THE "UNSPEAKABLE TURK."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 151, 5 October 1910, Page 4

THE "UNSPEAKABLE TURK."

There lias for generations been a cloud in the East, and the "unspeakable Turk" has supplied' the darker tints. The old Turkish regime seemed to pass away and the air grew clearer, for it was believed that the "Young Turkish Party," with more modern ideals and cleaner methods, might wish for the progress of peace. It is seen by persual of the cables relating to distunbances by Turks that the optimism regarding the situation was illtimed. The Turks ihave already provoked the Greeks, 'hoping for help from outside in any possible war. The steady boycott of Greek goods, the threatened entry of Turkish troops over the border, and the possibility that Turkey will begin hostilities without notice are disturbing factors. Tihe Young Turks are causing immense dissatisfaction in, Macedonia, and the Bulgarian Government is in a constant state of protest at the injustices to fellow-countrymen in that country. The fact that the Turks are endeavoring to these people—and by their own gentle methodsis the reason for the protests and may be the cause of much bloodshed. The Saturday Review, in dealing with the question lately, says:—"ln the Asiatic provinces of Turkey there is no stability at present. The Turkish Ministry consists of nonentities, some of thorn amkblt and all ineffectual; one of them was recently a telegraph clerk earning £5 a •week. The committee which controls affairs 'has on it a certain number of oflScers (the order of the Commander-in-Chief that they should take no part m politics (has been treated with contempt), and the army is, of course, the supreme authority. But affairs are greatly controlled by-the Jewish element on the. committee, Nothing, therefore, would be less surprising that a revolt of the Anatolian army and all the devout Mohammedans against the Jews and 'Atheists' who are credited with directing Affairs. | The committee are well *wara° of this," and it gneatly enhances tie danger of war undertaken to distract attention from home affairs. Mohammedan feeling might easily be diverted against the Bulgarian or the Greek; but in the case of a war .with Bulgaria Turkey might easily be worsted." The latest cable shows that the Younsr T>;r);e (Joiner al' ;n lliti: jjcwsr It » icuLli £

monstration against Greece, and that the Greeks on their part are doing their best to give them no occasion for fighting. The Turks will possibly not be robbed of a chance to indulge in their favorite pastime of rapine and pillage, particularly as they are probably convinced of the helplessness of their intended victims.