Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-22
THE FIGHTING IN THE EAST.


THE FIGHTING IN THE EAST.
The Powers are said TO set grea, store
by the Balkan neutrality alliance ms
factor In combining the Craeco-Turkish
hostlitlcs TO the principals. II this can
be accomplished, the six bnllies, Il Is
contended. can dodge. for the present.
al least, showing their respective hands
touching the little Eastern question. ana
prevent the precipitation OF the much
dreaded general European war tie
policy Ct the Powers towards Greece
and Crete has done so much to render
almost imminent
However. IL must be recognized that
I'm this matter the Powers may be
reckoning largely without their host.
The influence Of the Balkan pact, In
circumscribing the conflict, may depend
largely upon contingencies. AS the fight
ing goes now. the Turks seem, taking
it by and through. to have the advan-
tage, and this imparts strength 10 the
league as a barrier against the spread OF
the war fame. But should the Greeks
might lie a different story to tell.
In late years there have been important
changes I'm the relations Of the govern
ments Of the Balkan States with one
another and with some Of the Continen-
tai Powers, and it is not 10 be denied
that these changes are not TO be ignored
in considering the present problem
Roumania is bound up in an iron-clad
alliance with Austria Hungary; the Bull
garian Government has practically come
under the domination Of Russia, the
Prince Of Montenegro is the protege
and the best friend" Of the Car. and
the Seryian powers that be are keeping
in with both the dual monarchy ana
the Northern colossus. Yet among TIE
masses Of all these States hatred OF the
Turk is as deep-seated and intense as
ii ever was-with the M0ntenegrns II
is especially intense-and only the op-
portunity for revenge is wanting TO
cause it 10 blaze out as of yore. With
many it is a hatred that has been in
herited by son from father through gen.
erations, ever since the coDQuering and
aggressive Sultans were wont 10 carry
fire and sword through the Peninsula.
The danger, therefore, so far as the
hope of the Powers touching the league
is concerned, is that in case of
serious disaster 10 the Turkish arms
the people in Tie Balkan States would
take matters into their own hands and
force their governments 10 espouse the
cause Of the Greeks. King George, OF
Greece, doubted the expediency Of the
Graeco-Cretan movement, but was com
PEELED to it by the will OF the people.
1t was either that or revolution. No
Balkan ruler is stronger with his people
than is King George with the Greeks,
or more capable Of resisting demand
of his subjects. Another thing 10 be
reckoned with in connection with
the question of the spread of hostilities.
is that phil-Hellene movement in the
Balkan States proper would inevita-
bly, stir up the smouldering fires OF
revolution in Macedonia. Furthermore,
il is probable that Turkey could no
longer depend upon its Albanian SOL
diers, seeing that thousands Of their
race have become Hellenized.
Should the pact fail the Powers and
the Balkan States become involved in
the struggle. it would seem almost i'm
possible for Russia and Austria-Hun-
gary to keep out Of It, Aside from the
fact that their relations, as pointed out,
to the Balkan governments, would be al
most certain TO drag them in. the stu
alton would most likely afford them
the best Of opportunities for striking for
the attainment of their respective de-
signs regarding Turkish territory. And
should they so strike, what with the
menace in these designs to the interests
Of the two great maratime Powers-Great
Britain and Italy-and the respective
continental alliances Of Russia and Aus
tria-Hungary, ii is difficult to under
stand how a death grapple, TO which all
the members OF the concert would
finally become parties, could be avoided.
1t is, therefore, not going too far TO
say that news Of the effect upon the
Balkan States Of the battles along the
Graeco- Turkish frontier is awaited with
more interest and anxiety in the grea'
European capitals than the news of the
battles themselves.