The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-01

in Europe and that her integrity should
not be altogether destroyed.
The sensations of the congress. ensf-
neered by Disraeli, were supplied by
Great Britain and were the secret treat
les, then for the first time revealed. en-
tered into between Great Britain and
Turkey, by which the former agreed for
all future time to defend the Asiatic
dominionS of the Ottoman empire sbv
force CT arms while Turkey, on the
other hand, promised to introduce all
necessary reforms as agreed upon with
its ally and to assign the island of Cy-
prus to be occupied and administered
by Great Britain so long as Russia
should occupy Batum, Ardahan and
karS. This was a fly in the Russian
ointment, and it sticks there still,
greatly to the annoyance of the Rus
sian Bear
Since then have occurred the afro
cious Armenian massacres, beginning
in 1894, in which it was reported more
than $4,000 persons of both sexes and
all ages met death at the hands of
the Kurds and Turkish soldiery. Eng
land was at the time almost as greatly
reprobated as the real criminal Tur-
key, on account of her apathy and ap-
parent indifference.
The. war between Greece and Turkey
in 1897 is the most recent appearance of
large bodies of Turkish soldiery in the
field. 1t arose from the Cretan insur-
rection, during which the so called con-
cert of powers rallied to the aid of the
Turks in Crete and even fired upon the
Cretan insurgents and blockaded their
ports. In the hostilities which followed
between Greece and Turkey it must be
confessed that the soldiers of the for
mer made a bad showing as compared
with those of the latter. They were
beaten at every point, and their cow
ardice was in marked contrast to Turk
ish bravery. In the peace negotiations
Turkey demanded permanent possess
sion of Thessaly, which had been rapid
ly overrun by her soldiery but eventu-
ally obtained little territory and was
obliged to be content with large mon
ey indemnity instead.
From this epitome of Turkeys doings
as nation we can see that of late she
has been supported more by outside in
fiuence than by innate capacity. She
holds her position on sufferance only
and would quickly lose her grip on Eu-
rope and be summarily kicked across
the Bosporus were it not for the quar-
rel that would surely arise among the
powers over the vacated territory.
Structurally weak, her only strength
lies in the incongruous elements of her
POpuldlAOl1, 81 QiSSlIIllidT IndI IneEe can
be no union among them for a success
full rebellion. As to area, while Turkey
in Europe covers about SO, $50 square
miles, Turkey in Asia overspreads 1885,
40 square miles. The population of the
former is 4,790,000, of the latter 1913
600, with about $4,000, 900 more in terri
tories such as Bulgaria, Tripoli and
Egypt, which acknowledge hardly more
than nominal suzerainty.
/ If war were to occur, the porte could
| reckon upon the support of only the
10, 100000 or 11,OOO.0 900 Ottomans, togeth-
/ er with g. million or so of Circassians,
| Tartars and Albanians, for the majori-
| ty of his subjects are secretly hostile
to his government. Many of them are
nom oslems and hate their rulers
heartily.
| The Turkish army on a nominal peace
footing is 100000; on a war footing over
| 100000 of all categories. The Turkish
! soldiers are brave and faithful, capa-
| bic of great endurance and excellent
fighters, but they lack skilled COM
manders and leaders. AS compared
with the French, they are poor shots,
deficient in discipline and armed with
almost obsolete guns. Their artillery
comprises some great guns furnished by
| the Krupps, but, taken altogether, is
i inefficient
In the Turkish navy there are 102
steamers, all of a more or less ancient
| type, including Is ironclads and 20 tor
pedo boats. with a total peace strength
| of about $1,000 men. The navy, how
ever, is not seriously considered by any
power in Europe and is likely to prove
more formidable to it's owners than to
their foes. In her commercial marine
Turkey has hardly more than 100
steamers and $50 sailing vessels, about
100000 total tonnage. The annual rev.
enue of late has been about So, 900, 600,
with an expenditure always above re-
ceipts, no matter what they may be.
The total Turkish debt is about $780,
100000; imports, $1O0.O00,OOO annually,
and exports approximating $50, 600, 0OO
CLAIMING A. BARLOW.