New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-18

Aria The navigation OF the narrow
pottlenecked entrance TO the gulf is
dangerous. even in the daytime. on &C
count Of the shallow waters and nu-
merous shoals.
The Turks had orders TO FIRE at any
Greek warships that might attempt to
enter. and these orders were known to
the Greek government The Turks
have in this gulf one torpedo boat that
escaped the Duke Of the AbruZzfs raid
at the beginning Of the italian war and
two steam launches armed with quick
firing guns.
Insignificant as this force appears 1t
would be sufficient, nevertheless, In the
absence of any Greek force, 10 place at
It's mercy tho Greek shores OF the gulf.
Hence the decision Of the Greek gov
eminent to rush TO the entrance a
squadron Of the Greek feet waiting
outside In order to afford assistance, II
necessary.
The length Of this dangerous passage
is eight miles, and the Turkish shore
bristles with forts, some of which are
new and armed with heavy guns. The
most dangerous point was before Pre-
vesa, where the gunboats had to pass
under the muzZles Of the Turkish bat
teries, only one thousand feet distant
The Turks could be clearly distin-
guished working at the intrenchments
They had bonfres lighted, and TO the
glare emitted by these fires is attrib-
uted the non-detection Of the Greek
ships. II they had been detected their
destruction was certain.
I Although the Turkish and Balkan
armies have been set on the move no
| fighting except a skirmish or two has
| thus far been reported. but serious con-
hicts may occur within a very short
space Of time near or in the passes
both on the Servian and the Bulgarian
borders.
1t is understood that the rival armies
are ready for the field. King Ferdi-
nand has already left for the front. as
| also has the servian Crown Prince, and
| King Peter starts to-day.
A Queen at tho Front.
A still more interesting fact in this
connection is that King Ferdinand
| consort Is also going to the front. She
is president OF the Bulgarian Red Cross
and is highly qualified as nurse she
saw service in Manchurla. Regarding
her intentions she says:
I'VE have converted a room at the
palace in Sofia into a depot for re-
ceiving gifts Of clothing and food.
shall visit the ambulances and field
hospitals and supervise the entire sys'
tenn"
The number OF those who have re-
sponded TO the Bulgarian mobilization
call is already sixty-two thousand. Re
yised estimates Of the total number OF
men which Bulgaria Will put Into th'
field now place the number we'll above
four hundred thousand.
Both Bulgaria and servla have hun
dreds Of quick-fring guns, and their
cavalry has also been increased. Every
trooper is already in the field. The
serviaus have Joined their cavalry with
that OF the Bulgarians.
The Macedonian bands have all re
assembled, fully equipped with arms
and ammunition. The leaders state
they can put at once 60,oO0 men in thu
field. Chief Sandanskl will have 200
followers, and It is expected that tn
Turks will have all they can do e
deal with these irregulars.
A rumor Is current in London to tn,
effect that several million rounds o
ammunition consigned to the bulgarian
army have been detained on the way
but at what point is unknown. Thu
is given as the reason for Bulgaria!
mysterious hesitation to take imme
date action against Turkey.
Between Rumania and Bulgaria
somewhat serious incident has arisei
out Of the detention by the Sofia gov
eminent OF a Rumanian steamer, whicl
had been chartered by Turkey.
The Rumanian authorities have de
manded the surrender Of the vessel.
On the stock markets the officia
opening Of the war had little or M
effect. The foreign bourses also tool
the matter calmly, while the advance
IN the English and French bank rates
had been 20 confidently anticipated
that scarcely any notice was taken O
the official notification thereof.
TURKEYS withdrawal Of her troops
from the immediate vicinity Of the
Greek frontier and the omission OF
Greece from the declaration OF wal
were doubtless dictated by Gigmi
Pacha, president Of the Council OF
State and the real head OF the Turkish
government He has been DESTROYS al
along Of avoiding a fight with Greece
whose interests, as he recently told tho
Greek Premier. are identical with those
Of Turkey. He also desired to cede th'
island OF Crete to Greece.
In her declaration OF war TURKEY
places the blame on Bulgaria and Ser