ONLY A SPARK NEEDED.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1561, 3 October 1912, Page 7

ONLY A SPARK NEEDED.

BALKAN POWDER MAGAZINE.

TURKEY DETAINS GREEK STEAMERS FOR TRANSPORTS.

. FIVE ARMIES MOBILISED.

By IWecrapa— Press Association-Copyrteht

(Heo. October 1, 11.25 p.m.) London, October 2. The "Daily Mail's" Constantinople correspondent state 3 that unless, the Powers apply overwhelming pressure to the Balkan States, the slightest incident may cause an explosion. The Porte has rejected the Servian demand for the delivery of tho detained ammunition, and has also decided to detain Greek vessels, and utilise them as transports. After an all-day meeting of the Turkish Cabinet an liade-was issued ordering a general mobilisation of the Turkish army. Eeuter's correspondent states that tho Turkish Government is circularising tho Powers, repudiating responsibility for tho provocative attitude of the Balkan States. The British Minister in Constantinople has held a lengthy conference with the Turkish Foreign Minister. Interest centres in Rumania's attitude, as it is noted thattheßumanian Minister has had a two hours' conference with the Turkish Foreign Minister. The Continental Bourses are in a state of panic. TROOPS ON THE FRONTIER. SERVIAN ARMY AT FULL STRENGTH, TURKISH MUNITIONS DETAINED. . (Rec. October 3, 0.50 a.m.) Belgrade, October 2. The Government has stopped ammunition en route from Germany to Turkey. Ninety-eight per cent, of the officers and men joined the colours within 24 hours afteT the mobilisation order. A', crowd of students sang the Servian National Hymn right before the Royal Palace. Military trains have been leaving for Nish and garrison towns on tho Turkish frontier throughout the night. Many businesses are suspending operations. The withdrawal of reservists necessitates the stopping of the trams. Owners of motor-cars have been notified that they must surrender their cars to tho War Office.

BULGARIAN RESERVES FLOCKING i ..•.!;•.!■> -,••;,' :hr" IN."' , "" APPEAL TO THE POWERS. (Keo. October i>, 11.25 p.m.): Sofia, October 2. The Government has ordered the suspension of goods traffic, and is commandeering trucks. Army reserves are flocking in from all quarters to join their companies. The mobilisation has caused many banks to olose, and several newspapers have stopped publication. The semi-official organ, "Mir," says the Powers by effective intervention can secure the integrity of Turkey nnd create a real autonomy; otherwise the consequence may be serious to the general peace of Europe.GREEK ARMY STRENGTH. TRANSPORTS HELD IN READINESS. (Rec. October 3, 0.50 a.m.) j Athens, October 2. Advices from New York state that eight hundred Greeks have sailed to join the colours. The Cabinet lias decided on a moratorium (suspension of payments). The army is expected to total 130,000 men. The Government has commandered railway rolling-stock, and is concentrating steamers at the Piraeus for the movement of troops.' CRETE TAKES A HAND. DETERMINED TO AID GREECE. (Rco. October 3, 0.50 a.m.) Canea, October 2. The Government of Crete has informed the Consuls of its intention to join"; Greece against Turkey. The Cabinet lias called out five more classes of the militia, and bodies of insurrectionary volunteers are also forming. . MONTENEGRO MOBILISING. KING NICOLAS'S ORDER. Cetinje, October 1. King Nicolas of Montenegro has ordered a general mobilisation of the- army. The Government lias prohibited the exportation of horses, rattle and fodder.

THE POWERS. IN COMPLETE ACCORD. . ANGLO-RUSSIAN RELATIONS. (Kec. October 3, 0.25 a.m.) London, October 2. Heater's Agency states that the conversations nt Balmoral between the King and Sir Edward Grey and M. Sazannff (Russian Foreign Minister) have consolidated Anglo-Russian relations as regards the Balkans. Both will continue to act in concert with the other Powers, and all are anxious not lo mako the Porto's ln.sk moro difficult by pressure. M. Snzanoff will visit Paris and Berlin before returning to St. Petersburg, but on no special mission. M. Sazanoff has made the most urgent representations to Sofia and Belgrade.

GERMAN WARNING TO RUSSIA. (Rec. October 3, 0.50 a.m.) Berlin, October 2. The "Lokal Aimeger" considers the chief danger of the situation lies in PanSlav machinations outside ' the Balkan peninsula. It concludes an article on the outlook with a thinly-veiled admonition to Russia not. to join (ho Slav Stales in (be Bnlkniu nt the rijk gf au Inevitable EuroDeau wK,

BALKAN ARMIE9. STRENGTH OF THE RIVAL FORCES. TURKEY AND HER ENEMIES. Greece, Turkey, and all the Balkan states have long adopted universal compulsory military service, and the period of continuous service in the active army vanes from two to four years. Tho strength of tho different armies is as follows:— TURKEY. War Strength. Permanent and Territorial Armies 800,000 Army and Reserves 500,000 Territorial Reserves 100,000 1,400,000 The approximate peace strength of the Turkish Army during recent years has been about 375,000. Of these about 20,000 are in Yemen (Arabia), 10,000 in Hcdjaa (Arabia), and 10,000 in Tripoli. The above figures are, taken from tho 'Statesman's Year Book" and the "Almanach do Gotha." "Hazoll's Annual" pnf.s the total war strength of the Turkish Army at "well over 1,000,000," but adds that somewhere bchyeen one-quarter and one-half must be eliminated as of little fighting value. TURKEY'S FOBS. Peace War Srrcnjth. Strength. Bulgaria 57,600 380,000 Greece 31,000 192,000 Rervia 35,G0t) 175,000 Montenegro — 40,000 123,600 787,000 Rumania, tho remaining Balkan State, although she has so far not taken an active part in the recent Balkan turmoil, must alfo be taken into account. The peace strength of her army is about 100,000 men, and the war strength about 300,000. THE POWERS. The three Powers most immediately interested in the Balkans are Austria, Italy, and Russia. A cable message a few days ago stated that the Italian reservists of different clnsses were being called to tho colours, ..Austria, which seized Bosnia-Herzegovina, in Hie crisis of 1908,. is also alert, and Russia has been mobilising seven Army corps. This latter movo is stated to be merely a test arranged months ago, and may or may not be due to the present situation. A Russian Army corps on a war footing is about 22,000 men, and the period of mobilisation is seventeen days. Tho strengths of tho armies of these Powers are as follow.—

Peace War Strength. Strength. Austria-Hungary 390,000. . 895.000,-.. Italy 201,000 : 750,000 Russia ,i 1,381,000 1,500,000* •This is the .Russian European Army, nnd excludes extensiro forces in the Caucasus, Turkestan, nnd Eastern Siberia.. The figures given above are taken from tho latest Year Books, but they.arc only approximations at the'best, and there are considerable divergences to be found lwtwosn the figures in one Year Book and another. The "Almanach de Gotha," for Instance, gives Italy's "effective- strength in time of war" at 3,400,284 men, a figure which includes, in addition to all the reserves, some 2,000,000 odd unorganised 11)011. Macedonia's future. what the balkan states 'desire. ; Writing of the Macedonian situation recently, Mr. H. C. Woods said in tho "Fortnightly Review":— With regard to the future of Macedonia, tho people of each of the neighbouring States possess some different ideal, which is more or less supported by their brothers within the Ottoman Empire. Whilst Servia in her heart of hearts favours a division of tho. country between lierself, Bulgaria, and Greece, she- appears unable to come to any arrangement with Bulgaria as to tho future of oertain districts which are in dispute between the Governments of Belgrade and of Sofia. Greece also advocates n division of the country, but on such a .basis thnt tho Bulgarians and Albanians would never consent to it, Whilst BulWirio herself and a certain section of tho Macedonian Bulgars desire an autonomy for Macedonia which might further the eventual -union of that unhappy province with Bulgaria, a number of the Macedonian Bulgors advocate a policy which would secure Macedonia for the Macedonians. Tho future appears to me entirely to depend upon the attitude of the Turks towards the Christian population. If the authorities endeavour, by more or less liberal and fair government, to reirain the sympathy of tho population and to carry out, at lenst; to .some extent, tho nrojnises made to the people in 1908. thpii Macedonia may still remain an integral nart of the Ottoman Empire. A limited .form of «mfrnlt*ed govenijwnt for Macedonia, as a whol", or nn increase in the rowers of tho Governors-General of the European .Vilayets of Turkey, may yet <"\ve tli«. situation. If. however, the Yonns Turks continue tn turn n deaf our to the Teneated good advice of the disinterested Gr.?at Powers, nnd insist on pursitini tl">ir nre«<>nt r.'-'icy of endeavonrins to "Tnrkify" nIWV elements of tl>e population. th»n the future will largely dapend unon tho agreement or noii-fls;ro°-menr errivpd pi- Mnveen rorlnin nf lho who have a distinct interest in Maceilorih.