The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-12
New Grouping of European
Powers Likely to BE An
nounced at Any Time.
TURKEY CENTRE OF INTEREST
Present Dangerous Crisis May
End in Complete
Anarchy.
BY FREDERICK WERNER.
Special cable 10 The Tlmes.Dispatch. |

where you turn therc Is unrest ana
strife. Only one thing is wanting 10
make the situation desperate, the death
OF Emperor Francis Joseph and warfare
In the Balkan peninsula. As IL is .Eu-
rope Is laboring under gcvere strain
existing alliances arc near the break
ing point and new grouping oil the
powers may be announced at any time.
The political centre OF interest at
present Is undoubtedly Constantinople
Turkey is passing through an exceed
ingly dangerous crisis which may end
IN complete anarchy, or in Turkey
Joining one OF the two. great Internal
ional European combinations, the Triple
Alliance or the Triple Entente. II
Germany loses the confidence OF Tur-
key she will have only herself TO blame,
for no power has had her chances with
the Sick Man.
During tho Last years OF the reign
of the deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid
German influence gradually became
paramount at Constantinople. Practi-
cally thrown over by England the Sui
tan. in his dread OF Russia's increasing
influence, turned to Germany for pro-
lection. German officers were engaged
10 train HIS army. which they succeeded
in placing on an efficient footing. aud
German capital and enterprise con
iributed TO the improvement of regions
which had been sadly neglected
Such was the state OF affairs when
the first revolution took place. and
Turkey wac endowed with the Con-
stitution which had been SO long pro-
missed and SO long deferred. This trans
formation was hailed with Infinite sat-
isfaction by the Liberal powers of the
West who looked forward TO q fresh
and happy era, and also expected
that. under tho new regime. the Otto
man Empire would naturally Bravitate
to their orbit. All these fond hopes
were disappointed by the policy pur-
sued by the new government. which
not only failed to ameliorate the domes-
tic situation, but remained constant to
Germany.
After the abortive counter -rcvolu-
ton. as to the precise origin OF which
very strange. and apparently fully
Justified suspicion is entertained, and
after the enforced abdication OF Abdul
iiamid. things went on as before, as re-
CARDS the methods employed at home
and Turkeys relations with the for
eign powers The explanation is that.
like the deposed Sultan, the famous
Salonika Committee is devoted to Ger
many. Some OF its members are alleg-
cd 10 have very solid reason for their
support OF that power. and good care
has also been taken that its praises
shall be sung by a portion OF the To-
cal press.
All this Is to the advantage. not only
OF the German government. but also of
German trade and industry and SO
strong Is the notorious Committee Of
Union and Progress. which has a sub
stantial majority in the Reichstag. that
no ministry can act IN opposition to It's
wishes. / am assured, too. that most
OF the officers of high rank in the
Turkish army also entertain strong
German eympathies as a result of the
training which they have undergone,
and. indeed. that the army at large is
filled with admiration of German pres
tige.
On the other hand, there is no doubt
that German statesmen have committed
a very serious mistake by not prevent
Ing 1talys rash declaration of war over
Tripoli. Germany might have prevent
ed this war II she had wanted to and II
her government had not allowed Itself
to become implicated in a dispute with
France ove. Morocco in order to get
hold Of a strip of useless African terri
tory which will cost the already over
burdened German taxpayers millions
and millions of marks before 1t be-
gins to snow any entries on the credit
side of the ledger.
At the time when the Tripoli ques-
ton was raised Germany was unable to
act and so years Of patient diplomatic
work and u considerable outlay OF
money at Constantinople is In danger
OF being wasted for deep discomfort
has been caused throughout Turkey by
the fact that province is being wrest-
ed from the Ottoman Empire by ma
tion allied with Germany.
To make matters worse, from u Ger
man point Of view, the fact has leaked
out that while the Italian government
at an early date announced it's plans
In regard to Tripoli to Berlin and
Vienna. 1t said absolutely nothing
about them at London and Paris. and
thus there is nothing to keep the Turks
from believing that If their old friend
England had known she might have
prevented Italy from declaring war
This fact opens a diplomatic chance
for England to supersede Germany's
influence in Turkey and make the coun-
try join the Triple Entente. In fact,
many intelligent Turks are even now
asking themselves of what use is the
friendship Of a power, whose ally is
at war with their country, and these
1nalcontents are turning to England
for aid.
If Turkey is eventually to enter the
Triple Entente 1t must be effected
through England. There have been re-
ports from time to time of the adhes-
ion of the Ottoman Empire to the
Triple Alliance. but these rumors, If
they were ever credited. have been
shown by recent events to be utterly
false and unfcunded German friend
chip has not saved Turkey from at
tack by Italy. and growing distrust at
Constantinople is the result.
But. as matter of fact all these
stories about Turkeys readiness to
join this or that grouping of the pow
ers are absolutely premature, and are
merely prompted by the decidedly in
trlcate situation. One thing however,
seems to be tolerably clear: las long
as the Committee of Union and Pro-
gress yields its occult and sinister
Influence. Germany will retain her prn-
dominant position at the Porte. There
arc, however. signs that this infiu-
ence 70 on the wane. for weakening