THE BALKAN WAR

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8353, 13 February 1913, Page 6

THE BALKAN WAR

The theatre of war on the Balkan Peninsula continues to be strewn with corpses. So far as can be estimated from the news available, the end of the fighting is not yet in sight, for the Turks, true to tradition, are putting up an exceedingly stubborn defence. Still, the indications are all in favour of the Allies. Adrianople may fall ere long, a happening not at all unlikely to end in a complete rout of the Ottoman defenders. It is quite reasonable, after the experiences of those weeks of fierce battle before Christmas, to suppose that any appreciable recovery on the part of the Turkish army is out of the question. The thunder of the allied guns will know no silence till the gates of Adrianople shall be opened to the armies of the Balkan League. After that, a march on to Constantinople is well within early possibilities, presuming that it is permitted by the Great Powers. In any event, Turkey will not be able to make nearly such favourable, or so little unfavourable, terms or peace as might have been concluded at the recent conference in London, while the demand by way of indemnity is bound to be enormously raised. A feature that must be giving profound satisfaction to onlookers is the maintenance of an attitude of apparent neutrality on the 'part of those Great Powers whose interference would bo fraught with such widespread and terrible consequences. So far as can be judged without peeping into the secrets of European Chancelleries—which, of course, is impossible—there is at least a tacit understanding between the Greater Powers to stand off. When eventually the time arrives for the making of conditions to end the war, matters may assume a different aspect. Neutrality does not imply indifference, it must always be remembered. But the very aggressive attitude of Austria that was so menacing a couple of ago certainly appeared to have subsided very considerably before the London conference broke up, there being evident a disposition to allow the successful Allies at least a substantial share of the fruits of their victories. The magnitude of a great European war, as well as the uncertainty of its issue, may, very fortunately, be counted as a deterrent. Moreover, the Balkan States will not be content to be bluffed out of the prizes of conquest when settling day arrives. In the meantime, however, they have to finish off the Turk.