The Washington herald., 1914-07-19
Each Nation Ordering Dread
noughts as Fast as Money
Can Buy Them.

| Athens. July &-Turkey. since the sec.
ond Balkan war has driven 10000 Greeks
from Asia Minor in a most iron-handed
manner. II she persists in her deter
mination Of expelling the 2,5oO. 900 Greeks
still within her borders another sanguin-
ary conflict is probably unavoidable.
While the Greeks are leaving their
homes in Turkish territory against their
will and are seeing their possessions con-
iscated until they are reduced to penury.
a similar large exodus of Turks is TAX
ing place in Macedonia and other north
ern sections now under the rule Of King
Constantine. But the Turks are leaving
of their own free will in anticipation of
a triumphant return under the guard of
Turkish bayonets-
Meanwhile on both sides war prepara-
tons go on feYerishly. Despite her i'm
poverished condition, Turkey is carrying
out a great naval program. MeSsrs. Wick
ers, of Barrow, England, who are COM
pleting the Reshadieh to the order OF
the Ottoman government, have just re-
ceived an order for a second battlsship
to be built at once. The new craft is to
be larger than the Reshadieh. The lat
ter is SIS feet long. has a displacement
Of 1900 tots and carries ten l35-inch guns
with a smaller battery.
another vessel designed for the Turk
ish navy is being completed on the Tyne
1t is the Sultan Osman l., which was
launched on behalf Of Brazil under the
names OF the Rio de Janeiro, but has
since been purchased by Turkey for more
than Sl2,0oo.ooo. Orders also have been
given for the hulls Of two scouts to be
built on the Tyne and the machinery
at Barrow.
So anxious is the Turkish marine min
lister to obtain his Dreadnoughts that
he is willing to accept them without
trial. without cabins, without the final
coating Of paint and even with one gun
wanting.
BY waving these conditions he will
gain nearly two months and receive the
battleships on August or earlier.
The Turks are concentrating their
strength In the navy rather than the
army. The way TO this was pointed out
by the Americans in the Turkish service.
Capt. Ransford D. Bucknam, who with a
single vessel. the Hamadich. made sew
eral celebrated raids In the course of the
recent wars, appearing suddenly at un-
protected points and doing a great
amount of damage to the Turks enemies.
II is expected that this capable oflcer.
who Is known as Bucknam Pasha in Con-
stantinople, will figure largely In the
struggle that threatens.
Greece is making desperate efforts to
put herself in a posture of defense, but
her means. even taking into account the
effects on Turkey OF the two Balkan
wars, are very small compared to Tur-
keys resources. =.
Undoubtedly her shrewdest move was
the purchase from the United States Of
the battleshjps Mississippi and Idaho,
vessels in commission. These two large
craft win soon be in Grecian waters and
ready to face the new Turkish navy. That
they will be able TO meet the three Turk
ish Drsadnoughts on anything like equal
grounds is doubtful. but their presence Is
giving some reinsurance to Greece
Greece is most anxious to Keep the
peace. But It is believed generally here
that Turkey is resolved to enforce her
claims to the islands Of the Aegean sea
the moment her Dreadnouglts arrive.
This moment is not far on.
The Hellenic government has pushed
forbearance TO extreme limits. The
houses vacated by the Moslem emigrantsl
from Macedonia were left unoccupied un-
III the influx 70 Greek refugees from
Turkish territory obliged the authorities
10 quarter the homeless families there.
and even this was only a provisional
measure.
In the fertnisAt ending July q no