Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-10
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.

Adh AihNRNih0AAG1 civ Wv @S
annexation by Austria Of Bosnia and
Herzegovina form a chain OF events which
have a direct bearing on the fate of the
new constitution of Turkey. The irrlta-
ton and confusion manifested by the
chancelleries of Europe over the disturb
ance of the balance of power affords Sultan
Abdul Hamid IN opportunity to revoke
that document so nearly like it's former
fate that It will not be surprising II his
tory repeats Itself. The present constitu-
ton was in force when Abdul Hamid de-
throned his brother, Murad, the legitimate
sultan, but when the Turkish army was
whipped TO a standstill by Russia in 1877
and the empire was threatened with dis
memberment, the cunning despot, to insure
his grip on the throne, threw Cyprus into
the nav OF England and successful played
Disraeli against Ignatief, and prevented
Russia from reaching the hoped-for goal
at Constantino0le. The constitution dis
appeared in the vortex Of that war. Tn
present situation will test the statecraft
Of the leaders Of the Young Turks party
now In control, and 1t remains to be seen
whether they can prevent the foxy Abdul
from restoring the old despotic regime.
The loss of nominal control over Bulgaria
diminishes Turkish prestige, and IL per-
mitted to stand will shake popular conf
dence in the progressives. With thirty
years experience in playing one European
power against another, exhibiting through
out an iron will and boundless cunning. 1t
will be strange indeed II Abdul Hamid
does not emerge from the present upheaval
with all the plumes of the prophet In his
fez and the Young Turks party leaders
exiled or smothered in the Bosphorus.
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The fighting leg1ons OF Gar Ferdinand
of Bulgaria, according to the dispatches,
are eager for the expected fray with Tur-
key, confident OF winning independence by
force of arms II necessary. Recent stalls
tics give Turkeys war strength as 1,034,g31
men and Bulgaria's as 91 SIS men On a
peace basis the Turks have 2ss, 1876 infantry.
1887 cavalry. s1,547 artillery and about $780,
900 reserves. The Bulgarian strength in
peace is given as 11S, $50 regulars and IT'S, 900
reserves and militia. It is evident from
these figures that the Turks greatly out
number the Bulgarians. The infantry of
both armies are armed with modern maya
zine rifles and cavalry with carbines. In
artillery strength the equipment of both
armies Is modern, chiefly Krupp guns. In
lighting qualities the Turks are a race of
warriors. ranking among the best and
bravest soldiers of the world. Doubtless
the Bulgarians possess TO an equal degree
the martial vigor of their Moslem neigh
bors. Against the Turkish odds in numer-
zeal strength the Bulgarians place the adj
vantage OF conducting a defensive cam
paign in a mountainous country, with
which they are familiar. and the superior
discipline OF their soldiers. Still more inn
portant is the fact that Turkeys ability
a. - A.
remote, as its credit among money lenders
is at a low ebb. Unless strongly backed
by some power anx Gus for favors to
come, Turkey may be obliged to con-
tent itself with issuing one Of the famous
ultimatums with which the sultan has
been RECALLED in years past.
HS4
Whatever else may be said Of Sultan
Abdul Hamid, history must give him
credit as a constructive monarch. TIL
completion Of the railroad from Damas-
Gus to Medina, a distance OF 600 miles, is
a monument to his progressive ideas and
70 the faithful Moslems who subscribed
money to build 1t. The line is to be ex-
tended to Mecca, the great holy city OF
Islam, and is likely to be completed
within a year. The country %traversed lies
at a considerable distance from the coast
OF the Red sea, and near enough to the
Arabian boundary to bring that country
within the sphere Of Turkish influence.
Medina, the present terminus, is second
only to Mecca, as a holy city, and the
advent OF a railroad with personally con-
Quoted excursions Of Christians as well
as Moslems, is far more startling to the
faithful than the use of American made
electric lamps to light the tomb of Ma
homet.
The grand lama of Tibet, since the
British troops profaned his capital. the
Holy City, by invading 1t. has been wan
dering through China. headed for Picking,
with a retinue of 1000 faithful followers,
and refuses palpable hints from the
Chinese authorities to go away back and
sit down. AS he is entertained at the ex-
pense of the provinces through which he
passes, those who foot the bills cheerily
smile in his presence. as disgruntled hosts
usually do, but display significant zeal In
showing him the shortest road to the next
feeding station. The grand lama, how
ever. moves with the dignity and solemnity
befitting his station, and hiS progress from
Tibet TO Picking maps the greatest free
lunch route in history.
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lie Mans, where Wilbur Wright is aston
ishing the world with his aerial flights, is
about 125 miles southwest Of Paris and
thirty miles north OF Tours. 1t is a fine
old French city, with a history running
back beyond the time of the Romans, and
has at present a population OF 5000. ex-
elusive OF the excursion crowds. The oper-
atoms Of the American and his flying ma
chine has attracted visitors rivaling King
Ak-SaT-Ben's numbers. and hotel keepers
and shop keepers esteem him a wizard OF
surprising power. Every time Mr.. Wright
breaks an aerial record slgnalizes a boost
in the prices Of living. and they are likely
to continue soaring while the aeroplane
flaps It's wings.
Americans OF the millionaire class whose
reputation for wealth precedes them abroad