The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-09
Turkish Preparations Against Greece

Among political gossips at Berlin, Lord
SALISBURY is described as saying, while
enjoying his holiday in the Riviera, that
Eastern affairs were "going by them
selves" OF how far they were to be al
lowed to go in that fashion he ave nc
hint, but Judging by the last rumors of the
intentions of the Sultan, it is meant that
they shall go to extremities. The reported
despatch of a number of regiments of
Kurdish cavalry from Asia Minor to Greece
Is not in harmony with the peaceful senti-
ments attributed to the Sultan; probably
untruthfully, for it is also stated that he
has given orders to EDHEM Pasha to push the
attack against the Greeks. Reviewing the
curse Of the military events since the OPEN
ing of the campaign, it Is now clear that
the Turks had underestimate the Greek
resistance, and had not provided sufficient
force to drive the Greeks before them at
the outset, as they had anticipated do.
ing. The misfortune of the Greeks was
the absence of a capable commander who
might, even under the disadvantages of
bad organization and inadequate material.
with the active cooperation of the fleet,
have gained u defensible foothold beyond
tHe huItici. lHe pollIitdi iulluelCeS az
work from Athens, however, were fatal.
and have conduced to the deplorable
condition in which Greece inds her
self. The Turks quickly brought heavy
achievements into the field, and are
now able to follow the Greeks up
with overwhelming force. The military
situation may be saved, but it is difficult to
see how with present knowledge; and
there appears no prospect of friendly inter
~vention, while every encouragement is given
the Turk to pursue his career of conquest
to the end.
The peaceful entry of the Turks into Volo
in the absence of any defending force was a
foregone conclusion, and its inhabitants
who have remained are fortunate In
having the presence of several for
eign ships of war. The concentration
of the Greek army at Dhomoko is a mill
tary necessity in view of the superior
strength of the force by which it is con.
fronted, and which may at any moment
renew the attack in obedience to the Sui
tan's orders. What reinforcements the
Athens Government may be able to send to
the front cannot be in a proper condition Of
armament II organization to take the
field against the victorious Turks, so that
the resistance to be offered can only be
looked on in the light of u forlorn hope.
Greece Is bleeding, and 1t is apparently in
tende that she shall be made to bleed
to exhaustion, In order hat when the pow
ers decide upon intervention there may be
neither moral nor physical power left in her
to resist whatever disposition of her imme-
diate future may be decided on. The So
luton of the mystery surrounding the
whole position and the explanation of the
attitude of the different powers await
the action of the Turk, and in the tenn
per now being displayed by the Sultan
we may not have very much longer to wait.
At the same time 1t will be well to bear in
mind that the preparations to carry on the
war reported from Constantinople are ex-
aggerated If they are only against Greece.
The Sultan evidently has other eventuali-
ties In view.