Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-09
TURKEY NEARS CRISIS
Sultan Sure to Resist Demand
for Army Reforms.
LONG ARREARS OF PAY
Removal of Garrison at Yildiz Will
be Exacted.
WORLD MARVELS AT SITUATION
Egyptians Oppose National Liberty
Proposals and Clamor for
Sultan's suzerainty.
LONG ARREARS OF PAY
MARvELS AT SITUATION

Special Cablegram to The Star.
love and liberty and beautiful revolu-
tions.'' as one writer described 1t.
The situation is what 1t is solely be-
cause the sultan. as his whole record
shows. is the one great autocrat in his
tory who has always known when to
yield.
He has not been converted in the slight
est degree to constitutional ideas. He
would never have yielded to a popular
demand, however unanimous.
He surrendered when his one lever of
power was taken from him. His only al
tentative was civil war, deposition and an
ignominious death.
But it is the army that Is now in power
in Turkey. and history does not throw
reassuring light upon military revolu-
tons.
The Turkish army's grievances are gen.
uine and legitimate. 1t is to be expected
that these wrongs, especially in the mat
ter of long arrears of pay, will be righted
first.
The national treasury is practical
ly empty. Nobody knows what the sui
tan's private purse contains. But its
cOnflscation.
First Crisis Pending.
The first crisis is likely to arise when a
demand is made. which will be forthcom-
ing presently. for the removal of the gar
rison Of 10000 Albanians which the sui
tan maintains at Yildiz. No terms could
carry greater terror to the padishah. He
will resist as long as he dares.
The young Turkey party fully under
stands the Importance of insisting upon
this point. Once 1t is gained the young
Turks future course will be easy. so far
as dealing with the old regime is con-
cerned
The willy old autocrat. broken in health
and lacking in physical courage. will
make no attempt to regain his former
authority
Will the army make common cause with
the people, or will it give undue prefer
ence to Its own claims?
Will it, in the serious financial dilemma
which is inevitable, attempt anything an
tagOnistic to the interests of the Euro
pean bondholders? Will it seek a diver
sion from internal troubles in a spirited
greatest dangers to European peace?
These points are all anxiously debated
this week in the press and in the chan
eelleries of Europe.
The withdrawal yesterday of the Anglo
Russian scheme of Macedonian reforms
was inevitable. Reports entirely reas-
surfing in their nature come from Bull
garia. another great danger point.
In Turkey itself no alarming Symptom
has yet appeared. All Europe continues
to wonder at this. Are we witnessing the
first ideal revolution history has produced
and in such quarter?
Respect for Turks.
Respect for the Turks has already risen
higher in Christendom than any eastern
people ever inspired. And there are those
who believe that the eliminating event
will justify it.
1t is at least established that the move
ment has been organized and executed
with matchless skill, restraint and pa
triotism. Moreover, the attitude. Of the
populace themselves has been above re-
prOach.
From Egypt comes the first aftermath
Of the Turkish revolution. The news of
it has given tremendous impetus to the
nationalist movement.
Cairo and Alexandria have been scenes
of wild demonstrations. These were par
ticipated in not only by natives, but by
thousands Of exiled Ottomans.
When the leaders of the latter paid a
tribute to the young Turkey party for the
national liberty the ignorant Egyptians
almost unanimously resented and drowned
the speakers words with cries Of:
Down with the young Turks. Long
live the Sultan"
The native mob in fact, instead of con-
tinuing the agitation for Egyptian indie
their allegiance to the sultan