The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-15

because II was part OF the realm Of her
Car Samuel. Russia claims it, of course.
on the Panslav theory Austria-Hungary
wants ii because she wants Salonica.
The facts ot the case. as collated by re-
cent writer in the Pail Mall Gazette. are
as follows: First. Macedonia was a prov
ince of the Greek empire from the fourth
TO the middle OF the fourteenth century,
that is To say. Tor nearly thousand years.
with short interruption during the time
OF the Bulgarian Car Samuel Second.
Macedonia was taken from the Greeks aud
annexed TO Servia n he middle OF tie four
teenth century by the Servian Car Dushan.
Third the third and the greatest and the
only historical fact of practical Importance
is. that the Turks conquered Macedonia
after defeating the Servian King Nukashin
emit day they are masters OF that country.
To the question TO whom Macedonia be-
swer could be that il belongs 10 the Sui
tan. and that, after him. the Greeks have
the strongest historic claim. AT any rate
one thlng Is beyond all douDt-the sugar
ians have no historic claim on Macedonia.
Nevertheless, Bulgarias claim has been
most vigorously pushed OF all. II was put
forward by Russia at The Congress OF Berlin.
and has been, both secretly ana openly,
backed by Russia ever since. The reason
of Russia's interest is. of course evident
she expects one day to absorb BulSarias
and so the more Bulgaria now gets me
more Russia will then get AS IN many
other cases. Russia has worked in this case
largely through the church. The separation
of the Bulgarian Church from the Greek
patriarchate OF Constantinople. the crea-
ton of the bulgarian excarchate. the NOM
ination of The Bulgarian bishops IN Mace
donna. the systematic support OF the Bul,
Sarlan propaganda in that province ana
the treaty of San Stefano were only the
parts of one great scheme devised by me
eraI Irnatn Tbs @ Object of the scheme
was nothing less than to bring the whole
of the Balkan peninsula under Russian
rule.
When Stambuloff ruled Bulgaria. and
was hostile TO Russia. he in turn intrigued
for Bulgarian control OF Macedonia ms
motive being to aggrandiZe Bulgaria so
that she would be able TO stand alone as
an independent kingdom. Had he remained
Bulgaria would probably have Jumped
Macedonia as it did Eastern Rumelia.
THE DANGER POINT.
Now Macedonia is always on the verge
of revolt, except when she is actually re-
belling and fighting. which is about half
the time. And both Greece and Bulgaria
have for years been at the point of invad-
ing it to annex it. while Austria. with a
railroad from Vienna through Budapest to
Salonica. keeps an army in waiting rush
down there at the earliest opportunity. A
march of Turkey against Greece in that
quarter would. therefore. almost certainly
provoke general Macedonian uprising in
which Bulgaria and Servia would surely
take a hand. and into which Austria would
|
European war. and that is why the powers
Greece.
The Russian government under the lead
of Count Muraveff. a and ambitious
man. would doubtless like foreclose upon
Bulgaria, and take Macedonia. too. But
the trouble would be to get at them. Russia
is separated from Bulgaria by Hungary
and Rumania. And Rumania is now
strong power. almost a great power. with
its capital. Bucharest. the most strongly
fortifled city on the continent So "A march
overland would not be practicable; She
could get at Bulgaria by way of the Black
sea. to be sure. but her Black fleet is
needed at the BosDorus. So she is likely
10 keep hands OF OF Bulgaria until she first
forecloses on Turkey. when she will. OF
course. claim Bulgaria tributary
State. and will be free TO enforce the claim.
There is. Of course. always a possibility OF
the ether Balkan states joining hands with
Greece 10 resist Turkish attack. Should
they do so, TO Wit. Servia. Bulgaria and
Turkey. At the outset the allies could
put 259 battalions i'm the field with ninety
three squadrons and la batteries of artil-
iery. Yet that would not amount. i'm round
numbers, to the force of the three ordu in
Europe, that can parade. and the ordu i'm
up. In theory Greece could put 10000 men
in the field. but il would tax the resources
of a nation of less than s.500,00O 10 kepp
them there any time. Bulgaria could prob
ably turn out nearly as many. while Servia
would furnish $4,000 and Montenegro 10000
10 600 men. Ii Turkey called out Musta-
fuz for each of the four ordu, that would
add to their strength 10000 men. and. WHAT
with other drafts and reinforcements. the
troops into a campaign in Europe. Under
such circumstances il seems quite probab:e
that il the Turks comport themselves with
anything like their former stubbornness
and bravery Greece and the allied Balkan
states would have enough to do to hold
their own, and, at any rate. would be I'M
able of themselves to partition Turkey.
Any contest between the allied states and
Turkey would be a terrible and sanguinary
struggle, for both sides would bring into
battle some of the most resolute fighting
men in Asia and Europe. That there are
sure TO be irruptioEs upon the Greek 'front.'
ler-peace or no piece-now goes almost
without saying. for the mountain Businesses
are infested by numerous lawIess spirits.
When the recent Delimitation Commission
was at work mapping out the boundary liz
required the constant presence of the Turk
ish battalion TO insure their safety. The
country was infested with numerous bands
of brigands. Greeks and Turks alike.
When the last slices of territory were being
added to Greece. the Turks, with their
usual crassness. left their unpaid gem
darmery TO shift for themselves. These
honest 90 policemen. who had made such a
poor trade of II while keeping the law
and protecting life and property, resolved
to try how an opposite course would pay
and became banditti.
The frontier between Greece and Turkey
winds. for the major part. along the sum-
NIT OF one OF the many mountain ranges
from east TO west. Starting from the east
coast little to the north of Salambra II
runs westward 10 point near Metsova
where IL DIVORCES to the southwark follow
ing the course of the River Arta TO the
gulf of that name. 1t was at -Arta the
other day that some shots were fired be-
tween rival bands OF Greeks and AIbanians
The extent OF the frontier line Is between
$50 and 200 miles. Most of the main ranges
running east and west well as north ana
south are very lofty, attitudes from 400
feet TO 5000 feet being numerous and at
this season the highlands are covered with
snow, only the tracks and roads near the.
seaboard on either coast being practicable
for troops at this period of the year.
Sunday GrowIer Rushing.