New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-31
Turkeys Running Amuck in the
Black Sea and Its Probable
consequences.
Consequences.


1t was entirely in harmony with Bernhardis teach
ings. Bernhard praised Japan for striking at
Russia in 1904 without giving the customary notice
OF a declaration OF war. Now the German in
euences which control the Turkish navy have imi-
tsted japan by invading Russian port in time OF
peace and torpedoing vessels at anchor there.
That the government at Constantinople will have
TO accept responsibility for this act Of treachery
may be taken for granted. The Sultan is more or
less at the mercy of Turkeys Man on Horseback
Enyer Bey. The latter is still unreconciled to
Turkeys successive defeats by Italy and by the
Balkan League and IS eager for war of revenge
which NAV restore the losses Of those wars. En-
ver Rev wants TO see Thrace and Macedonia re
turned to the dominion Of the Sultan, although he
is willing to strike bargain with Christian BRl
garia which will allow the latter to retain the
greater part Of her diminished share of the spoils
of the Balkan war He IS a gambler playing for
high stakes and is eager TO risk the disappearance
of Turkey as European power Cor indeed,
of tying up with a successful German Austro-Hun-
garisn alliance and getting part of the booty eN-
acted 10y it from Russia. Great Britain, France
Greece. Scryia. Bumania and possibly Italy.
1t is a gamblers chance, but Turkeys situation
is desperate and Enyer Bcys ambition is bound
less. He too. has probably read Bernhardfs lucu-
brations about Empire or Downfall" and has
dreams Of re-eStablishing Turkish sway over West
EN- Asia. Egypt and Northern Africa even If In
order TO do it he has 10 summon Mahometanism
to Il Holy War
The real menace TO the Allies of a coalition of
Turkey with Germany and AuStria-lIung0rv does
not lie in Europe. The Turkish army is still dis
organized 1t is poorly equipped and unequal TO
the task of making Roadway against the forces
likely to oppose it in the Balkan peninsula. In
the Rlack Sea and the Igean the Russian and
Greek fleets are superior TO the Turkish fleet Tur-
keys Influence ON tine result Of the war in Europe
will hc felt Indirectly i'm the damage which it,
political. military and religious activities may do
in Asia aud Africa, where Great Britain and France
have important interests which will have TO be
guarded Turkey probably expects TO accomplish
little against Russia, either in Europe or in Asia
and it is not Germanys chief object to use the
Turks for that purpose Great Britain and France
are much more vulnerable to the sort of attach
which Turkey can best make, and their uneasines
tbo in ol ec{cr
must handicap them to some extent i'll deyelopin.
their plans for driving the Germans out Of France
and Belgium
Should Turkeys accession to the cause Of Ger
many and AustriaIlmgary not be balanced b,
counter accessions to the cause of the Allies Ger
man diplomacy would have to be credited with
the war drags in Greece and Rumana and force
Italy also TO defend her interests in Tripou anC
the Eastern Mediterranean, imperiiled by Turkey
action the net result will be greatly TO the ad
vantage of the Allies.
Italy has two or three times as much military
strength as Turkey, She has recently deprived
the Porte OF an African utptlueutN duu some Meul
lerranean islands. Turkey has as fierce a grudg,
against her as against Greece or Rumana. L
would be extremely difficult under these circum
stances for Italy TO remain neutral while Germany
and Austria Hungary were giving encouragement
10 Turkish hopes Of revenge and recuperation.
War between Turkey and the Allies means
sweeping rcadjustment Of political conditions il
Southeastern Europe. ConStantinople will not re
main Ottoman much longer. Even Syria and Asia
Minor may pass out Of the Sutans hands. But if
Italy is TO have a share in the revision of tina,
mart Of the map on which Turkey now figures she
must cooperate at first hand in the events which
precede the readjuSiment.
She has already occupied Ayona, in the hope of
maintaining the status quo in Albania. But Tur-
KEYS recovery Of power in Thrace and Macedonia
would upset that status quo, and Turkey must
have received pledge of reimbursement of ter
ritorv in Europe before She plunged into the mad
adventure Of attacking Russia at the behest Of
Germany, Even Berphardi admitted That if Italy S