The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-10-12
francbising law through which they
commit their outrage on Republicans.
THE ARMED FORCES.

might have been expected Montenegro
takes the lead in war operations. The
expectation that this would be the ease
arises from two sources; first, the i'm
petuosty Of the Montencgrins and the
insolence Of the Turks toward them
and second, the close affiliation be-
tween Montenegro aud Italy which is,
and has been for good while. at war
with Turkey, The Queen of Italy is
daughter Of the King Of Montenegro
and undoubtedly the sympathies of
Montenegro are very warm towards
Italy in the present struggle. The sup
position that the European powers could
prevent the conflict, or could stop it if
it had begun, is probably correct; but
there does not seem to be any prompt
ness in the action Of the European
| powers in this direction.
Since the war appears actually to he
in progress, il is now of interest 10
note the respective war strength Of the
three Balkan States, Bulgaria. Monte
negro, and Scrvia. which have appa-
reptly projected themselves into this war
| against Turkey The war strength of
the Bulgarian army is put at $4,000
men, that of Montenegro at 100000, that
OF Servia at l75,00o, a total of 450.
900 men. Against this is pitted the
| Turkish war force, estimated at l.500,-
900 men, or something more than three
to one. But the Turkish force cannot
possibly be all brought to bear in the
Balkans; for the Turks have to guard
their Asiatic frontier against Russian
aggression, there is q constant force
necessary in Armenia and in other parts
Of Asia Minor, and since the Christians
have enrolled within the past few years
in the Turkish armies, a thing never
known before. it is undoubtedly true
that those Christian levies could hardly
be depended upon to fight against their
Christian brethren of Bulgaria, Monte
negro and Servia, But if Greece is TO
be added to the Balkan states that are
fighting Turkey, she would add n war
force Of something over 100000 men to
the opponents of Turkey, making the
combined armies of the Balkans some.
thing over 100000 men, and the Turks
would have to oppose these with super
ior forces at many different points.
If the war should became general and
the armies of Italy should be added
TO the allied forces that are supposed
to be ready to attack the Turks, this
army amounting on a war strength
nominally TO something close to mil.
lion men, then the forces that could
be brought to bear on each side would
be approximately equal and it would
be very pretty fight in which Turkey
would be practically sure to lose, be-
cause in that case the Italian fleet
would cut an important figure in the
war.
1t is said that the Montenegrins are
determined to "rectify their frontier"
and "trace the new boundary in blood "
that is, they are not only engaged in
war of revenge but of conquest They
covet the Turkish province of Scutari,
and if they could get it, Montenegro
would have n substantial addition Of
100000 to her present total of 100000
people; that is, with the acquisition of
the Province of Scutari, Montenegro
would more than double her population
and importance.
1t seems hardly credible, however,
that the great powers of Europe would
allow this Balkan conflict TO proceed
at the present time. Those powers are
never ready 10 settle the Balkan oues-
ton, because they are never prepared
TO say how the spoils that would be
available upon the disposition of Tur,
key and the driving of the Turks from
Europe should be divided There is the
possibility, TO be sure, that there could
be an apportionment among the differ
cnt Balkan States which would allow
of the equilibrium, or balance of power,
remaining substantially as now. But
the great difficulty would be the City
of Constaptinople Still, this might be
given TO Greece without rubbing the
fur of any Of the chief European pow
ers the wrong way to any great extent;
and there is a possibility in that sugCcs.
tion OF a division that would be fairly
satisfactory provided Austria were Civ
en- Novi Bazaar. But Austria 8 longing
70 extend her frontier to include the
city of Salonika is altogether out of
the question. None of the powers would
agree to that, and it would
be with difficulty indeed that they
would agree to allow Austria to absorb
Novi Bazar. The situation is one of
great delicacy, and false move might
easily precipitate a general European
war.
BANKS AND PARTIES.