Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-10-09
Collapse Is Indicated by
Smyrna's Effort to Open
Negotiations
BEIRUT'S FALL A FACTOR
Railway System Threatened
and Ottoman Empire Likely
to Follow Bulgaria's
Example
Special Cable to Erenins Public Ledger

Special Cable 10 Erenins Public Ledger
fopyriqh' fats. bV Nsw YORK Times 90.
London, oct ..
Turkey is seeking to escape from
sinking ship
The immediate collapse Of the Otto
man Empire H. indicated by the action Of
the Government OF the Province Of
smyrna. the most important part OF Ana
'olia. which is virtually identical with
Asia Minor. in sending emissaries to Sc
cure peace with the Allies
An Athens dispatch. filed September
2s. but received in London only today.
says:
According 10 the Greek paper Hestla
there have arrived a, Mitylene. on be-
half Of Rahmi Governor Of Smyrna,
three parliamentarians 10 enter into
peace negotiations. one Of the emssa-
ries is a Greek. one an Englishman and
one Turk
Further information has been received
by your correspondent to the effect that
the ConStautiuople Government is like
wise seeking to open separate negotia-
tions with the Allies. Turkeys position
must be considerably weakened by the
capture Of Beirut. which is an impor-
tant base in the advance upon Alep
The center Of the great railway sys-
TEN is thus threatened on two fronts
and Turkey can scarcely hesitate TO fol-
low the example Of Bulgaria. That Aus
tra should wish TO withdraw within
her own frontiers is the natural corollary
of such a situation.
News that has reached London that
the Montenegrins have risen against the
AustrianS is symptomatic Of the weak
cning of the enemy's hold upon the Bal
kans II Is known tnat detached par
ties or troats, SlOvenes. Serbians and
Austrian deSerters are in the mountai ins
ready to make common cause against
the oppressor. Though possibly in a mill
fary sense their value is not very great
they are capable Of endangerng Aus
irian communications.
The invaders tenure in Albania is
also precarous, and probably such Al
bantam soldiery as has been in Aus
tria's pay will become hostile the mo-
ment the treasury is closed
All signs point to the early evacus-
iiun by Austria of the Balkans This
may he with view to a more concen-
trated defense Of her own territory
nut II Is more probably preliminary TO
austria throwing up the sponge and
making unconditional surrender Prince
Max of BadenS inclusion OF a discus
sion of a federation of Austria Hungary
IN his peace proffers is taken to ind-
cate unmistaksby TO what depths Of
despair International conditions have re-
duced the Government OF the Qua
Monarchy Baron Burian's reference to
changed conditions which would be Gre
ated by the constitution of a new Polish
state afforded significant commentary
( On the German Chancellor's treatment of
The Polish question in his speech, and
is regarded as an indication that in the
exchange OF views between Berlin and
Vienna previous to the request for an
armistice. Austria wanted to 90 much
further than the German Chancellor Of
fered Ia go IN his speech
Predictions that Turkey would he the
frst TO follow Bulgaria's example and
Austria second seem to be in process
Of verifcation