Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-17
TURKEY WILL
WHIP RUSSIA
CAPTAIN HALL OF LOS ANGELES
TALKS ON THE BALKANS
VETERAN OFFICER OF UHLANs
RECALLS PLEvNA's SIEGE
Greece and Other States Would Be-
come EmbroiIed II War Broke
Out Near the Black
Sea

Interesting and practical, with COM
ments based on. past experience, the
interview on the Balkan situation
granted by Capt. James M. E. Hall,
754 Valencia street, Is of considerable
value, since the captain served in the
Turkish army as officer of Uhlans, or
light cavalry, during the Russo-Turk
ish war of 1877, and also raised a corps
of Hungarian volunteers to carry on
guerrilla warfare during the "pacifica-
ton of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
$50 war is predicted between Russia
and Turkey again?" inquired the cap
tain, who is a wiry built man with
the veteran gray showing through his
coal black hair. "Well, If Russian and
Turkish troops are given a clear field
with no favors-no allies to participate
the Turks will win
Capt. Hall was born in Budapest,
Hungary; moved to Vienna, Austria,
with his parents when he was but six
months old; In time attended the Uni
versity of Vienna, where he gained the
degrees of A. B. and NJ. D., and also
became an expert in the art of fencing
in French, italian and Russian schools.
1.-THE French school is a lunge, the
Italian plunge or jump with the foil,
while the Russian school is more near
ly like that of the French" he said,
describing his favorite pastime of the
foils.
''I was but of a young fellow of 18
years of age when | was visiting the
Centennial exhibition in Philadelphia.
/ heard of war being declared between
Turkey and Russia and went to the
field of action as soon as possible.
remember our marching to the relief of
Plevna and the fighting at Schlpka
pass and at Kars and Novi Bazaar
Turks Fine Fighters
"The Turks and those Balkan peo-
pies, like the Servians, are fine speci-
mems of manhood, and make great
fighting stock. They are officered by
Germans to a great extent and are a
formidable body of men.
Russia and Austria have been allies
ever since 1S48 when Russia came to
the aid of Austria in the latter's fight
with Hungary and the latter's general,
Gorfge, was compelled to surrender his
$4,000 men to the allies 100000 troops.
Immunity had been promised him by
the Russians, but when the Hunga-
rians were prisoners the Austrians told
the Russians they were allies to fight,
not to make terms, and hanged thir-
teen of the Hungarian leaders.
"Ever since then Hungarians have
hated Russia and favored Turkey, even
though the latter once did occupy their
country.
$50 when the Russo-Turlsish war
broke out Austria wanted to assist
Russia, but Hungary would not con-
sent to it. Hungarian students pre-
sented Osman Pasha, the famous Turk
ish general, with a gold-hilted sword.
After the war. at the peace of San Ste
fano and afterward at the treaty of
Berlin, Austria was given possession
of Herzegovina and Bosnia as bull
wark against Russia.
I'm case of war Bulgaria and Ser
via would sympathize with Russia.
when Austria came to take possess
sion of Bosnia and Herzegovina to
pacify them, as they said, the general
in-chief said all that was needed was
by storm. But they were mountaineers
and didn't want to be pacified and
heavy fighting required 100000 men.
Probable Alliance Results
"If Austria were to fight Russia,
Hungary would side with Austria; but
if Austria chose Russia as her ally,
Hungary would side against the Vien-
nese country. Hungary still remembers
how Turkey helped her in 1849.
Turkey defeated Russia in 1877 in
all even battles, but was crushed final
ly by overwhelming odds.
Besides this, Russia is dissatisfied
with her government, was whipped by
the Japanese and therefore discouraged,
though she is making strenuous efforts
to get even, while Turkeys officers, al
though corrupt, are sober-not drunken
like the Russians.
1.-THE Turk may take his harem along
on the campaign, but the Russian
takes his mistress and his wine. True,
the Turkish common soldier is almost
as ignorant as the Russian, but the
former is sober, at least, and has less
vices than the Russian.
ION the other hand. as soon as Rus
sia declares war, Greece will do like
wise, and probably Bulgaria and Ser
via as well. All of these states side
against Turkey.
'Now, should Austria enter this con-
fiict, Croatia and Slavonia cannot be
far, Germany would ally with Russia.
and then England and Japan may
quietly aid Turkey.
"Yet the Balkan states would be
hostile neutraIs.' At least Greece
would go to war at Russia's instiga-
ton. That much is certain"
Here the captain stopped his sum-
mary of the possible moves and COM
binations in the international chess
game, declaring that "the war cloud
over the Balkans was perennial in its
character" He denied the rumor given
in Saturdays Associated Press reports
to the effect that England would favor
Russia and oppose Turkey If Persia
were to declare war.
.That / take to be utterly impos-
sible from the history of these states,
said this veteran of the Star and Cres-
cent, closing his interview on the tam
gled maze of battle flags.
4
WASHINGTON VIcITnRc