The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-31
Turkeys Attack on Russia
Likely to Produce Gravest
Complications.
FAR-REhCHING EFFECTS
EVERYWHERE ADMITTED
Definite Action by Greece, Italy,
Roumania and Bulgaria
Now Probable.
TO FOLLOW WAR DECLARATION
American Officials Fear Long-Ex-
pected Conhagration Is
at Hand.

WASHINGTON. October 30.-Turkcy's
attack on Russia. reports of which were
confirmed to-day in official dispatches
to the American government and the
Russian embassy, was viewed by Of
fcials and diplomats generally here to-
day as likely to produce gravest COM
Dlications throughout the Balkans.
Northern Africa and Asia Minor.
The announcement os a state Of war
between Russia and Turkey was ex-
pected eventually to bring Greece, Italy,
Roumania and Bulgaria into the list
Of belligerents
Amba ssador Morgenthau, in a brief
cablegram from Co'istantinople late to-
cay. made no mention OF q declaration of
war by Turkey on Russia. but said the
British ambassador had informed him
of the bombardment OF Odessa BY three
Turkish torpedo boat destroyers. and
the sinking OF Russian gunboat.
Previously the American consul at
Odessa had reported that during the
bombardment some American property
was destroyed.
With these dispatches and previous
indications from the Levant, officials
feared tho long expected confagration
In Turkey was at hand. They prepared
to use the American cruisers North
Carolina and Tennessee to assist Ameri-
can missionaries IL necessary, and ~
set in motion measures of relief for
Americans similar to those begun when
the first nations of: Europe were
plunged into war.
RUSSIA W 0uID nor Is a.,
PASSIvELYSsUB1IIT
The far-reaching effect Of Turkeys
bon1bardment of Russian ports was
everywhere admitted. Whilo 1t was
suggested in some quarters that thc
Ottoman government might repudiate
the raid of the Turkish destroyers, and
the former German cruisers Goeben and
Breslau, attribating the acts 20 the
initiative OF. the German officers and
crews manning them. the belief pre-
vailed that Russia would not passively
accept this view. but would consider
herself in state OF war with Turkey.
The complications in Albania. where
Greece has sent troops to occupy
Epirus, supposedly mourning the dis
pleasure of Italy. Is believed to alter
somewhat the alignment which would
have resulted month ago from Tur-
keys entrance into the war. The news
from Athens that Greece entered AL
bania with tho consent OF the triple
entente was puzzling development
for Washington officials. The feeling
for months had been that Italy would
side with the entente If Turkey de-
clared war on Russia, but that had
been based largely on the supposition
that the Mussulmans in Egypt, rising
against British rule, would incite their
brethren In Tripoli to attempt to cast
off Italian domination. Italy. to remain
neutral. must eventually reach some
understanding with the triple entente
concerning the partitioning OF Albania.
or tho activities of Greece In that
country.
ROUMANIA WILL, ALLY
HERSELF WITH ITALY
Roumania has indicated in official
communications that she will ally her
self with Italy In whatever course the
latter takes. Bulgaria is understood
to be friendly to Turkey and Austria.
though recent reports have spoken of
the. wavering attitude OF the govern
demonstrations in behalf OF the entente
Striking differences of opinion de-
rcioped to-day among the diplomatic
here as to the probable
course Of events in Turkey and the
Balkan countries. In some quarters il
was suggested that Turkey must have
had some assurance from Greece that
the latter would remain neutral before
she dared to attack Russia, One. OF
the military attacaos, only recently in
held that Bulgaria
would line up against Turkey While
the government of the former country
was pro-Tmrkish, he said, the people
were. strongly Russian in their sympa-
thies. 4
British officials pointed. out that even
If war actually broke out between
Russia and Turkey England would not
necessarily be involved IT vas re-
called that England did not declare war
upon Austria until it was established
that Austrian troops were fighting IN
France:
Tho Turkish army could not be trans
ported by water TO Egypt in the face
of the allied fleets. and the hot deserts,
peopled by hostile Arabs. would make
1t almost Impossible to march an army
overland.