The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-05
DELYAxxIy WEAKNESS.

The misgivings concerning the ability OF
Greece TO cope with Turkey have been
justified for several days. but the actual
condition OF affairs is as shocking as that
in France. when the outbreak of the war
disclosed the fact that thousands of bar
rels supposed 10 contain gunpowder had
nothing in them but black dust and that
great quantities OF arms. ammunition and
supplies existed only on paper. Perhaps
this fact could not be knswn to Delyan-
mis-. but he certainly knew the character
OF the country along the border, and the
disadvantage at which the Greek troops
must De placed. He did not know this;
an effort was made TO have the European
powers intercede and recall the Turkish
troops from the boundary with the osten-
sible purpose OF having a neutral zone.
but really for the purpose of compelling
the Turks TO withdraw from the position
which was well nigh imprcgnable. 1t was
notorious that, except in the neighbor-
hood OF the Gulf of Arta. when the war
begun the Turks had command of every
pass. while the Greeks had scarcely one
As a matter Of right. the Turks should
never have been permitted to hold that
advantage. and II is rather due to the
weakness OF England that It was brought
about. The original boundary ran from
the northeast corner OF the Gulf of Arta,
to point near the entrance OF the Gulf
| OF yolo. and IL was so retained until the
Berlin congress OF ls7s. when the powers
decided 10 give Epirus and Thessaly 10
Greece. The boundary line was intended
| to run from point on the Gull OF Salon
lea. north Of Mount Olympus. to a point
on the Albanian coast opposite the ISL
and OF Corfu. IL Is this boundary line to
which the Greek government refers when
Il asks the powers TO restore Grecian
rights. The powers did agree at that time.
| but Turkey ignored the decree and the old
| frontier remained until 1851. when the
| powers. suhservient. as they so often are,
| 20 Turkey. made compromise. to which
| Greece was not party. although COM
| PEELED TO submit for time. The new
| boundary not only gave less territory to
| Greece, but gave Turkey the immense ad-
| vantage. OF which she was fully cognlz-
| ant, and has now so fully enjoyed. Del
| yanns cannot be ignorant, therefore. Of
/ the great risk he was encountering. He
| partly admits hts euIpability when he
| says that he consented TO war In order
| TO preserve the dynasty. which in other
| words means that he was willing TO saeri-
| fee the country for the benefit OF the
1 king.
| There is no doubt that such was the al
tentative presented; but il Is an aiterna-
| tive which ne should have resolved the
other way. The probability is that II he
had courageously told the people that
| they must be patient untii adequate prep
! arations for war had been made there
| might have been few riots provoked by
few 10 whom any kind Of provocation
fer riot is GOOD enough. but the mass OK
| the people would have upheld him. There
| was a time In the United States only a
| few months ago when Il seemed as II the
! whole people were bent on war but a
| determined stand on the Part OF the ad-
uinistration gave the people time to
| think. The people OF Greece are not so
| well disciplined ia self-goYernment SIS
| Americans, bur they were entitled TO a
| warning. and n they would not accep,
| that and visited their wrath upon the
| king Deiysnnis would have had tho sat
issaetIen OF knowing that he had acted
as a patriot ard not as a courtier.