New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-20
THE WAR N THE EAST.

The "warcloud in the Balkans has broken at
last in storm. Turkey has begun hostilites
against Greece To do this she was embodened
by the weak and vacating conduct OF the
great Powers: probably also directly prompted
by AT least one of them. Greece is defending
herself with spirit. For three days, therefore,
fighting has been general and almost incessan!
along the Whole frontier. from the lonian Sea
TO the .Egean. Reports are varied ana some
what contradictory. but so far as can yet be seen
no discriminating advantage has been gained
hv either side The Turks have apparently car
red Milouna Pass. in the Olympan range, near
Tyrnavos Thus they have opened the gateway
10 the great plain of Thessaly, and may advance
upon Larissa. But they will have to DO so IN
full force for that city is tho headquarters or
the Greek Army, and small invading force
would not only be unable 10 take it. but would
find itself in trap from which escape would De
difficult We shall whether Edhem Pacha
Is able to send on a sufficient force 10 take
Iarissa. and nj the same time retain enough
troops to guard the pass and his base or sup
niles On the other hand. the Greeks have taken
Prevesa the town at the entrance to the Gulf
of Arta which tie Turks recently fortified in
violation of the Treaty of Berlin. They have
thus gained full command of that gulf and are
enabled 10 begin a campaign in Epirus, threat
enng Janna itself.
So much for the chief campaign. There are
reports Of other operations not fully confirmed
but still worthy of close attention. One Is that
one Greek force has been landed in Chalcis and
n second on the western shore Of the Gulf Of
Salonica while several Greek warships are in
those waters That. if true, and it is at least
probable. means much. 1t means an attack upon
Salonica, and an attempt 10 cut communications
between SaloDica and Elass0na. Were such
q movement successful the Turkish Army would
be in A bad plight, with its communications with
Constantinope severed and its lines of supply
blockaded In such case Edhem Pacha would
have either 10 return and retake Salonica or 10
beat retreat northward TO Monastir either
course being fatal TO his Thessallan campaign.
The other report is that some thousands Of Al
banians having been repulsed by the Greeks on
the Thessalial frontier. have retired to the
Turkish side Of the line and are ravaging
Epirus. That. too. is probable. If true. it bodies
III for Turkey. For her chief strength in Eu-
rope is in the Albanians and If they are not to
be trusted she is in a sorry mess AS a matter
OF fact the Albanans. or Arnauts, are about
the mos, rascally set OF brlgands in the world.
After their heroic resistance, under ISLANDER TO
the whole power OF AHluTatH i|llipIre they yleld-
ed became Moslems and with the traditional
zeal Of new converts have ever since been more
savage toward Christians than have the Turks
themselves. But they have no true loyalty TO
Turkey and are just as likely as not TO desert
her and become Christians again and help the
Greeks.
one other possible turn of affairs is also to
DO taken into account The Greeks form ma
1orlty OF the population OF the whole Turkish
coast from the Gulf Of Salonca TO the BospOrus.
and considerable contingent even in Con-
stantlnople Itself They also predominant in the
islands of The .Egean and the coast provinces
Of Asia Minor In all there are five or six mill
ions Of them IL The Turkish domnons within
reach Of the sea. And the G. eek fleet can easily
control the sea and bear arms and ammunition
TO these Greeks. II these latter should revolt
against the Sultan, the consequences would be