New-York tribune., 1906-04-29
THE TURKS LAST STAND.

The Turk really seems 10 be making his last
stand in Europe. That has been said before
we know. and the saying has not been justi-
fed But an end of an evil thing is some time
inevitable and every year that passes surely
brings IL nearer. Turkish rule in Europe has
long been hOpelessly bad. Any reform and
reorganization Of the Turkish Empire in that
continent as a Turkish Empire-as Italy has
been recreated and as new German Empire
has been established-is simply beyond the
bounds of reasonable expectation. if not of
possibility. Piece by piece it has fallen or has
been torn apart until now only remnant is
lefr. in which the Turks themselves are
small minority, and that remnant is beset on
every hand with determined aggression which
presnGes its complete destruction in the not
distant future Moreover. the Turkish Empire
in Asia, the stay and buwark OF the European
part Of the realm, is also now involved in
serious troubles IN several quarters and is
threatened with much loss. In every quarter
indeed. north. south, east and west. the Turk
Is beset with difficulties and menaces, so that
il seems that there is little left but for him
TO kneel on his prayer rug and perish as be-
comes the Faithful.
The troubles in Macedonia are an old story.
They have already caused the Porte to lose
much of its administrative authority over those
provinces and seem sure soon 10 make the loss
complete. There is always a menace of Rus
sian aggression in the Armenian quarter. and
there is at present bitter boundary cOntro-
versy with Persia If this controversy came 10
a conflict with arms, Turkey might easily win
IL the two We're left 10 themselves. But it is
practically certain they would not be thus left,
and that there would be some Intervention by
other powers which would not at all benefit
Turkey. AS for the southeast, there is moth
IL rT,,r
are rebellious and defiant as ever and they
are being Joined in revolt by their brethren Of
Hejaz and Nejd. Practically the entire Arabian
peninsula. territory much larger than all the
rest Of the Turkish Empire, defies the author
ity of the Sultan. and that it can ever be re-
duced 10 submission again is beyond the limits
OF hope. Asia Minor. Syria. MesOpotama and
a remnant Of Armenia are all that Turkey
can confidently claim.
The latest desperate effort Of the Turks to
recoup some OF their losses seems likely 10 re-
suit in actual aggrs walton of those losses. For
some time there has been a dispute over the
boundary between Egypt and Syria. in the
Snaitic Peninsula The Turks recently occu-
pied Tabah and other points which Egypt
claims. They are now reported 10 have seized
FL Arish and To have moved the boundary
pillars along the frontier. In thus quarrelng
with Egypt the Turks are. of course quarrel
ling with Great Britain, and accordingly Brit
ish forces have been sent TO the scene and
British warship has been sent 10 FL Arish.
There can be little doubt Of the outcome. Tur-
key will he compelled 10 recede from the posi-
ton she has tried 10 take. and will not improb-
ably be penalzed by rectification of the from
tier which will cause her a considerable net
loss. IL would create no surprise TO see the
new boundary line drawn from the neighbor-
hood of GAIA or. as at present. midway be-
tween GAIA and FL Arish. straight down 10
Aksbah. or to a point somewhere inland from
Akabah, so as 10 exclude Turkey from the en-
tire peninsula and deprive her of all contact
with the Red Sea. save through the dsaffected
territory Of Hejaz and Yemen. II is a stormy
outlook for the Turk, but that part Of the world
which believes in progress and freedom will
regard it with equsnimty. If not with pleasur-
able anticipation.