The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-06
THE BALKAN ISSUES.

II is far more than probable that IN
the event Of actual war between Tur-
key and the four Balkan States. Bull
garia, Servia, Montenegro and Greece.
that have modified their armies 4,
concert and in preparation therefor. tho
latter would be victorious. barring
intervention by the major powers. Tur-
key has on paper a lighting force OF
1000, 900 men. at immediate command;
the concert about half that number.
But it must not be forgotten that there
is widespread disanection in the
Turkish army and that admittedly
many Of the regiments are greatly
demoralized owing to the plotting and
counter-plotting Of the Young Turk
and the old Turk emmisaries respec-
lively. The Turkish army Of to-day
Is neither in discipline. moral nor in
spiration. the army that confronted
Russia in the last Russo-Turh1sh War.
and made such q splendid record not
withstanding defeat Moreover. 1t
must be borne In mind that the con-
cert can draw upon . population. every
man Of which. virtually. who IN not
entebled by age. 10 . trained SOLDIER
eager for a trial OF conclusions with
the Ottoman invader and oppressorsI
This draft would bring the number OF
the combined armies Of the concert, ap-
proximately speaking. up to that OF
the nominally available Turkish force.
Yet. after all. would the victors be
permitted to divide the territorial
spoils! What would be the effect OF
the proposed division upon the Euro
pean equilibrium? What are the in
nuencss and conditions initiating
against its being permitted. and fore
shadowing Intervention that might
precipitate general war. and disturb
ance and read1ustment Of the balance?
Manifestly parcelling out would be tho
end OF Austro-Hungarian ambition to-
absorb Albania and reach 6alonica. 81
long practical step towards which was
taken when the dual monorchy annex
ed Bosnia and Herzegovina out OF
hand. g.. ...-.
There we have Austria -Hungary's
motive for making an excuse for In
PREVENTION. but should she intervene
and attempt . grasp OF spells by pres
sing towards her goal. what OF Italy?
II IL also manifest that the realisation
Of the design noted, upon Albania and
salonica, by her partner In the tri-
bunal. could not be looked upon with
equiminity by Italy. since II would
give Austria-Hungary naval command
OF tho Adriatic. Therefore. IL would
not be surprising II movement for
censummation detached italy from
the old Bismarckian pact. which for
years has been mono too popular among
her people and threw her into the
arms OF Russia
Now, IN turn. what OF Russia? Au-
stria-Hungarian advance upon salonica
even serious menace OF 1t. could hard.
II fail to prove the signal for another
Russian march upon 4onstantinople
and demand for compensation IN the
shape Of the opening Of the Bosphorus
and the Dardaneils. and the free access
O. her vessels OF war from the Black
70 the Mediterranean Sea Here. again.
the question arises. would Great Britain
view this concerted movement and the
demand with any less equanimity than
ITALY would view an Austrc-f1ungarian
ono O, Sa,onica7 Would she reverse
her historic policy. touching the Bos-
phorus and DardaneIls issue? There
are many who gravely doubt II. and
hence We have in the Balkan outlook
tn. possibilities Of a breaking up also
Of the triple entente. However. u 10
these factors Of the problem, these
possibilities. tina, encourage more than
anything else the hore that the major
powers Will succeed IN avertins war
between Turkey and Tire concert. since
there is a natural and a logical dread
tina, IL would cventua:e In disIocs-
. ton Of European international rcla-
ton. snd a spreading Of hostilities. tho
end ., which none can forcsee. The
moral sympathy "f TIE powers dc
fatcs Encouraging ~" concert 70
Iocse the dogs 90 war: their political
( sympathy. their scIf-interes; and their
.saIogs.s end fears Of one another
dictate the making of every effort 80
keep tbeu So iessh. They are not
ready 'or the general havoc they ap-
. prch.Hd might follow. be their own
respective hores ana purposes as lean
I-g On TIE ultimate and inevitable par
tition II Turkey what they may
TUF pow Nv tOCkt.RBuE sTWEET.