The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-05

GENERAL LEW WALLACE SAYS HER
NAVY CAN PASS THE DARDANELLES.

Oh feoC0 ana ooJvio tno EsosSoEu Voos-
tion-Details OF tho Plan-Americs's OPP
portunity In Case Of General War.
"The situation for Greece is indeed
critical, but all Is not lost if sho be the
nation Of heroes that think and be-
lieve her to be. She can end the war IA
her favor in week. badly as she is
pressed at this very hour" said Gener-
al Lew Wallace, former minister to
Turkey and immortalized as the author
Of Ben Hur" and "The Prince of In
dia."
"Her fleet can perpetuate her desti-
n.y." he continued. Turkey hasn't
man-of-war worthy of the name. Greece
has some modern ships. Her sailors are
as good as any in the world. Why,
then, does she hesitate2 A single man
of-war off Zeraglio point, with her decks
cleared for action, could dictate peace
in an hour. Why do they threaten Sa-
lonika? Why waste good powder in the
gulf of Arta? Are they mad, or do they
still trust in the god of Mount Olym-
pia?'
''How about the torpedoes in the OAR
danelles?" he was asked.
"They can be removed. One hero like
Commander Cushing can do it III one
or two dark nights, or in daylight, for
that matter, under cover of the guns
of the Greek fleet that can engage the
forts. OF course l know every foot OF
the Hellespont, but my information is
sacred, and the opinion here express
is that which any man who has been
over the country would be entitled to
make"
Every torpedo can be picked up. Ye
gods! Let the Greek commander ex-
claim with Farragut, To hell with the
torpedoesv If one ironclad can get
through to Zeraglio point, say the wal
is at an end and Greece has made the
great move toward solving forever the
SO called eastern question.
"Unless Greece can hold out for three
or four months see no hope for her on
land. / have said what l think she can
do Un the sea- The Greeks are born sail
ors. The blood of the old Ph9nicia-.s
runs in their veins. There is their hope
and there alone Present indications
are that King George has plunged into
this desperate conflict without having
any understanding with single friend
ly power. In this sincerely hope am
wrong, but appearances justify the as
sumption. The Turks are well trained,
though their treasury is quite as empty
as that of the Greeks. Germany has
taken deal of interest in the Turkish
army during the last ten years. Their
infantry, cavalry and artillery officer.
have taught them all the modern arts
| OF war as understood In western Europe.
Both nations are bankrupt.
"The national politics Of Greece is
honeycombed with cabals and with Sc.
cret societies, :" answered General Wal.
lace. "The war was forced upon their
king by these secret influences. These
probably sent the marauders across the
frontier. Prince Constantine was quite
remiss in not thoroughly fortifying the
three passes that lead from Macedonia
into Thessaly. He should have done
this and had his best troops on guard
there before the Turkish declaration of
war reached him. That oversight can
not understand The course of Prince
Constantine in abandoning Larissa is
wise. 1t was untenable. 1t is position
that can easily be turned. Every man
of any garrison left therein would Ger
tainly be captured.
''But, as / said, the Greeks never
should have allowed their enemy to get
into the vale of Tempe. Having permit
ted him to get there, there was nothing
| left them but retreat, formation on a
new line, and pitched battle, i'll which
everything will be staked.
"The fighting on both sides has been.
of the most valorous kind. The check
,, that the Greeks gave to Edhem Pasha
was electrical. / doubt if we know or
realize its gravity from the meager ac-
counts that the cable has brought us.
The fact that it was regarded as alarm
ing was evidenced in the prompt re-
moval of Edhem Pasha and the sending
of Osman to replace him. f-
"The powers may intervene to stop
the war;" continued General Wallace,
'and when they do the gravest situa-
tion will arise. The powers are far from
being in accord. If Greece were victori-
ous, Austria would never consent to the
cession Of Macedonia to Greece, and the
sultan has acknowledged that not u foot
Of Grecian territory will be asked by
him. A dispute over the slightest
change in the mapof Europe is inevita.
BILE. --..y-,-~,., =, ,,s.,e,,---- -~
| "a general European war is quito
within the possibilities. If that should
come. and we have few men Of sense
still left at Washington, who will abol-'
ish our absurd and ridiculous naviga-
tion laws, so as to- permit citizens Of
this country to purchase ships abroad,
where alone they can be had. and sail
them under the American flag, we can
regain the carrying trade of the ocean
and make ourselves what we ouglN to
be--tbe commercial people of the world.
The party that fails to see and seize M
ON this splendid opportunity, should it
arise, care not what its previous his