New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-19
THE TURKISH HALT.

Turkey has taken her own time in hating her
victorious army, just rs she took her own time
in replying 10 the note OF the great Powers.
There are those who think she has been checked
by Russian Influences. by the threats of Bull
caria. or by the urgent demands of all the great
Powers except Germany. such may be the
case. but 1t does not appear probable. Turkey
seems rather TO have acted entirely according
10 her own volition. Her aim at the outset was
to reconQuer Thessaly. BY the capture Of N0lo
and Domoko she has done just that. She holds
the entire Thessalan railroad system. from Volo
10 Larssa and 10 Kalambaka- She holds the
two Thessalian ports. Volo and Almyro-Scaia.
She holds the entire area of Thessaly. excepting
the extreme southern fringe. the foothills of the
mountains Of Othrys. where the remnants OF
The Greek armies are struggling 10 make good
their retreat through the passes to Eivadia.
Having thus fully gained their end. why should
the Turks not halt? They have undOne the
Treaty of Berlin. That is glory enough for
one campaign.
How ignoble part the great Powers have
played and are playing in what they are pleased
70 STYLE Intervention is now painfully evident
Last week they babe both combatants to halt
Greece obeyed, but Turkey disobeyed. Greece
stoned fighting, abandoned the decided advan-
taces she had Just gained In Eprus, and eyacu-
ated that province. trusting TO the promise or
the great Powers that they would restrain the
Turks from any further advance in Thessay
That promise the great Powers did not fulfil:
perhaps could not So while Greece at their
word. laid down her arms, Turkey, IN spite OF
them, pressed her attack upon her then defence
less foe A fine reward, in truth, to Greece FOR
her compliance with the wishes OF the grea:
Powers. Much encouragement it must give her
to intrust her interests 10 them, II Is just an
other such betrayal Of her as she suffered in the
boundary matter years ago, and more recently
in Crete 1t stamps the Concert Of the Pow
ers" with either insincerity or impotency be-
yond all excuse or explanation.
Turkey has lost no time in making good her
occupation of Thessaly. She has organized
Turkish local governments in all the districts
and towns introduced the Turkish language for
use on the telegraph lines; SGT Turkish engineers
at work repairing and operating the railroads,
and in all respects has established as purely
Turkish an administration as there is in Thrace
itself That indicates the earnestness OF her in
tcntion 10 reannex Thessaly as part Of the spells
of war Why nOti She has. indeed. already
done So The remuneration Of Thessaly is, from
DOtU military anu civil pcIHt vi view, III NJ
cOmpllshed fact; much more so than the alleged
annexation of Crete TO Greece q few weeks
ago. Who will undo that fact in the face OF
100000 Turkish soldiers in the feldf Not
Greece. assuredlf. BY a guerilla warfare like
that Of the Spanards against the French
century ago, she might make Turkish advance
into Livada impossible but she cannot hope to
reconquer single rood Of the Thessaly she has
already lost. The great Powers? We have Just
seen a sample Of their potency. Turkey defies
their requests and their threats and 1t would
take a tremendous military force now to reduce
her to their will. That they will send such
force seems most improbable, especially since
one of them Germany. Is already practically
committed to the oessiOn Of Thessaly to Turkey.
Germany's motive in that Is clear She wants
TO make Greece give Thessaly TO Turkey rather
than big cash. indemnity. in order to protec;
her own holders Of Greek bonds. Well. II the
six great Powers could not agree 10 coerce Tur-
key while Turkey was the Sick Man." Is 1t
probable that five Of them will undertake to do
so now that Turkey has become the Strong
Man" and is vigorously backed up by the sixth
great Power