The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-29
THE TURKS AND THE GREE,xs
what tho War Means Betwccn these
Hations-The Causes and Develop
ments of the Struggle.

What tho War Means Betwcen these
} Eations-The Causes and Develop
ments OF the Struggle.
Perhaps no declaration of war in re-
cent years has created such wide
spread interest and excitement
throughout the world as that made by
the Sultan OF Turkey against tho ma
tiOn Of Greece.
The attempted march Of the Turk
on to Athens, every foot of which he
would crimson with Christian blood, If
the Creek army docs not whip him at
the start, will be watched with intense
interest the world over. He will move
1T is true, should he defeat Prince
Constantine's army ,ssonly so far as their
Most Christian Majesties Wilhelm OF
Germany, Franz Joseph, OF Austria,
Humbert, OF Italy, Victoria, of Eng.
land, and Nicholas, OF Russia, and the
president OF Franco will permit but
he will go that far Notwithstanding
the protests OF civilization. What is
patriotism and right in the cause Of
| Greece will be mado subservient to the
politics OF Europe. The hungry Mus
sulman may be fed by nations calling
themselves Christian with tho posses
siOns OF a nation of inferior numbers
on the preteXt that these things are
u' cessary for the preservation of the
balance Of power Of Europe.
Inc Powers, as these nations are
called, are actively, though not more
openl than necessary, allied in the in
terest OF Turkey. The preservation Of
the Ottoman empire, they contend,
while an evil, is necessary one If q
check is to be kept upon the ambitions
Of the Russians.
Turkey insolently declined to abandon
to Greece the possession of certain
| portions OF Macedonia, which were
ceded to it by treaty. For many years
past Greece recognized, as did all
other nations, that it could count upon
no active aid in reclaiming this terri
tory from Turkey. A portion OF it,
| Mount Olympus included, appealed to
the patriotism Of tho Greek with pc
culiar force. National pride was stir
red, and there was formed tho Nation
al League Of Greece, which was large
y composed OF officers OF the regular
| army. Thcre was no attempt to dis
gulse their purposes. They made pre-
| tense that their object was other than
The lnsistence, so far as they could,
that their country should have Justice.
In Armenia they had some allies
| There is q community OF interest so
far as Turkey is concerned, between
| Greece and Armenia. King George
looked approvingly upon the condi-
| tlons which he could not fail to sec
develop. He was not recruiting his
army, but his people wore fast becom-
ing proficient as soldiers. The Ma,
tional League saw to it that the peas.
antry were drilled. Europe looked on
with some amusement at first. 1t re.
, garded the movement with little SO.
riousness, but gradually the tone OF
Greece became SO strong and rescntful
that the Turk took notice Of it.
: he did this in his usual way. He
caused an awful massacre Of Greeks
and Armenians in Constantinople, with
no other design than to strike terror
into the hearts of the Greek national
lists. Numerous massacres in villages
followed. Benevolent old gentlemen
in England and elsewhere expressed
horror and resolutions were passed de-
claring that the Turks must stop but
he stopped only when his lust for
blood was satisfied. The powers lifted
their voices, but not their guns.
Greece was not ready for war at this
time. The National League had
scarce we'll begun upon it's elaborate
plans. 1t was a year or more away
to create. But the individual Greek
could stand the atrocities no longer
In Crete some Greek priests melted
the people to rebel, and what at first
only was a riot has now developed into
a war. Turkey sought to chastise the
rebels, and thon Greece, as q nation,
interfcred. King George sent his fleet
down there. The sympathy of Chris
tendon was with the Greeks, and tho
powers hesitated about permitting
Turkey to declare war.
out Of Crete. The Greeks declined to
go. The Greeks also proceeded to take
every place except the towns protected
by the guns OF the powers, who sent
their warships and threatened to
blockade the ports, SO that no provi-
sions could reach the Greeks. Then
| the Greeks sent an army to tho Mace
donian frontier. Turkey, which had
been supplied with arms and ammuni-
tion by Emperor William, responded
with another. Two or three clashes
onsued on the frontier. Each side
denied responsibility for attack. Then
followed tho raids OF Greek irrcgulars,
backed by the National League. Some
small Turkish towns and some good
stragctic positions were captured. On
Friday night fighting began between
regular troops on the frontier. Within
twenty-lour hours openly declared war
| followed.
The Greek army on the frontier con-
sists Of about 80,0 900 men. The Turks
are said to have 100000 men with
which to attack Prince Constantine's
forces. The Turks are equipped much
tho better with artillery, but the
Greeks rely on uprisings in Macedonia
aud elsewhere to strengthen their
forces and give tho Turks moro to
think about than a. direct campaign
toward the South.