New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-20
ARMY OFFICERS HERE 1NTERESIED'
BIrT THEY DON'T PREDICT HOW LONG THE WAR


MAY LAST OR WHAT WILL DEVELOP
cororo, Nelson A Miles commanding the Army.
was at the Waldorf yesterday. The General u
much interested in the war now being waeeo o'-
tween Turkey and Greece. When asked EeS''iu'.
what he thought OF the situation ne rePIeu'
can hardly say anything as. OF COURSE N.Y.
nothing whatever about the struggle except what
7 have seen in the papers. The strength OF poth
armies on both a war and peace footing the
strength Of the navies the arnamen's anu So o'
have been fully dilated on
Commenting upon the herceness with Which 'i'e
struggle had opened the Genefal remarked tha'
the Turkish forces were good lighters. ADDING
rrurtev seems 10 be fearfully in earnest ana
(:reeco apnarently enthusiastic The equipment OF
both armies so far as the make OF arms goes 10
lust about the same. The Turkish army Is IN az
ceent condition. so understand ana VIII p'oo'''''
give good account OF itsef
General Miles did not make any prediction ns 10
the probable length OF the war or result. Nhe'her
Europe would become involved or not was ques-
ton for diplomat and not for a soldier
General Wesley Merritt. In command OF the De-
partment OF the East. who was seen oy 'epo'' ~,
NJ a review in the armory at SiXty-seVehth-s'' anu
the boulevard last evening said MY sympathy
IA with the Greeks but ! fear they have had 700
much Jubilee and too little preparation for hght
and they are in danger of being whipped badly py
the Turks II the Powers do not step III ana SAVE
them from being slaughtered. do not suppose
the Powers will permit the Turks 10 oVcrruh anu
destroy Greece OF course prefer TO speak as a
c,,,,en not as a soldier, In this matter
The ohie ers stationed at Governors Island WINE
taking the greatest interest in the war ana ciose'y
following the movements OF the two armies are
charv OF giving opinions upon the struggle or us
nossible developments Many OF the ofiicers VINO
were seen Yesterday refused to discuss Tor puphca-
tion the war from any point of view. DINERS, WINE
nerhons more diplomatic in their dechhatlohS. WIZ
no more communicative. Ia one or two instances
only was IL possible by stray sentence OF TWO "
ohtaIn hint of the personal feelings heId by soie
~ the Officers Colonel Worth evidently does NOT
believe that Greece IS alone in her opposition 10
Turkey II don't think" he said. .tnat rrecSe
wouId have gone into this war without some, pdCh,
ing II looks as If big Power Is Dehlnu hcl.
Woi or PhiDps is among those who think that o,lti
EuTonean nations will be drawn into the cohllicl;
~ tbev don't look out this little fire VIII extend
Kimball thought Greece had been somewhat hedn-
strong and precipitate. and by reason or her IN
Ferioritv in numbers of soldiers ana equipments
Was likely TO suffer IN the end. -
Colonel Francis V. Greene, United states Army
retired who was sent by this Government 10 OBJ
serve the Turko- Russian campaign OF twenty years
ago was asked by Tribune reporter last evening
for his opinion OF the TURKISH soiulel anu 'i'
.1'he Turks said he, ARE fanatics and VIII
ooh, Gercolv but should defeat seem likely they
viii give no all hope and run They are well armed
I'D weI clothed but the Army's commissary de-
,nr,r"ent is very defective. The Sultan is bank
rupt but he can doubtless borrow. me Lurk n.l
Arm1, FAR outnumbers the Grecan, ana Is more
than match for It. but the result OF war between
The two countries will depend entirely on the attl-
tude the Powers assume toward them