The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-04-30
THE STRUGGLE IN EASTERN
EUROPE.

day for Greeks and the Turks lost all
along the line. In fact the latter are
not having the walkaWay they eX-
pected when hostilities opened. The
Greeks, although not superior in num-
bers, have so far proved themselves to
be the best soldiers, and the best at
strategy and seem to have somewhat
| the best arms. There is no use con-
cealing the fact that the Greeks are
making a more aggressive fight than
either the Turks or the powers
thought them capable of putting up.
Greece may lose in the end, BUT she is
certainly getting much the best of
the situation at present, and there
are very favorable chances of her keep
ing the upper hand. The Greeks are
not only holding their own at Tyrno-
vas and LaTissa. but on the Adriatic
side are making most aggressive
ca mpaign. In fact so aggressive has
the entire Greek campaign been, that
the Turks have determined to change
commanders in the field, and Edhem
Pasha is to be superseded by Osman
Pasha, 1.-The hero of Plevna.' Whether
he will be able to make any better
progress against the Greeks remains
to be seen. 10 the meantime the
Turks are much depressed at the
failure of their forces to hold their
own. and $4,000 more men will be sent
to the front.
But it is not only on land that the
Greeks will be able to put up good
fl ght, but they will doubtless make it
rather warm for the 'Unspeakable
Turk" from a naval point of view.
King George, of Greece, remarked
few days ago that the Greek navy
would soon be heard from in the war,
and it is now getting in good shape to
put in deadly work upon the Turk
and his possessions. On paper the
Turkish navy is much the more
for midable. But in point of practical
effectiveness the Greek navy, though
smaller, is much superior. 1t is said
to be capable of not only destroying
the Turkish fleet, but of bombarding
and destroying the Turkish seaports
along the European and Asiatic coasts.
The Greek feet is now headed toward
the Dardanelles and the crash is sure
to follow soon. 1t is said the Turkish
fleet now in the Sea of Mamora is a
patched up affair, and like the rest of
their naval equipment is not supplied
with single modern naval gun, and
that the whole thing could be de-
stroyed with few. torpedo boats,
which the Greeks are well supplied
with. The Turkish naval commander
has requested of his government that
the feet be not ordered to pass out
into the Aegean sea, as utter annihila-
tion will be the result.
The contest between Greece and
Turkey is life and death struggle on
both sides. If Greece wins the ulti-
mate result will be the dismember-
ment of the Turkish empire and the
disappearance Of the Turk from
Europe. On the other hand, the de-
feat of the Greeks'is likely to prove
the downfall Of Greece. What the
powers will do is problematical. They
have put forth the statement that
neither side shall profit, no matter
how the contest results. But that is
something easier said then done. If
Greece wins, she will want additional
territory, and Crete, as we'll as some
of the provinces to the north, that are
largely inhabited by the Greeks, will
want to be attached to the parent
country. 1t is in such result that
trouble for the powers will commence
in earnest, and the sparks that are
now being famed into little blaze,
may spread to great conflagration.
But speculation as to the possible out
come is useless. In the meantime
the powers, and especially England
and Russia, are quietly Strengthening
their positions near the seat war.