The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-24
AFTER THE WAR?

AFTER THE WAR?
Although Turkey has rejected offered terms
for an armistice and hostilities have been re-
snmed and although the length of the con-
t;ruation of the war is uncertain. one thing
nav be predicted with all reasona beness. Tur-
keys rule in Europe. with the possible excep-
ticn of Constantnople, is ended Six centu-
ries have passed since the Moslem first placed
his foot on conquered European territory to
have and to hold and during all that time he
has exercised an influence over European pol
itics which has made for wars and rumors or
wars, for strife and uncertainty. Now his
reign is at an end. and, unless the powers re-
peat in part the folly the Berlin agreement
and allow the retention of Constantinople, the
er of Turkish empire in Europe, which reach
ed It's height when suleiman the Magnificent
led her conquering hordes and began to wane
ct his death. is in sight.
Events have moved with bewiidering ra-
pidity. At the beginning of the war the Eft
repeaa powers with u self-complacency 1usti-
fed by past history, notified Turkey thai the
Status quo would be maintained. There Is no
pretense now of keeping that PROMISE
promise impossible of fulhilment. The des-
pissed Balkan States are too strong. They Will
| not listen to talk of the maintenance of the
status quo. which Europe once regarded as so
recessary To them such medieval concep-
ton of diplomacy is unthinkable They know
that Turkey must go. They saw it years ago
and have been laying up stores, in anticipa-
ton of the time when they should be called
upon to perform the duty so long neglected
nv the nations, which fondly regard them
selves as possessed of a higher civilization
! Two things which have astonished the world
especially that portion OF 1t familiar with con-
! dtions In the Balkans, have operated to en-
sure Balkan SUGGESTIVE high state of prepa-
| ration in which the Balkan States showed
| themselves to be and the ease with when the
alliance between them was formed These
liYtle States apparently poor and utterly lack
i1g in credit with the fnanciers OF the world
had been boarding gold for years against Inc
time when it should be needed, and wheh that
time came they were we'll supplied with war
continent some of it of the most modern
pattern and we're possessed OF snine'eht
money for several months of war. the pro-
phets who predicted that they would not be
atla to secure means with which to conduct
war overlooked, or were ignorant or TINS
ef sental fact and the no less essential fact
that on account Of the rapid successes OF the
allies not as much money would be needed as
was expected The alliance OF the four ma
tens fighting Turkey seems no less miracle
than the quantity of money possessed ana 'he
quality of bravery and the fighting ability
shown. Rev. John Henry House, veteran
missionary. tells in the Congregationaiist OF
conversation he had held with an intelligent
/ Greek not long before the outbreak OF me war
/ in which the Greek declared that aliahce WIN
bulgaria was an impossibility, for lit has come
to the shedding of blood between us. Inc
blood has been shed, but not between ereeh
and Pulgar. Az Or. House remarks. me e 10y
nossible has become fact
i The same missionary discussing the cues
,icns 70 he settled after the close of the war,
suggests that Albania be established as an an-
|, tcnomous state and invited to Join the teGera
tion. that salonika be made free city to pro-
vent jealousy between Bulgaria ana Greece
beth OF whom now occupy it; and that Mnras-
,,r be divided between Greece and servia' al
trough this involves a Bulgarian sacr'nce'
tbose people being numerous In the city ana
province.
That 1.-The allies will have wisdom and mod
Grafton enough to preserve the peace among
themselves when the war with Turkey Is over
Il the hope of Or. House; that may come true
but the wisdom OF the powers is open TO aues-
ton, and peace may yet be shattered by the
: Hand hungry Austrians who are even now pre-
Iparing to bring on an international war. which
may prove the bloodiest in all history. To MS
or this side the water 1t seems that the natu-
lral course for the other European nations to
follow is for them to bind themselves together
and inform Austria that 1t must check Its
) greed. To the Balkans, who have done what
Europe long since should have done. belongs