Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-18
WAR CLOUDS LOWER
Melting OF Snow May See Out
break in the Balkans.
TURKEY EAGER FOR FIGHT
Is Anxious to Take on Either Greece
or Bulgaria.
MEANS RUIN FOR FORMER
In No Condition to Wage War, and
Heavy Indemnity Would Prove
Century Burden.
MEANS RUIN FOR FORMER
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.


that region Of political storm in south
eastern Europe. It Is the universal ex-
pectation in all the chancelleries of the
great powers that the fighting will COM
mence as soon as the snow is out of the
mountains in the spring.
There would have been a war last sum-
mer If either Greece or Turkey could
have borrowed the money to buy pow
der. Greece has been unable to ne
gotiate q loan, and Turkey was told by
the French bankers Of London and Paris
that they would not furnish her funds. to
waste in a useless, senseless struggle.
Since that time, however, the Turkish
government has been able to borrow $780,
100000 from the bankers Of Berlin
through the influence of the kaiser's min
listers, who,- it lis understood, required
a pledge that one-half the proceeds
should be expended for munitions Of war
in Germany.
The German government appears to be
under obligations to see that Krupp's
great establishment Is kept busy manu-
featuring military supplies, and, when its
own orders have been filed. its influence
is used to obtain orders from other
countries to keep the men employed and
the machinery In motion. Therefore the
bankers of Berlin and Frankfort. under
pressure from the man higher up would
NOl lOdH turkey any money unless she
would agree to spend one-half of it in
buying things Of Krupp.
Opposite View in France.
It Is significant coincidence that the
French bankers took precisely the con-
trary position and would not loan the
Turks dollar unless they would agree
to expend the money in public works and
internal improvements. which are so much
needed and have been promised to the
people over and over again by the lead
ers Of the Young Turk party and the
present administration. The French also
insisted upon sending their own man to
Constantinople to act as paying teller
so that the pledge should not be violated.
The Turkish cabinet has a majority In
favor Of war. under the leadership of
mander-in-chief of the army. Haiku
Pasha, the grand vizier, and David
Pasha. minister of finance, are in favor
Of peace and public works. There is a
lie works in the parliament because their
constituents demand it. They dare not
go home without carrying the news that
the imperial government has voted money
granted concessions for railways and the
development Of the natural resources Of
the country. On the other hand, the
Young Turk party has split up into nu-
QSIOuS 1dCIlOuS WHICH are COutcuOlIIS lOE
power and spells. The committee of union
and progress. that secret power behind
the throne which organized the revolution
and has since controlled the government,
dissenters is to provoke q war and ap-
peal to their patriotism. Their influence.
supported by majority OF the cabinet
and the officers OF the army, who have
public opinion, have had their way and
have compelled the ministry to accept the
conditions OF Germany and spend 3d.
100000 for powder and guns.
Turkey Has Good Army.
The Turkish army is in splendid condi-
ton, one OF the best drilled and dis
cipIined in Europe. and eager to show its
prowess. It is aching for q fight and
demanding that war shall be declared
against Greece or Bulgaria. whichever
first offers a provocation. There is con-
tinual friction along the border of Bull
garis. Every now and then you read in
the papers about collisions between Turk
ish and Bulgarian outposts. Last fall
there was a very lively fracas over the
refusal of few Bulgarian peasants to
pay taxes upon garden products which
they were carrying over into Turkey to
sell. An old woman started the row by
trying to smuggle pair of chickens over
the line. One Of these days an incident
of that kind will be used as an excuse
for a declaration Of war.
The grievance of Turkey is because
Greece has admitted to its national as
sembly delegates from Crete, which was
formerly a Turkish province. and also
delegates from the Greek residents in Tur-
key. This. from our point OF view, is
hardly worth fighting about, but any cx-
cuse will do whenever Shevket Pasha is
ready to demonstrate the efficiency OF the
army he has organized
The grievance Of Greece against Turkey
has more foundation, for the Turks have
boycotted all forms Of Greek merchan-
disc. Greek steamers, Greek labor and
everything else that is Greclan for more
than six months. No Turk will buy or
use anything that has been produced or
offered for sale by Greek: no Turk will
ship or allow others to ship freight by
a Greek steamer, and commerce between
the two countries has practically ceased.
The Greek merchants and manufacturers
In Turkey, who do more business than
any other class. have had to depend upon
the trade of their fellow-countrymen The
Greek government has protested In vain.
The Turkish government has not only re-
fused to interfere, but has encouraged the
boycott.
Various other incidents have occurred
to provoke Greece, but she has been url-
able to resent them because she has no
army and no navy, and no money except
a fund which Greek emigrants in different
parts OF the world have contributed with
the greatest liberality for the national de-
Tense. No people are more patriotic,
none more generous in offering their
money and their lives. but If a Turkish
army should start for Athens, there is
not force enough in the Grecian penln-
sula to detain 1t anywhere, even for
day.
War Calamity for Greece.
Therefore war would be an immeasur-
able calamity for Greece. Its prosperity
would not only be interrupted, but would
be destroyed, the country would be raw
aged and Turkey would impose an in
demnity that would keep Greece poor for
the rest Of the century.
Greece has no navy. although her loyal
and patriotic citizens In the United States.
England and elsewhere have contributed
money to buy ships. The minister Of ma
rine, knowing that they cannot be built
for two or three years at least. has been
Offering to buy couple of battleships
from the United States. 1t would doubt
less be a good thing for our navy II we
could sell the Indiana. the Iowa. the Mas
sachusetts, or some other vessels that
will soon become obsolete, but this can
not be done without an act OF Congress
and would provoke a long debate. for
which there is no time at the present ses-
sion
1t is expected that the powers will pro-
tect Greece against Turkey just as they
interviewed to prevent the devastation OF
that fair Land during the late war be-
tween those motions. but the powers are