The Hastings Standard Published Daily FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1897. THE EASTERN TROUBLE.

Hastings Standard, Issue 304, 23 April 1897, Page 2

The Hastings Standard Published Daily

FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1897. THE EASTERN TROUBLE.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

•The course of hostilities between Greece and Turkey so far appears to be without material benefit to either side. The honors are divided. If the Turks have worsted the Greeks at the Maluna Pass, they have in turn suffered defeat at the Raveni Pass. The warfare on the Thesselolian frontier must, however, ultimately terminated in favor of the Turks. Edhem Pasha has powerful forces to launch against the Greeks, and although the latter are fighting with rare gallantry and enthusiasm the turgid Turk is the better soldier. He proved his soldierly qualities at the battle of Plevna in the Russo-Turkish war of 1878, when General Skobeloff, in command of the Russian forces, found the task of capturing the stronghold a costly one so far as the death roll of his men was concerned. The fighting at Maluna Pass and at the Bogaze River has been heavy, and the hilltops of the frontier has been sown with the graves of many brave men. The Greeks are more powerful than their enemies at sea, and the best use is being made -of the Greek vessels in creating a diversion in the Gulf of Arta. Prevessa is an important town on the Gulf in Turkish Epirus, and the place has been reduced to ashes under the heavy bombardment of the Greek war vessels. All the forts but one in the Gulf of Arta have been silenced, and presently the Greeks will be able to carry the war into Turkish territory. If the fighting can be kept out of the Balkan States, more particularly Macedonia, then there is a possibility of the peace of Europe being maintained. But this danger seems unavoidable, and it would be to the immediate advantage of Greece to cause an insurrection in Macedonia. The Macedonians are subjects of the Turk, and have long been desirous of securing the same privileges of local government enjoined by Bulgaria and Roumania. Once let Macedonia break out in rebellion, then Bulgaria, Servia, Roumania, and Albania, with Montenegro also, will be drawn into the circle of the storm. When this happens then Austria on the one hand and Russia, on the other must intervene. An understanding may be arrived at when the aged Emperor of Austria pays his respects to the young Czar of Russia, as he will do in the course of a few days. It is evident from the trend of events that Russia, Germany and Austria will be allied against Great Britain, France and Italy, with the United States leaning towards the British combination. Under these conditions Britain and her allies could dictate terms to the others and enforce them at the point of the bayonet. Of the belligerents now murdering on the heights of the Maluna Pass, the finale must see the Turks conquerors. The Turkish force is more numerous, and Turkish finance, never very healthy, is in a better condition to stand the strain than Greece. This is clearly indicated in the movements of securities. Turkish bonds have declined 10s per cent., while Greek bonds have dropped 60s per cent. The stock exchange estimate of the chances of the combatants is thus six to one against Greece. The fall in British consols of + per cent, is of no moment. In any case a fall would have occurred on the mere fact of war having been declared. If Great Britain is drawn into the strife there will be a heavy drop on British consols, but so far there is nothing to indicate that the British Government is entangled. The heavy fall of American stocks is inexplicable, unless there is some probability of American entanglements in the present crisis. The Secretary for War in the M'Kinley Cabinet is an avowed jingo, besides M'Kinley intends to pursue a vigorous foreign policy. These two factors may have caused the fall in American securities. The daily cables disclose a very interesting and a very critical state of affairs.