Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-17
PROBLEM OF NEAR EAST
May Be a New Grouping of the
Great Powers.
TURKEY ALONE WILL PROFIT
Preparations by the Porte to Send an
Armed Force to the Frontier.
Russian Activity.

TIFLIS. February 11.-Reports have
been received here from Armenia that all
the Redifs, or Turkish army reserve
forces. in Van, Mush and the other villa
vets of Asia Minor have been called to
the coIors and are PFC ceeding rapidly for
the frontier. A: the same time a league
of all the Turkish revolutionary parties
is increasing the revolutionary agitation.
Appeals and proclamations are being is
sued. eNhorting the population to protest
in every way poss:be against the war
like plans of the sultan. The league holds
that war would be- especially disastrous
at the present time, as there is famine
i'm Asia Minor.
At Tilis the apprehension of hostilities
has no, abated. The Russian military
authorities have ordered that all horses
In the Caucasus. suitable for military
purposes be registered. The doctors OF
Tif1is held a meeting recently and volun-
teered their services in case Of war.
i ne OIL luThen rcbcfNCB
on the Persian and Russian frontiers in
Asia Minor, If in progress. is an out
come of the border difficulty with Persia.
Recently Turkish troops crossed the Per-
sian frontier in the vicinity Of Urumiah
and committed depredations. To this Rus
sia, under her treaty obligations to Per-
sia. objected, and began the concentration
of a strong force on the frontier OF the
Caucasus. This show OF military activ-
ty was thought to have been sumctent
20 put a stop to the Turkish aggression
have been discontinued. If the reports
from Armenia are true the dimculty in
Asia Minor. which is closely connected
with the railroad aspirations OF the pow
import.
Russia Is Angry.
ST. PETERSBURG, February H.
Baron voh Aehrenthars reiteration of the
determination Of Austria to build q rail-
road through Novipazar a connecting
link for the Austrian line through Bosnia
with the Turkish line to Saloniki. and
the announcement by the German foreign
Office o. ;ts financial support to this plan.
have left no illusions here regarding the
agreement for, joint action In the Bal
kans. negotiated by Emperor Nicholas
and Emperor Francis Joseph at Muerz-
steg in the autumn Of 1905, which was the
groundwork of the program OF reforms
in Macedonia.
The foreign Office regards the agree
ment as already violated in spirit by the
Austrian foreign minister's efforts to ex-
tend Austrian influence by a private bar
gain with the sultan and believes 1t should
be abrogated. Negotiations are still being
conducted to induce Austria to withdraw
her railroad schemes, but no hope OF
e. l,1ll ~rrf xattl tlovs Ia
The principal efforts are being devoted
to arranging a new grouping OF the
powers. il being thought here that Rus
sia and Great Britain might enter into
donia and that these two powers would
be supported by France and perhaps by
Italy
Austrian Plan Refused.
Hints have been thrown out from
Vienna that Russia and Italy would be al
lowed. by way of compensation. to con-
struct railroad lines, Italy one through
Albania, and Russia a line from the
Danube to the Adriatic sea. Both pow.
e-s declined.
NJ. Zinovieff, Russian ambassador to
Turkey. submitted to the sultan Friday
Russia's objections TO the proposed rail-
road This, it il expected here, will re-
suit in its postponement.
The impression that Austria is actlnS
with the full support OF Germany has re
suited in an outburst OF anger against
that country. affecting All circles or the
Russian press and public. This antas-
onism is felt especially in the army, where
it is believed Teutonic influences are back
of Turkish activity on the Perso- Russian
frontier. which again has assumed .
menacing phase.
Austri. Grows Sensitive.
VIENNA, February 1.-THE govern.
ment is growing sensitive under the ag-
gress;.e attacks OF the French and Rus
sian press and adverse criticism in Great
Britain and will rot admit that the
Russo Austrian entente has become In
effective. The consensus Of independent
opinion however. is that the Muerzsteg
scheme has practically disappeared.
England Urged to Act.
LONDON, February 1.-THE leaders IN
the movement for reforms in Macedonia
are urging on Sir Edward Grey, secretary
for foreign affairs, that the breaking up
of the concert of powers gives the gov
ernment opportunity for vigorous action.
The cabinet as yet has not decided
whether Great Britain will act independ
entity. but the foreign office is formulai-
ing a new scheme. which will be outlined
by the foreign secretary in a speech Feb
ruary %.
Kaiser Wants Pact Kept.
BERLIN, February 1.-THE German
foreign office regards the reports concern
ing the differences between Austria and
Russia over the Balkan question as much
Germany regards Austria's
designs as wholly economic and there
fore wishes them to succeed. but no occa-
sion has yet arisen for Germany to come
out in their active support.
Germany's chief desire is that the en-
tente between Austria and Russia be pre-
served.
The imputation that Germany instigated
the sultan to reject the demands for Ma
reforms is declared at the for
eign Office to be false.
Independent observers here are Of the
opinion that the completion OF both the
Austrian and Russian railroad projects In
the Balkans would he a. admirable inn
petus to the civilization OF the Balkans.
and that il would be unwise for any power
to oppose them.
Frances Attitude.
PARIS, February 1.-THE Novipazar-
Saloniki concession is considered here to
he more of a German than an Austrian