Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-31
OTHERS WILL
FOLLOW LEAD
TURKEY
IN THE WAR

Washington, Oct 30.-Turkey's at
tack on Russia, reports of which were
confirmed in official dispatches to the
American government and the Russian
embassy here, was viewed by officials
and diplomats generally here today as
likely to produce the gravest eompli-
cations throughout the Balkan states,
northern Africa and Asia Minor.
The announcement of state of war
between Russia and Turkey was ex-
pected eventually to bring into the list
of belligerents Greece and Italy, fol-
lowed by Roumania and Bulgaria.
Ambassador Morgenthau at Constan-
tinople in a brief cablegram late to-
day made no mention of a declaration
of war by Turkey on Russia, but said
the British ambassador had informed
him of the bombardment of odessa by
three Turkish torpedo des.royers and
the sinking of Russian gunboat.
Previously Charge D'Affaires Wilson
at the American embassy at Petrograd
relayed a message from the American
consul at Odessa, stating that in the
bombardment of the town some Amer
lean property was destroyed.
indications from the Levant, officials
feared the long expected confiagration
in Turkey was at hand. They prepared
to use the American cruisers North
Carolina and Tennessee TO assist
American missionaries, if necessary,
and to set in motion measures of re-
lief for Americans similar to those be-
gun when the first nations of Europe
We're plunged into war.
The far-reaching effects OF Turkey s
bombardment of Russian ports was
everywhere admitted. While it was
suggested in some quarters that the
Ottoman government might repudiate
the raid of the Turkish destroyers and
the former German cruisers tGoeben
and Breslau. attributing the acts to
the initiative of the German officers
and crew manning them, the belief pre-
vailed that Russia would mot passive
ly accept this view. but would consid-
er herself in a state of war with Tur-
key.
The complications in Albania where
Greece has sent troops to occupy Epirus,
supposedly mourning the displeasure of
Italy which country feels a special in
|
ter somewhat the alignment which would
have resulted from Turkeys entrance
into the field of operations. The news
from Athens that Greece entered Albania
with the consent OF the Triple Entente
was puzzling phase of the situation for
Washington officials The feeling has
been expressed in many quarters here for
months that Italy would side with the
Triple Entente If Turkey declared war
on Russia. This view. however has been
based largely on the supposition that the
Mussulmen i'm Egypt. rising against Brit
sh rule would incite their brethren in
Tripoli to attempt to cast off Italian
domination. italy to remain neutral
must eventually reach some understand
ing with the Triple Entente concerning
the partition of Albania or the activities
of Greece in that country.
Roumania has indicated in official COM
munications that she would ally herself
with Italy In whatever course the latter
takes. the Bulgarian government is I'M
derstood to be friendly to Turkey and
Austria. though recent reports have
spoken of the wavering attitude of the
government I at Sofia. because Of
popular demonstration in behalf OF the
entente.