The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1912-10-07
u. S. Army Officers to.
Observe Conflict in
Case of Balkans War

una the Balkan states, as IL threatens
seriously to do. the War Department
will find a lot Of eager candidates among
the army officers anxious to 20 to
southeastern Europe as military observ-
ers. Army men fully realize that this
war. II It breaks out in earnest, will be
no child's play It will be the first
war worth the mention on European
soil since the famous struggle Of 1878
between Russia and Turkey, and Il Is
likely to take on. proportions, SO far as
land operations are concerned, rivaling
those Of the war between Japan and
Russia True. the Turks and Italians
have been lighting for some months
over African territory. but this has been
. contest Of small proportions and of
r:Isaveiy little military Importance.
great war ID about as desirable q one
as can fall to the lot Of a trained and
competent military man, who takes
pride and interest IN his profession. II
Al such sa as Is n Ik cit % g
S sfms to an ofhseryblt once IN a ME-
viii Send Best Officers.
All army men know this. and conse-
auently there will be great clamor on
the part OF army officers to get q
change to look In on the operations OF
the armies. Nor will the War De-
partment neglect the opportunity to
get reports from the scene of opera
lions and to ascertain what lessons
can be drawn from them II the war
comes. Doubtless several of the bcst
and brightest officers will be given
orders to attach themselves to one or
the other Of the armies.
IN the last great war the world I'm 4
witnessed. that between Japan and
Russia, this country was well repre-
sented by military observers. Their
Department and the general staff and
are of much value. One Of the OBJ
servsrs was Major William v. Judson.
Engineer Commissioner Of the Dig
trict OF Columbia. who Is likely to be
the new head Of the canal zone. Major
Judscn. among other things. Witness
ed the battle of Mukden and made a
valuable report upon II.
:. Great Military Opportunity.
In the last great war on European
soil, that between Russia and Turkey.
In 1878. this country had an able mill
tary man with the Russian army. This
was Gen. F. ". Greene. later police
commissioner Of New York. General
Greene accompanied the famous Russian
general, Skobelon. in his remarkable
march In the deapth Of winter across the
mountains on the Turkish frontier, in
the direction of Constantinople. This
was one OF the most remarkable winter
campaigns on record, and the American
observer set out brilliant and inter-
esting story regarding 1t on his re-
turn.
Z. Any wsy of large proportions between
bring into the field probably mill ons OF
men, and will be intensely interesting
from the purely military standpoint. as
well as extremely picturesque. It will
be fine opportunity for the military
observer. and II Is not to be wondered
at that the young and ambitious off,
GERS are already pricking up their ears
and shifting the battle from afar.
= LONDON. Oct. THE powers were
practically agreed today on the form Of
the communications to be sent to
Turkey and the lesser Balkan states
with a view to settling their differences
1t was under ..o,d the communicat tons
will be presented tomorrow. Diplomats
considered the outlook much improved
English government officials resented
the reports that the British foreign Of
nee nearly blocked the powers agree
ment. All England did, they said, was
TO suggest few changes in the word
ing Of the communication to Turkey.
Continental diplomats point out, how
ever, that the changes transformed the
document from rather peremptory de-
mand for reforms into a very polite sug-
gestion that reforms are desirable.
This may have been good policy,
critics OF the English attitude SAID, but
the expressed opinion was that the Brit
ish reason for II was anxiety not to Of
fend the Turks, now that Kiamil Pasha.
who IL strongly pro- British. has been
given an important post among the
Sultans advisers.
Greece, Bulgaria, Servia and Mon
tenegro will be warned that, even II
they go to war with Turkey and win
the powers will not permit them to
gain anything by II. Turkey will be
asked to give larger measure of
self government than at present to
Macedonia and Albania. though not
the absolute autonomy which the
quadruple alliance demanded. Tur-
key has already intimated Its willing
ness to do this.
The powers have shown a lamenta-
BILE lack of confidence in one another
throughout the entire Balkan nego-
tiation and high authorities said to-
day II was only by extra ordinary good
luck that they ever reached an agree
ment.
Even the agreement does not yet in
sure peace, but todays prospects were
considered hopeful