does not ike it she can pro-
test. Nobody is afraid she will do any
thing more. 1t is premature and useless
TO discuss terms of peace before the Porte
has even consented TO an armistice. The
various claims Turkey has cabled during
the week are little more than feelers to
test opinion.
A peculiar feature of the news of the
so-called war which has now gone on
nearly month is that it is almost impos-
sibIe to gain even an Approximate idea of
the loss of life in the various battles and
skjrmishes. An examination of the great
mass of material by mail and telegraph
which has come to London from all
sources enables me to make rough esti-
mate, for which no pretensions of accuracy
are claimed. The mum ber of Greeks
killed in the Thessaly campaign previous
to the battles near Pharsala will probably
not exceed 1000. The last ten days brings
The loss up to about 1900. The first in
vasion of Epirus didn't cost many lives.
YESTERDAY battle was more serious, but
the total loss in the Epirus campaign is
hardly more than 900. The total OF Greek
losses is probably between $500 ard 5000.
There are almost no figures on the Turk
lsh side. The Turks themselves don't
know their own losses. They are pro-
verbally Indifferent about such statistics.
Taking all the available evidence, am