New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-28
THE PLIGHT or GREECE.

The shrcwd and deadly plan of campaign or
the Turks is being developed day 10y day. with
omnous rapidity. The surmlse made yesterday
i'm these columns concerning their further adj
vance is confirmed by the news to-day. Instead
of striking at PharsalOs. the strongly defended
centre of the long Greek line. Edhcm Will strike
at Voo. the more vulnerable and more vital
right wing. There he will destroy all effective
means of communication between Greece prop
or and ThesSaly. and cut off the Greek Army
from its base of supplies and line Of retreat and
thus have it at his mercy He will also, 1t is
said. strike at Trikhala. the vulnerable left wing,
and in so doing he will menace the rear of the
Greek Army in Epirus and force it either to
fall back to Arta or to run The risk of being cut
off and captured. Greek operations at Motsova
and near Janna would be madness with Turk
sh Army at Trkhaa or Kalambaka. All this
Edhem can now do easily since he has an ample
army for the purpose. and since, by the uleX-
planned failure of the Greek fleet to attack Sa-
lonica, his rcarward lines of communication and
supply are intact and secure.
The Greeks, meanwhile, are engaged in fierce
domestic wrangles and recriminations Weeks
ago the people were ready To depose the klng
if he would not make war on Turkey. Now they
threaten to depose him because he has been
beaten In the very war for which they clamorcd.
Still more has the Crown Prince, who command
ed the army in the field, incurred their dspleas-
ure. The people blame Constantin, Constantin
blames the soldiers and the soldiers blame the
National League That is not the way in which
10 retrieve losses and make the best OF the SIT
uaton. The Prime Minister ressts and en-
deavors to allay the passions Of the people, but
with little or no success. His own tenure OF
Office is precarious. His powerful rival. Mr..
Rail-. the Opposition leader, who at first patri-
otically supported him in all his war measures.
now turns against him and places himself at
the head Of the popular dSaf1cctlon. But that
Mr.. Rail- as Prime Minister would do or could
do better than Mr.. Delyannis is doing there is
assurance nor even promise. In such time
of passion and panic the cool brain and steady
nerve of 1.-THE Englishman,' CharlleOs Tricoups,
would be of inestimable value. But Tricoups
is dead and has left no successor.
What grounds there are for the unspeakably
grave accusations made by Mr.. Ralli more or
less directly against the Crown Prince and his
staff one hesitates at this distance to reckon.
These two facts are. however. pertinent and
apparently undeniable that the chief staff Off
GERS secured their places through Court favor
itsIp rather than because Of their proved abil-
ity. and that several occasions in the late
campaign the Greek troops were called back
from the field at the very moment when decisive
victory seemed to he within their grasp Mr..
Rail- row adds that the army is almost as strong
IA ever. and that it was defeated not by the
Turks but by its own commanders. To this it
might be added that the division of forces in
sending one army into EpirlIs was a tactical
blunder, and that the Greek fleet ought 10 have
stormed Saonica at once. instead Of frittering
away It's time and energies upon minor places.
Perhaps all this is So and that different course
would have led to victory instead Of defeat.
<Hut the practical question is Can anything now
be done by change of officers or Of tactics. 10
redeem the situation? 1t seems most doubtful
The mischief has been done, and IS not to be
undone. To sue for peace appears 10 be about
all that is left for Greece