Evening star., 1909-04-18
GERMANY MIGHT AID
IN SEEING SALONIKI
Civil War Unlikely in View Of Com.
mon Interests Of Troops.
OPPORTUNITY FOR BULGARIA
Neither England, France Nor Rus.
sia Likely to Interfere In Be.
half Of Autonomy Of Mos
lem Empire.

LONDON. April 1.-THE truth about
the situation in Turkey lies concealed
behind the silent wires of Saloniki ana
Adrianople. 1t rests with the great
bodies Of troops stationed at those points
whether the country will be devastated
by one OF the most savage civil wars OF
modern times.
We hear circumstantial reports today
that 100000 men are marching on Con-
stantinople. and that the first attack
will be made tonight. This is nonsense.
It would require nearly a month to
mass such a body of troops within
striking distance Of the capital. even
If the government did nothing to pre-
vent it. and the whole European army in
the provinces were willing to undertake
such a movement.
It must be admitted that the crisis is
very alarming, and that considerable
bloodshed is more than probable. But
this is not likely to take the form Of \
pitched battle In the streets OF Con-
stantinople.
Menace Of Military Power.
1t is true that all power in Turkey
now rests In the hands OF the military
The peril of such a situation IL obvious
when it 10 remembered how ignorant.
fanatical and irresponsible Is the Turk
ish soldier.
Is likely to be used 1t IL necessary t0
examine anew the intrigues which
made last tuesdays revolt poSsibis and
successful
from power are men Of Identical sym-
pathies with those who arc now expected
to march against them. They supported
whole -heartedly the revolution OF July.
1t is the committee Of union and prog
ress which has changed in personnel and
policy since then, not the soldiers who put
the committee In power. The new leaders,
who during their exile became imbued
with western ideas, made the fatal mis-
take of NOT taking due account Of theI
fundamental religious fanaticism Of their.
countrymen and SO placed in the hands Of
their enemies the weapons Of their 1n-
doing. us -
History Repeats Itself.
History has repeated itself. The ex-
treme reactionists and the extreme consli-
tutionalists combined and made joint use
of the Instrument which alone could over
throw the new regime.
. 1t is repeatedly asserted that the sultan
was the master mind which created the
combination and that Tuesdays revolt
was but the first step in his plan for re-
gaining absolute power. There may be
some truth in this.
+ 1t Is true. at all events. that the pfau-
were undermining the foundations OF the
Mosiem faith was quite sufficient to fncite
wholesale mutiny. And SO 1t will always
be with the Mohammedan population.
military or civilian
It IL not that they love constitutional
liberty less. but that the Moslem faith 10
always the supreme consideration. Fur
thermore. It is men, not measures. which
count most with the Turkish soldiery.
They have absolute conndence In Nazim
stantinople garrison, who 10 an ardent
He has 1t In his power
to make an agreement with the leaders
of the committee Of union and progress
plete mihcation Of the Constantinopis
troops with the 1st and Sd Army Corps In
support Of the constitution.
+ Civil War improbable.
I Civil war, when such an understanding
is so feasible. seems absurd.
Reports from Constantinople already
affirm that the suspicion is taking rect
among Tuesdays mutineers that they
have been humbugged. and they are ex-
pressing aversion at being induced to play
q political role. But while 1t would seem
to be easy to avoid civil war, other dam
gers have arisen which may well arouse
general apprehension.
Appeals to religious passions have al
ready spread through the country. They
SO among the still more fanatical prov.
inces.
Grave reports of massacres Of Christians
are already pouring In, and these are
likely to increase. Albania Is In revolt
and is demanding autonomy.
The ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS Prince
Ferdinand thinks he sees Bulgaria's OPP
portunity in Macedonia. The Sandjak 10
ment, where a settlement was assured .
week ago, is threatened anew.
Powers Are on Edge.
There is no sign yet that any foreign
power had any preknowledge or partici-
patton In the Turkish revolt. An show
evidence Of deep concern in the possibili-
ties of the situation.
The British ambassador at st. Peter0-
burg had a long conversation with the
csar yesterday regarding the cooperation
of Russia and England in case II becomes
necessary to protect foreigners. The
British fleet at Malta has been ordered 70
be in instant readiness to sail.
Sir Edward Grey. British foreign score
tary and NJ. Pichon. French minister OF
foreign affairs. have returned to theip
posts from their Easter holidays. Ever
preparation Is being made.
Foreign interference would come at o.
peculiarly awkward moment. AuDteos