Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-10-25

its armies are concentrated, every
inch of Turkish advance disintegrates
the defensive strength of the allies.
They have no reserves, no hinterland;
they are but thin fringe round a
corner Of the great Turkish empire.
They can make a gallant and bloody
defense, but II they are compelled to
take the offensive they might as well
give up and let the Powers arbitrate.
On the other hand, a brilliant initial
success for the allies, leaving their ar
mics when winter comes strongly in
trenched on Turkish soil, might lead
to long and terrible war. Turkey
would not be obliged to give up. for
she has Asia Minor for a reservoir of
men, horses and supplies. Any pro-
posal to capitulate would wreck the
government, for the people Of Turkey
are furious at the humiliating outcome
of the campaign in Tripoli, and are
aching to get at an enemy on land.
where Turkish valor may have fair
chance. The first few weeks Of the war,
therefore, may decide whether 1t is to
with the Turkish armies thrown back
on the defensive, 1t may last till both
sides come to a standstill for lack of
money.
But whether long or short, 1t will be
one of the most savage and vindictive
wars fought in modern times. AS a
rule in modern warfare, there Is little
personal vindictiveness; one nation
wars with another and the soldiers are
but pawns in a great game Of politics.
But in this war both sides seethe with
a hate that has been accommodating for
generations and has been intensified by
the atrocities Of recent years. Both
sides have bitter scores to pay. The
Turks are raised to q fanatical pitch Of
patriotic and religious fury by the sue
cessive aggressions Of Christian Eu-
rope; they are fighting for their last
foothold In the western world, and will
be as terrible and as cruel as In the
great war with Russia, where their
valor and their savagery alike astound-
ed the world. The temper Of the allies
may be seen from the spirit shown by
the Greeks who are returning; besides
patriotic fervor they have an intense
hatred for the unspeakable Turk. A
war waged to avenge countless muir
ders and unmentionable atrocities will
not be civil and humane war, but the
world will hear little Of its horrors be-
cause the day Of the war correspon-
dent has passed. The correspondents
in the Crimean war and the Turko-
Russian war could show the seamy
side of warfare, and their reports did
much to strengthen the cause Of peace.
But today, under the new censorship,
they will be confined to general aspects
Of the campaign, and If they depict
horrible details they will be suspected
Of taking as English correspondents
did about alleged Italian atrocities in
Tripoli.
It will be a widely diffused war, and
in the nature of the case an adequate
report Of it will be impossible. There
is likely to be savage guerrilla fighting
over a wide area, for the whole region
seethes with local rancors, and the AL
banian tribesmen are as savage and
cruel as Kurds. Thus while fought by
civilized governments with ultra a-mod-
ern arms and armies, the war will on
one side be as primitive as the wars of
the Huns and the Vandals, and the
sooner peace is restored the better.
From this point Of view defeat OF the
allies which would soothe the hurt
pride of the Turks and then strong
action by the Powers which would keep
the Balkan states from being crushed
and yet give assurance Of reforms in
Macedonia would perhaps be the most
favorable outcome. Tor 1t Is one OF
the peculiarities Of the present war
that neither side can win. Europe will
not let Turkey annex Christian states
that have once won independence;
Russia and Austria are not likely to-
let the Balkan coalition annex Turkish
territory which they want themselves.
Therefore when enough blood has been
spilled, peace may be possible, and the
war may close when winter ends the
campaign.-Springfeld Republican.