The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-03
WHAT HE STRUGGLE IN BALKANS MEANS Turkey Now Torn by h.
 ternal Dissenti0ns STATES ARE UNITED Unity of Movement Is New Factor With Which Turkey Hereto
 fore Has Not Had to Contend

widely in the Balkans and Turkey botf l as Special Commissioner of the govern ment and privately, in the London Daily
 Mail
 The convulsion of change and disturb lance in which all middle Asia has beer plunged during the last three years has l taken grip of southeastern Europe oncs again, and the despair of the Persian sit uation is almost forgotten in the danger: that loom in the Balkan states. 1 The old struggle between Europe anc Asia. which has existed ever since So bieski drove the Turks back from the walls of Vienna in 1883, comes up agair and demands a new settlement The struggle has had many phases and many l different names to confuse the casual reader, and the forces of Europe have spent much of their strength in fighting 1 each other But in all the struggles be tween Greek and Bulgar. Bulgar and Serb Macedonian and Turk, the same motive has run throughout-Europe and Asia al war,
 So long as Abdul Hamid ruled in Fur key he maintained definite and clear policy in regard to the Christian subject. Probably not unwilling on ethical grounds to give fair treatment to his Christian subjects, Abdul Hamid recognized clearly that the weakness of the Turk lay in economic warfare. Once give equal treat ment to Moslem and Christian alike and the latter inevitably would outstrip the Turk in riches and in influence, and in course of time drive out of Macedonia the ruling race. By his policy of sup precision of the Christian and the subtle diplomacy of fomenting all the petty quarrels between the Christian states he succeeded in destroying all factors that could unite Europe against Asia and in maintaining a troubled but fairly firm hold on his European provinces. To this extent, then, the enmites of the Balkan states. if they promoted discord and pro- voked massacres at least helped to keep the peace as between Europe and Asia,
 But since the fall of Abdul Hamid and since the reign of divided counsels at Constantinople, the old enmities of the smaller Balkan states have largely died down, their governments have come more closely together, and the danger of com mon hostile action against Turkey has largely increased.
 The Balkan States Sterengthening
 w lillt llt idSl tilttc ytdfS III uIhCp have been spent in faction, internal dis sension. and in the crushing of distant rebellions, the Balkan states have strengthened their armies, increased their equipment. speeded up their mobiiza- ton. and at the same time have been careful, by their bomb outrages and by the activities of their bands, to maintain that misery and unrest in Macedonia which should serve them as pretext for
 rlar, ha rft1 Aef vated by the recent Kochana massaeres and fired by the Salonica and Kuprili bomb reprisals, the Macedonian Buigar now calls upon the Bulgarian government to make war and obtain autonomy for Macedonia.
 The position of the Macedonian Bulgar is simple he is tired of Turkish misrule he is weary with his double load of taxes -one forced to the Turkish government one voluntary" to the Bulgarian army and he is generally unaware that he is for the moment pawn in the game of Big Bulgaria" that is being played by the Internal organization" at Sofia. Until popular pressure became too great and until King Ferdinand had been publicly reminded that the same terms applied to him as had applied to the Prince of Bat tenberg. Ito lead the army or take a lo- comotive to the frontier" the government
 
 der for mobilization has been sent we in- cline to believe that King Ferdnand's notable diplomatic skill and caution will prevail over the war party.
 The New Factor
 There is, however, in this Balkan. crisis of 1912 a rev and dangerous factor. namely that an agreement has been come to between Bulgaria, Servia Mon- tenegro and Greece-an agreement, how ever. of which Russia is aware and which mlght free Bulgaria or Servia from some of their usual hesitations.
 But in this situation the attitude of Austria is the governing factor. Austria is well aware that England and France and erobably Russia, are all against an upheaval in the Balkans. It is difficult to believe that Austria would be willing to see Bulgaria and Servia, ,ior Bulgaria alone, consolidated as a powerful S.av state lying across the road to Salonica. successful Bulgaria would bar the eastern sea road to Austria for all time. It is no less difficult to believe that Aus tria would calmly view the gathering power and progress of a completely in dependent Albania, or welcome the effect which the examples of Slav Independence and power would have upon the minds of Montenegro, Crotia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
 II then, AuStr1a IS 0eleTnllueu, III cOH- junction with France and England. to prevent war sne can make it impossible for Servia to move a man or gun east ward.
 The Combined Armies
 Let us look for a moment at the com bined armies of the four Balkan states. The four together could put some 900 men into the field in rapid mobilization. Turkey could probably mobilize less rap idly. but when mobilized could equal that number with ease There is mo doubt that the revolution in Turkey has had some deplorable results upon the condi- tions in Turkey, but the Turkish army remains the splendid fighting machine that it has always been. A war against Bulgaria at this juncture would arouse the frenzied enthusiasm of every MosleH and would rally and unite all factions. The Bulgarian government Is well aware of all this and will use the utmost cau- tion before embarking on so perilous a venture.
 Bulgarian plans have always been based upon the belief that by greater rapidity of mobilization and transport they could seize Adrianople and gain | e coast before the Turks were fully pre- pared for the shock-and this done would take a stand before the powers with fait accompli and beg to be spared second San Stefano. But such plan leaves no time for the dignified ultima tums and open mobilization orders Of to- day and leaves us still believing that unless Bulgaria Is daring more than she can endure" the mobilization is rather g ,,,oi,ilix "a tinn for futervention than q mos