The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1897-05-20
THE WAR In THE east
Some Interesting Facts Relating 10
the GrecO-TurkiSh Question.
AN lRRlGATING CANAL 1000 YEARS OLD
Il san Continues TO fiii the office
which Joseph Intended-The Cow
eminent distribution OF seeds
Growing In Disfavor.

sTp"tuS th OhssaNoEs
The daily press has kept our readers
well informed of the progress of the
Greco-Turkish war. a struggle which
involves the conflicting interests of so
many nations is of such unusual interest
that we will attempt to give brief analy-
sis of the Eastern question" and the
fundamental causes of the present Greco
Turkish war.
The birthplace of the Ottoman empire
WAS Sugud, on the Sskaria River, for
here was born the illustrious Osman,
from whom the whole tribe took its
name. 1t is from this we get the name
Ottoman" Osman enlarged the hold
ings of his people in Asia Minor, and in
1858 crossed the Mardanelles and seized
Gsllipoli, on the European shore, this
being their first foothold in Europe.
Constantnople fell into the hands of the
Ottomans in 1853 and Greece in l477.
Three years later they gained footing in
Italy, at Otranto, and in the next century
Syria, Egypt and Arabia fell into Their
hands.
Under Suleiman the Magnificent, who
lived from 1920 to 1866, the Ottoman EN-.
pire was aSihe height of its power, and
included not only the entire Balkan Pc
ninsula, but Hungary as well. Under
his son, the empire began to decline. In
the eighteenth century several attempts
were made to partition Turkey, but they
were not entirely successful, though parts
of the territory were pared off from time
to time.
Greece won her indepe ndence in 1923,
and by the Treaty of Paris, Turkey was
placed under the tutelage of the other
powers, especially Great Britain and
France. In 1866 Moldava and Wallachis
united to form Romania. and became
practically independent, as did Servis
the next year. Egypt threw off the
bonds and was then ruled by khedives
In 1874 an instruction occurred in Her.
zegovina, which set the whole Balkan
Peninsula on fire.
In 1873 outbreaks and massacres oc-
Cured in Bulgaria; and Servia and Mon
tenegro declared war against Turkey.
Russia declared war against Turkey, and
aided by the Roumanians, the Russians
defeated the mighty Turkish general Os'
man at Pleyna. The treaty of San Stef
ano in 1873 was made, practically sur
rendering everything to Russia, but GreaI
Britain interferrcd, and the Congress o.
Berlin was held to regulate the affairs o
the Balkan Peninsula. The congress
greatly altered the conditions. Rouma
MIA, Servia and Montenegro were made
absolutely independent, while Bosnia,
Herzegovina and Novi Bazaar were put
under Austrian administration, part O
Thessaly WAS coded to Greece, and Bul
garia was made autonomous. Turkey If
Europe was really restricted to narrow
strip from the Bosphorus to the Adratic
Sultan Abdul Hamid III succeeded to tn,
throne in 1876. He came to the throne
at or itical time. Years OF evil rule haC
engendered the corruption which Away:
seems synonymous with the name o
Turkey. His efforts for reform met Will
no encouragement from the Powers ther
came the Russian war, with the loss o
several important provinces; each power
seeking its own selfish gain without re-
gard TO the Turkish rights. The Power.
are never weary of reminding the Sultan
that his empire exists only on suferance
The Sultan has been the victim OF baC
policy which has been fostered by one Of
the other OF the interested Powers. Thus
for instance, all the Christian inhabitants
OF Turkey were to be put under Russian
protection. but England was jealous o
Russia's power, joined with France, anc
compelled the treaty to be dropped. Til,
result Of this grabbing Of the Powers wat
that England has practically possessed
itself OF Egypt and Cyprus. Roumanis
and Servs are indepent kingdoms, Bul.
garia is virtually independent, Austria
has occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina
Greece and Montenegro have been az
grsndized. but nothing but some "fron-
tier trimmings" have fallen to the lot o.
Russia, so there is little wonder tha
Russia now insists upon taking a domi
nsnt part in the further disposition of the
Turkish empire.