Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-05-01

turkish rule.
The Turkish commander Is one Edham
Pasha. He saw service In the TurcO- Rus
sian war as colonela and brigade command
CT, but he has had no experience In the
leadership OF = large army. Prince Con-
stantine, the commander Of the Greek ar
my, has d military training which Is pure
~ that OF the academy and drill ground,
and there seems 70 be no general under
him who has had different experience
In Numbers the Turkish army Of advance
Is far larger than the Greek forces, and
there Is reason TO expect that the latter
may get the worst OF It at the outset. The
Greeks, however, have the best reason TO
look for efficient help from their large
body OF irregulars, which have been pour
ing into Macedonia and kpirus. From this
source the tide OF uprising against Turk
ish rule promises to swell into a great vol
ume Other elements that favor the Greeks
are the facts that the lighting will be in
Hellenic territory, which the Greeks know
thoroughly, and the whole OF the nation is
on fire with passionate enthusiasm
All that the great powers can do just
at present Is to look on and localize the
conflict as far as IL is possible. But the
issue is not merely between Turkey and
Greece, nor the question merely the gov
eminent of Crete. A war between Turkey,
oil Of whose traditions arc despotisin. and
Greece, all of whose traditions arc liberty,
may easily involve before it be completed
all Europe in a war between absolutism
and democracy. It may result in an upris-
ing throughout Europe until every govern
ment cast of Russia Is revolutiOnized and
make liberalism dominant from the Medi-
terranean to the Baltic.
The accompanying map gives a good
general idea of the country in the neigh
borhood of the Greek-Turkish frontier,
where the hostile armies confront one an
other. 1t is extended south TO show the
geographical relations OF Athens and the
present region of conflict. The frontier
extends from the Ionian sea at the gulf of
Arta, on the west, TO tho gulf of Salonika,
near Mount Olympus, the tabled home OF
the old Greek deities, on the east.
In moving the Greek troops to the north
they were embarked on shipboard at the
Pireus, the port Of Athens, and sailed
down the gulf of Egina TO the Kgean sea,
and then north TO the port of Bolos, also
known as Volo. This port is connected
with Larissa by rail, and a few hours after
/ landing the troops were in Larissa, the
present headquarters of the Greek army al
the front. The Turkish city of Salonika
has been the gathering point Of the Turk
ish forces. SalOnika is at the head Of the
gulf of Salonika, 65 miles northeast of the
town OF Elassona in Macedonia. Elassona
is the headquarters of the Turkish forces
in Macedonia. The Turkish troops have
reached this town and other points along
the Turkish military front by two routes
A part of them have gone west by rail t.
/ Verria from Salonika and then marcbe
south to Elassona, a distance Of 45 miles
For some weeks the Turks have had q
very considerable army posted all aionz
the frontier from Eiassona TO Janina witt
other forces on the gulf of Arta- The
Greeks have also spread a part of the
troops they concentrated at Larissa along
the frontier from Nezeros, south of Mount
Olympus, TO the western border of Thes
sally. At Grevena In Macedonia the Turks
have had an entire division, including in
fantry, cavalry and artillery, under The
command of Haiku Pasha. The Greek in
surgents pushed northward nearly TO Grew
ena before they were beaten back.
The most OF Thessaly is a vast plair
with ranges of hills. In no other part o.
Greece could troops be so easily maneu
vercd over so large territory. Macedonis
and Albania, on the Turkish side of tn,
border, on the contrary, are exceedingly
mountainous. AS compared with Thes
sally, the Turks have in their frontier ter
| rltory Tar greater number OF strategic
points that are not difficult to defend.
The main difficulty with all this territory
on both sides of the border, from n mill
tary point of view, is tho entire lack o
good roads Many of the roads affording
the only means of transit are mere bride
paths, and ali tho roads are narrow anC
In bad condition.
The powers are plainly in alliance witt
Turkey in this crisis, but tho conscience
and sympathy of the people are largely IL
favor of Greece. This latter ally shoulI
not be despised.