The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-04-22

gun by declaration of Turkey against
Greece. and last week formal hostilities
opened up with some lively engagements
between the Greek and Turkish regulars.
We have the usual newspaper vivid
descriptions of continued heavy mus
kerry" and "terrible, destructive cam
nonading," with surprisingly little loss
of life. Still there is clearly much more
of determination to get at one another
than has been noticeable in Cuba. 1t
seems to be real war, though rot OF the
vigorous quality that would be furnished
by more civilized peoples.
In the Gulf of Arta, at the western
end of the frontier between Greece and
Turkey, the Turkish batteries fired on
small Greek steamer and damaged her
so that she had to be run ashore. There
upon the Greek war vessels moved up
and shelled the batteries vigorously. On
the eastern end of the frontier the Greek
irregulars made a very enterprislng raid
against the Macedonian town Of Grevena,
and had almost reached it when supe-
rior force compelled them to retire, after
some sharp skirmishing. The Turkish
regulars advanced into Greek territory
near classical Mount Olympus, but were
energetically attacked by the Greeks
and forced back. There were other
minor affairs, in which both sides showed
much aggressive courage.
Were it merely fight between the
Greeks and Turks the interest would be
much less intense, though all civilized
people sympathize with the Greeks in
their struggle against the corrupt and
cruel semi-barbarians. Greece has album
dant reason for going to war. The
Greeks are full of the race-spirit, which
has been the controlling sentiment of all
peoples for over century. People Of
the same race, religion, speech and insti-
tutions have been constantly striving to
get together into greater Nation.
Greeks want to get together. as they have
seen the French, Germans and Italians
do. They are filled with the memories of
the glories of ancient Greece, and
earnestly desire to re-create the famous
nationality of classic ages. But the
major part of their fair islands, much
over half of the mainland, and more
than three-fourths of their people are
still under the rule of the hated Turk.
This is matter that goes beyond ethnic
| sentiment. The Greeks in Greece are
absolutely free, republican and selfgov-
erning. Their King is only King in
name, and with less actual powers than
the President of a republic. The Greeks
still under the Turks, on the other hand,
are subjected to not only repressive and
rapacious tyranny, but are mercilessly
slaughtered upon the least provocation
They have repeatedly risen and con
quered their freedom, but have been
repressed by the Great Powers, for feal
of the bug-bear of dismemberment OF
the Ottoman Empire" This fact add:
immensely to the soreness Of the Greek
spirit. At the time of the Greek revolu
ton it was confidently expected thai
Crete, and much of Epirls, Tbessaly anC
Macedonia would be given Greece, bu
this was refused, much to the indignation
of all liberal-minded people in Europe
One Prince who had been elected King
of Greece refused to take office on thi
ground. At the time Of the Russo Turk
ish war the Berlin Conference promised
Greece much of the mainland, but it wa
afterward refused her. In 1866 tn,
Cretans rose in successful rebellion, de
string, as now, to join Greece. TIL,
Powers interfered to quiet the island
and compelled the Sultan to grant i'm
portant reforms, which he proceeded t,
reduce to dead letter. as soon as b,
could. Naturally, the Greeks feel tina
they have been terribly iIl-used.
At first glance, it would seem madnes
for a country like Greece to attack on