Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-10-29
1t Is Deemed Certain the Sui
tan VIII Soon Take Part
in the War
WILL JOIN GERMANS
MAY DRAW ITALY IN
If Turks Join Germany and
Attack Italy Only One
Course Is Open

London, Oct. 29.-That matters were
so developing in the near east as to
promise an early spread of the war to
that quarter in Europe was generally
conceded in official circles here to.
day.
Greece 3 occupation of the Albanian
districts of Argyro, Caste and Premoti
and Italy's seizure Of Avalona, Duraz
20 and Scutari, in the same country.
was more, it was believed, than Tur.
key could endure quietly. Ii was deem
ed practically certain that the sultan
would draw the sword very soon.
One the whole, the near eastern sit.
uation appeared to favor the Germans
and Austrians rather than the Anglo.
Franco Russian combination.
IT the Turks join in the war IL will
he on the German side, which the allies
naturally will not like. If Italy's in.
torvention in Albania meant war be.
tween the Italians and the Austrians
1t would be considered as far more than
offsetting such help as the Turks can
give to the Teutonic allies. The inn.
preston Is gaining ground, however.
that Austrian acquiescence In whatever
Italy sees fit to do Ia Albania is the r..
ward italy is to receive for permanent.
ly remaining neutral.
Hurts the Allies.
II this surmise is correct and the be.
lief that Turkey is about to take a hand
in the war is well founded, the result
is net loss for the allies, since they
Will have n new enemy in tne sultan
and Italy's attitude will remain Just
as at present.
If the Turks do take up arms, they
probably will not figure to any extent
in the occidental field, though thew
might lend perhaps 100000 very effec
tive fighters for service either against
the Russians or in the west, but they
are likely to prove seriously trouble
some in Persia, in the general diree
ton of India in the Caucasus auy may
be in Egypt or even farther 20 the
westward in northern Africa. There
have even been rumors of n pact be
tween Turkey and Afghanstan. which
would bring trouble to the very Indian
frontier itself
Not Thanksgiving Turkey.
In their public expressio, British
government officials have generally
spoken us IL they expected to amasl
Turkoy with great promptnoss the mo
ment II showed signs Of hostility. Tim
the allies will make short work of TAX
ing the sultan's ports no doubt OK
lists, Privately, however, II is concede,
that he probably can create alnrmini
situations in parts Of the Asiatic, AZ
riean and even southeastern European
interiors, whore British, French nnt
Russian troops are too fully occupie,
elsewhere to deal with him.
The outcome would depend to n prea
extent Of course, on how generally nj
call was needed by peoples who, thoupl
subjects at present Of the Ottoman en-
piro, do not acknowledge. its ruler >
spiritual supremacy. The statemen
has been made that "holy war; /
no longer n possibility. Nevertheless
the question is one concerning whicI
there Is considerable uneasincss,
How the Germans can manage 10 re-
concilo the Turks desire as the FOR
mer's allies to recognize Albnnia. witt
the fact that Italy is supposed to b.
willing to remain neutral only on con
dition Of having at least part Of mi
same territory is not entirely olenl
The best guess is that the sultan vii
be promised compensation IN some 9th
er, part of the Balkans for Keeping on
of northern Albania.