Omaha daily bee., 1897-04-14
THE THRESHOLD OF WAR.

St Louis Republics The Christian nations
OF Europe can only do Turkey one more
favor and that is to hold Greece while the
sultan knifes and robs her.
Buffalo Express: The Cretan insurgents
are trying to force the Mohammedans to
supply. That scheme may succeed in Crete
but 1t never would in Kentucky.
Indianapolis journal: The Greeks are
maintaining their traditional reputation as
brave and emotional people. but these quail
tiles alone do not win battle against more
men and heavier guns. The probability Is
that in a single handed war with Turkey,
Greece will be badly worsted.
Minneapolis Journal: The powers have
as yet taken no steps to substantate their
protestation that they are fairly weeping
to preserve the peace of Europe. While so
protesting they have been themselves has
tening the breakup of peace by going to
war themselves against the poor Cretans.
A marvellous lot of peace promoters are
these European powers!
Chicago Tribune: VIII the powers hold
together? That is really the problem which
has complicated the situation from the very
beginning. Upon the answer depends the
outcome of the Thessalian riotng. The su
perfcial signs all point to a weakening OF
the artificial alliance between hostile inter
ests and to a Encouragement of forces long
expected and long deferred.
Chicago Tribune: If war has not actually
been declared between Greece and Turkey
the relations of those two powers have
been strained to that dangerous tension
which may involve such a declaration any
day or even hour, unless the great powers
actively intervene. This again brings up
the question-is the concert between them
sufficiently harmonious to admit of such
united Intervention?
Chicago Record: AS to what would fol-
low in the train of a Graeco-Turkish war
there is no telling. The diplomats of
Europe do not know themselves. The sup
position is that, simply to avoid the dreaded
specter of a general war the powers would
be compelled to suppress both the Greek
and the Turkish troops, forcing those ma
tions to submit the case to arbitration.
But even on this point it seems well nigh
impossible to get an agreement.
Kansas City Star: The eported,rearrange-
ment of alliances in Europe, Austria, Ger
many and Russia in one and France, Italy
and England in another would be a reasona-
BILE division. 1t would place the despotic
and military governments on one side and
the liberal and naval powers on another.
The first combination should stand by Tur-
key as a kindred despotism and the other
concert of powers should uphold civilization
and humanity.
New York World: Fortunately not one
of the continental powers of Europe is pre-
pared for war or desires it, and this is the
strongest guaranty that the trouble VIII be
settled peaceably. But the situation is
serious one. and delay only renders 1t more
serious. In spite of all the appearances Of
activity on the part Of the navies and diplo-
matists and governments of Europe, nothing
whatever has as yet been accomplished in
the direction of insuring peaceful settle
ment.
Minneapolis Tribune: The war once started
might soon pass beyond control. 1t might
develop into a religious war. In Europe and
Asia and Africa there are 200 900, 900 of Mo-
hammedans who could be stirred by the
proclamation OF "jehad," or call to holy
war, by the sultan Of Turkey, who is the
religious head of all Mohammedans In
Turkey in Europe only about 100000 of the
4 600 population are followers OF Islam,
but in Turkey in Asia, 10000, 900 out of the
l6 600, 900 population are fanatical disciples
Of the prophet.