Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-10-28
LAND Of WAR ARGUMENTS
kavala n Rich Country on Which
Hinges the Greco-BuIgnripn Dis
pute-Factor in Present
Situation.
(From the London Telegraph.

(From the London Telegraph.
THE Greco-Bulgarian dispute hinges
upon the rich tobacco country in and
around Kavala." So Dr. Dillon wrote in
August, 1918 when the negotiations pre-
ceding the treaty of Bucharest had
reached critical stage. By the unstable
settlement which followed Greece secured
what she claimed. The frontier between
the two countries became the river
Karasu or Mesta. so far as 1t runs north
and south and further north a prolonga-
ton OF the same line A year and half
later, in January. 1915, when NJ. Nenizelos
was working for the reconstruction OF
the Balkan League and its Intervention
on the side OF the allies, he was ready
to secure the adhesion of Bulgaria by
proposing the surrender to her of some
part OF the territory which he had de-
manded In 1913 1t has been officially
stated that the cession under considera-
ton involved Kavala itself, some 1000
square kilometers in the vicinity G2
square miles. and a Greek population of
not less than 1900 people.
These facts are sufficient to show that
Kavala and the plains about It are a re-
zion 10 WHICH DOln treek anu bulgarian
can make a plausible claim. This dis
trict Is, in fact, essentially a debatable
land. There Is no natural frontier line
between Slav and Helene. no mountain
range, no river following a racial cleav-
age. The welter OF races which makes
the division OF Macedonia everywhere
difficult Is here inextricable. Greeks are
probably In the majority. but the Bull
garian element Is numerous. 1t follows
that any frontier must be artificial. and.
therefore II 1t Is to be permanent a
compromise which leaves neither race
with sufficient motive for a war Of re-
venge and liberation.
Kavala itself is a town OF Importance
The Messageries Maritimes boats from
Marselles to Constantinople make it a
port OF call The traveller approaching
from the sea looks upon a bold head
side. Above the busy quays rises a long
line Of Oriental domes, and above that
again a bluff line Of rock cutting the
town in half; on the sides OF this scarp
you see terraces of white houses studded
with minarets High over all stands a
massive castle. As the steamer draws
closer In you can make out a long aque-
duct on two tiers Of arches. which brings
water to the city from Mount Pangaeus.
The mountain looms dark In the dis
tance. and from 1t two sheer cliffs ap-
proach the sea.
The town has a good deal of historic
interest. When 1t was called Neapolis
st. Paul landed there on his way to
Ph!lippi. 1t was place OF Importance
In the days OF the byzantine Emperors.
who built for II the great aqueduct.
Even the Turks added something to it's
treasures. for in tho great age Of the
Ottoman Empire benevolent pasta pre-
scented Kavala with a vast and r!ctur-
es1ue caravanserai. The town was the
birthplace Of that extraordinary ad-
venturer Mehemet Ali. who began life
as a smuggler, made himself sovereign
Of Egypt. and thence defed half OF Europe
1t was he who built the line Of domes,
which you see from the steamer, and
which house a charitable institution.
With something like shock you dis
cover in Mehemet Ali a phianthropist
The present population OF the town
Is difficult to estimate. The provisional
census OF 1919 returns 1t at 1900, but
this Is probably exaggerated. A large in
fiux takes place during the summer
months. when the tobacco harvest has
to be dealt with and prepared for ex-
port. During the last complete year be-
fore the Balkan wars more than 1900.
900 kilogra mines OF tobacco. that is moro
than 5000 600 pounds worth, passed through
the warehouses and quays of Kavala.
The economic importance Of the place
needs no further illustration.
The best OF what we still call Turkish
tobacco is grown In the district round
Kavala. The country consists of plain
backed by hill and mountains, and both
the level country and the lower slopes
OF the upland are we'll watered and OF
extreme fertility. Before the breakup
OF the Turkish domlnions it was estimat-
! cd that the tobacco of Eastern Macedon-
la brought the eXchequer of CONSTANT
nople a direct revenue OF more than
300 pounds year. The value of the
crop exported was more than 4,T2o, 0C
pounds. Not all OF this, OF course, was
grown up in the "debatable land" around
Kavala. Even the frontier of the Treaty
Of Bucharest gave some Of the tobacco
area to Bulgaria. But by far the great
err part has been in Greek hands. and
the value of its possessions is sufficient
ly obvious. Besides the predominant to,
hocco industry. the district also pro-
duces some cotton and carries a large
quantity OF stock. II It Is not incongru
Gus to link history with these CONNER
cial details, We may note In conclusion
that On these fertile plains O. the tobac
co country stood Philippi. with its mem
cries of Mark Antony and Rrutus, ant
the affecuonate last epistle OF St Paul
The city now is but a mass OF ruiz
| among the fields.
OUR JITNEY OFFER-This and &c.