New-York tribune., 1900-05-06

Even if no stock were taken of the torpedoes
and the submarine mines with which the Strait
is equipped, there is no doubt that any hostile
naval force attempting to reach Constantinople
from the Mediterranean would sustain serious
damage from the enfilading fire of the cleverly
designed and spendidly armed system of forts
with which the Dardanelles now defended.
Besides this, there are other considerations
which must be taken into account. There is a
large Mahometan population subject to Ameri-
can rule in the Philippines and the difficulties
experienced there have been considerably light
ened by the friendship of the now vassal Sultan
of Suu. The of armed force by the United
States against the Padishah account of
Christian missionaries would have the most un-
pleasant consequences among the Mahometans
in the Philippines, and convert every one of
them from friend into fanatical foe.
1t is by means impossible that American
action against the Sublime Porte in the sense
demanded by popular sentiment in the United
States might result in Abdul Hamed's over
throw and in the outbreak of revolution in
European and Asatic Turkey, which would
force the other great Powers to intervene with
q view to the protection of their respective sub
jects and the latter's interests. Now this break
up of the Ottoman Empire resulting from in
ternal revolution and foreign intervention, is
the nightmare of all far sighted statesmen in
the Old World for it cannot fail to bring about
the long threatened European in cOnnec-
ton with the partition of Turkey. England
and France went to war with Russia in 1870 to
prevent the Muscovite bear from securing pos
session of Constantinople. In 1877, when the
Russian troops were under the walls of Con-
stantinople at San Stefano, England moved her
fleet up the Dardanees and threatened war
against Russia if she attempted to enter or take
possession of Constantinope, and although to-
day France would longer be by the side of
England. as in 1919, but allied with Russia, yet
Germany, which has such vast interests in Asia
Minor and Syria, and Austria, whose interests
in the Balkans equally important might
each Of them be relied upon to resort to arms in
conjunction with their Italian ally sooner than
to permit the Car to establish himself at Con-
stantinope.
EUROPE AVERSE TO WAR.
Sooner or later the break up of Turkey must
take place. But at time could that prove
more unfortunate than at the present moment
when England has her hands full with South
Africa and Russia is in the throes of economic
of serious character. France too.
is preOccuped i'll connection with her inter
national Worlds Fair while Emperor William
has no wish Whatsoever to endanger through a
revolution against the Sultan all the CONNER
cal industrial and political advantages which
he has obtained in Turkey. So anxious indeed
are the great Powers of Europe just now to
avoid any trouble in Turkey that l have no
doubt they would willingly contribute the
amount claimed by the United States from
the Sultan We're the latter to pass around the
hat, in order to avert the danger Of a European
war.
Abdul llamed is fully alive to all this He
knows that 1t is to the interest of the great
Powers of Europe to keep him on the throne
40 matter what he may do, and naturally he