The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-20

and, although IL is generally admitted that
It's strength may not be anywhere near ae
mus mus set out, still there actually exists
military force besides which that sof Greece
Is absolutely Insignificant in numbers. In
auultlon 10 this numerical superiority the
War Department experts say that the
Turkish forces for some time have had the
Deneht OF thorough training by number
OF German army officers. the best drll
ish commander-in-chief Edhem Pasha, has
AT MS back one of the abest strateglsts IN
a. an Europe In the person or Lieutenant
General Baron Comar Won Der GoItZ, Il
German officer loaned TO Turkey by I'm
peror William. This officer is said TO unite
IN himself ali the qualities or most gifted
scholar and an experienced soldier. lie
participated in the war with Denmark. In
the tranco-Prussian war and In the Aus
tro- -Prussian war. and in addition he Is the
author of three military books that are re-
garded almost as textbooks in the service.
1t Is reported here that Baron Won Der
Goltz is really the author of the plan or
campaign under which the Turkish army
is now flghtiag.
The War Department is preparing to col
lect all OF the technical information that
may be derived from the war. captain
Scriven, the military attache of the United
States embassy at Rome, has already tele-
graphed the department for permission TO
so 10 Turkey TO watch the progress or the
war and the necessary permission VIII be
given him. II he nnds IL desirable tfsat
some one should act in a like capacity Witt
the Greek army the department probably
will send Major Dorst our military attache
at Vienna To the scene
THE PRESIDENT INTERESTED.
The President is taking an active interest
in the struggle between the Greeks and the
Turks and is being constantly advised by
the Department of State as TO the latest
developments in the war He wishes to in
sure the adoption OF all proper and usual
precautions for the protection of all Amer
lean interests in the Mediterranean. Sec
IN
House this afternoon and the President inn
mediately left all other business to confer
with the premier on the subject. Secretary
Sherman previously had long talk with
Mr.. Angel, who being about 10 start for
Turkey the latter part of May, il naturally
deeply concerned in the developments in
that turbulent quarter. With the fleet OF
American war ships now off the Turkish
shore il is felt that all that prudence could
prescribe has been done Ii may be that
within a short time some question Will arise
that will involve action of some sort on our
part, arising, perhaps. from attempts by
both Turks and Greeks To blockade each
others ports, which possibly might inter
fere with the introduction of some Ameri-
can products. but at present this is re-
mote contingency.
None of Minister Terrelrs kilograms so
far received verify the assumption that he
has undertaken the protection of the
Greeks resident in Turkey, and ii Is now
believed that the basis of the report Was a
misinterpreted cablegram. On the whole
the authorities glad that the report is
not supported, for though such request
could not we'll be declined, il is remem'
bered that our ministers in China and Ja-
pan, and the State Department Well, be-
came involved in a mess when they under
took the protection of the Chinese and
Japanese, through the killing Of several
Japanese students, and there is always risk
that trouble may follow the assumption
of such responsibility.
Admiral Selfridge has cabled the Secre-
tary of the navy a request to have the
cruiser Cincinnati, now at Mersine under
orders to come home, remain on the Medit-
erranean station for Il time. She was to
be relieved by the Raleigh, but Secretary
Long has given instructions that both ships
shall remain there. This will give Admiral
Selfridge a fleet of five ships. the San
Francisco, the Minneapolis the Marble
head, the Cincinnati and the Raleigh, a
number sufficient to insure the adequate
protection of all American interests in
southern Europe. in the opinion of the
Navy Department.