Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-27

empire, which should be borne in mind.
it is profoundly distasteful 10 MIN that
the matter should be complicated by
our entering into new entanglernents
in the new sphere of the war.
Reviews the Situation.
Under what circumstances has
British force been sent to Saloniki? 1
should like to recall the position in the
month of September. The central
powers had made no progress in the
western theater for long time They,
indeed. had been successfully attacked
and pushed back at several points. On
!, the Russian front their advance, over
whelming at first, had received seri-
Gus check. The Italians were pressing
their offensive, and in the minor
theaters of the war-Mesopotamia for
example-success was resting with our
arms.
THAT being the situation. the central
powers very naturally looked about to
discover some new direction in which
to seek for a decision satisfactory to
themselves. Their choice fell, as it was
not likely to fall. on great attempt
to make good in southeastern Europe,
through Bulgaria, to threaten our
forces in Gallipoli and Constantinople,
and perhaps Egypt, to say nothing Of
the vaster aspirations which perhaps
lay behind
Key to the Situation.
That great project became doubly
attractive from the moment when,
most unfortunately. Bulgaria threw
her influence on their side. There was
one obstacle, and only one. to that
project. The key of the situation lay
in the eastern corner of Serbia:
We found Serbia threatened by
formidable concentration of troops, ana
1 cannot help here paying tribute to
the wonderful gallantry with which
Serbia withStood two separate lnVa-
sions and her struggles against a
third. She will afford one of the most
glorious chapters of this great war
Under these circumstances serbia mace
a direct appeal to US for help. But 1t was
not only Serbia that invoked our CO.
operation.
Serbia was bound to Greece by geo
graphical propinquity, by common IN
terests in this war and by treaty obllga-
tons. Moreover. it was only through
Grecian territory that help could pos
sibly reach Serbia; it was only by the
use of great force that base could
provide for it. Under the circumstances
the good will of Greece was of first inn
portance to us, and We had at that time
every reason to feel assured that we had
that good will.
Small Force Is Sent.
"Venizelos was still in power. and at
his instance we undertook to provide
force for the purpose of enabling Greece
to fulfill her treaty obligations to Serbia.
1t was under such circumstances that we
sent such troops as were available to
Saloniki 1t was a small force, because
only a small force could be collected at
the time.
THE French government. on their
side, dispatched a force which is now
on the spot and which apparently at
this moment is engaged with the Bull
garians on the eastern frontier OF
Serbia. At the same time larger
force was prepared for service IN
southeastern Europe, and transports
were taken out for the purpose of con-
veying it to it's destination.
Il suggest that these steps-incom-
plete, no doubt-were taken with great
promptitude and they were the only
ones which could be taken to relieve
the position of Serbia. They were
taken after full elaboration with the
naval and military advisers.
The British force at Saloniki, $4,000
the precursor of a larger force which
has been put under orders. At the
same time. the use to which that force
will be put must depend on the sit
uation when it arrives a the scene.
Important Developments.
Events have moved very rapidly in