Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-28

rapidly and easily defeated the Greek
army, though Won der Goltz has pointed
out that the Greek troops behaved
bravely in the most difficult circum-
stances and the cheap contempt of the
European press for the military incapaci-
ty of the modern Helene was certainly
not justified" The Turk was infinitely
the better fighting man, and Edhem, the
Turkish commander, displayed the stub
bornness and resolute will of a great
commander. The victory of Turkey was.
therefore. feat of no little moment and
dispelled the illusion that the Turks could
only act on the defensive, and showed
them to be capable of resolute and vigor-
GUS attack.
In the war of 1S77-S with Russia the
Turkish armies suffered defeat mainly
through the incapacity of their generals
but they proved their magnificent fight
ing qualities in the field. They were en-
barrassed In every possible way. Servia
and Montenegro, then nominally subject
the sultan. The whole strength of Rus
STA was available to shatter Turkish re-
sistance. Yet the Russian task proved
to be one of stupendous difficulty. At
Plevna, acting on the defensive, Osman
Pasha beat off the repeated attacks of
the best Russian troops and the finest
Russian generals, among them men of the
genius of Skobelef. Some 10000 Turkish
troops killed and wounded their own
number of Russians. and the Russians
We're saved from complete disaster only
by calling in to their aid the Roumanian
army. An officer of British descent in
the Turkish infantry at Plevna tells us
of his men in one of the hottest moments
of the first battle:
with one or two exceptions. I noticed
actions. Some were shouting and jab-
bering like idiots. firing all the time;
many seemed possessed of a perfectly
devilish fury; others were silent and more
than when at target prac-
tice."
The same perfect GOODNESS and disre-
gard or danger characterized the Turkish
troops during the Greek war and the
Turkish irregulars and regulars operat-
ing against the Italians-who are adj
mirable soldiers-in Tripoli.
In the Crimean war the Turks dis
tinguished themselves by two great feats
Of arms, the defense of Silistria and Kars.
If they did not increase their reputation
was because they were not skillfully used
by the British and French commanders.
Object Of Bulgarian Army.
The most probable objective of the Bull
garian army, supposing it to attempt a
rapid offensive, would be Salonik or
itself. Saloniki, however,
Is defended on the land side by strong
works equipped with artillery of posi-
ton. Facing the sea and designed to
prevent the attack of hostile fleet such
as was threatened in the war with Greece
is a series Of batteries armed with
somewhat antiquated guns. It is not
certain whether these forts have been
rearmed in view Of the war with Italy,
but even if they have not they should
be sufficient to keep off the Greek fleet.
which has only four small ships Of any
serious value. Constantinople is pro-
tected by the Tchataldja lines.
High though the fighting quality of
the Bulgarian army is, the best generals
would shrink from the risk of assaulting
strong earthworks held by such soldiers
as the Turks, with an overwhelming ar
tillery to support them, after the bitter