The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1912-10-29
DECLARES TURKEY WAS
CAUGHT UNPREPARED
American Military Expert Dis
cusses Technical Situation
in Balkans.
TURKS STILL PREPARING
When Concentration Is Com
pleted She May Strike
Back Hard.
TURKS STILL PREPARING

struggle Of Turkey against the sllietl
Balkan States ard Greece were dis
cussed for THE Sun to-day by ore of the
best military authorities In Washing
ton. Owing to possible embarra ssments
that might arise through the use Of his
name this military expert insisted that
his identity should not be disclosed
but he is man whose opinion the United
States Government would gladly accept
on technical war problems.
"In discussing the war against Turkey.
he said. "one must first consider ths
sources from which We get what little
information We have regarding what
has taken place since actual hostilities
began.
| Accounts that have reached here
indicate that all the victory has beer
on the side OF the allies Perhaps this
is so. 1t probably is, but never theless
one must bear in mind that the Bul.
garians are giving out practically al
the infor nation which the world has
regarding the progress Of the campaigns
l understand that no newspaper cor.
respondents were allowed to accom-.
pany any Of the troops. and certain My
dttdCueS WcTc dIOW" "
observe the campaigns.
There ia one most important feature
OF the campaign Of the allies. however
which have not seen brought out in
it's proper importance
The allies timed their first blow at just
the very moment when Turkey was least
prepared for mastering her full force in
the field. They struck just about October
4. This was the date when Turkey dis
charged approximately one-third OF her
entire army BY sending home those SOL
diers who had served the required three
years. The allies caught her at moment
when she had dismissed one third Of her
land forces in Turkey proper and before
the new men summoned to take their
places had arrived. Even had these men
been already in the ranks they would not
have been Of anything like the value Of
those just discharged. for they lack train
ing in the military service and must be
taught the very fundamentals OF a sol
diers duties. 1t is to be supposed that by
this time Turkey is beginning to get back
at least a part OF the men she let 90 just
before the allies struck at her. and of
course the now men are likewise coming
In now. Yet the effect has been most
seriously to hamper the Turkish army
in it's attempts to set itself in motion
against the invaders. While Turkey has
not vet got started the enemy is fast in
| vading her territory upon three Sides
The fact that the allies chose early
October for making their attack on Tur-
key indicates how carefully and thor
To- kz 80
Bulgaria. Montenegro and Greece planned
their present campaign. Their selection
Of Turkeys weakest moment was a good
Of view. Naturally approaching Tur-
keys greater size and resources the allies
knew they must depend for success largely
upon the effect Of striking the first blow
and making that blow tremendously
effective.
.That they succeeded is indicated by the
location Of the allied forces at present
The Bulgarians and the Servians have
made deep inroads into Turkish territory
on the north. while the Montenegrins are
well into one corner and the Greeks are
coming up from the south and on the west
The. Greeks have been slower in their
advance than the Bulgarians and the
Although Greece was behind her al
! lies in declaring war l am inclined to be-
lieve that her lesser progress into Turkey
ia due largely to the fact that her armies
are less efficient. There may be other
reasons, but judging from what informa,
tion is obtainable such is the indication
On the other hand the way the Bulgarians
Servians and Montenegrins poured
through the mountain passes into Turkey
was amazing. The rapidity with which
this advance was executed all along the
line and in complete harmony indicates
| a htnh Aanroa Cf offictanSxr he
part Of those armies.
1T would seem that there had been
deliberate purpose in the way Montenegro
was permitted to go it alone against
Turkey for a considerable period. 1t not
at all unlikely that the allies intended
toward the Montenegro border a larger
part OF the Turkish forces in eastern
Turkey. This is what occurred to q
limited extent. Thus the way was par.
TALLY cleared for the Greeks TO come In
from the south and gave the Servians
an opportunity to pour inXand take the
The present stage Of the war is pre-
liminary. The present movement Of the
allies Is forcing tho Turkish outposts
to retreat.
eThe forces which the Allies have de.
feated have not constituted any oonsid
cradle portion OF the Turkish army by
any means. II is estimated that Turkey
has about 120, 900 men in Eastern Turkey
and 10000 in Western Turkey. Tn,
Allied troops have encountered as ye
only fractions Of this force. Thus far
1t is simply driving in OF the outposts
But it must be remembered that If tn,
outposts are driven in. then their is oppor
tunity for concentration. In Eastern
Turkey that is what appears to be takinl
place now. Driven from a broader ex
panse Of territory into a narrower. tn,
Turkish army is gathering itself into
more compact force. Similarly the ad
vance Of the Montenegrins, Servians anS
Greeks in Western Turkey is having {
like effect. When this concentration il
completed. II it ever is completed. w
may look for something more decisive
"'The most decisive point as yet il o
course Adrianople, In their war will
Russia 1t will be remembered the Turk
quit when they lost Adrianople. Adriano
pie is on the line which the Turkish STRAIT
egists had in recent years always re
garded as the line behind which they
would make their defence il invaded
Behind this line the Turkish manPuvrc,
were held last summer and conducted
on the supposition that Turkey was beinl