The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1912. THE POSITION IN TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 143, 4 November 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1912. THE POSITION IN TURKEY.

A few days ago the London Times remarked that the Turkish Commander-in-Chief/ Nazim Pasha, must soon fight or witness the passing of the Ottoman Empire from Europe. Nazim has fought and been hopelessly routed in a battle which must figure as one of the most sanguinary and momentous conflicts in the history of Europe. The Bulgarians, flushed with their previous successes at Mustapha Pasha, Kirk Kilissia and Adrianople, continued their southern advance, leaving a portion of their army to keep the garrison at Adrianople in check, but in the vicinity of Luleburgas they encountered Nazim's main army, troops that had been referred to as the flower of the Turkish forces, strongly entrenched and holding the keys of a front that is estimated to have extended about thirty-one miles. The armies were evenly matched numerically, being each over 200,000 strong, and the fighting that ensued was of a terrific description, the Bulgarians, cherishing memories of past oppression and suffering, and the recent massacres of their kinsmen by the hated Turks, hurling themselves at the enemy, not waiting even (so this morning's cables say) to fire, and displaying an utter contempt for death. The Turks, great fighters that they have been, and no doubt still are, met the attack with equal bravery, but the forceful tactics of the Bulgarians, aided by their superior artillery, enabled them to turn the flanks of the Turks, who in the "rolling up" process seem to have been thoroughly demoralised and panic-stricken. Thereafter the battle, which lasted four days, degenerated into a shambles. The blow was decisive and overwhelming, and, so far as organised resistance goes, the campaign in this part of Turkey must be practically over. The remnants of the Turkish Grand Army may make another stand nearer the capital, but, demoralised as they are, ill-fed, ill-clad and illarmed to boot, they have not the slightest hope of success against their determined, impetuous, well-trained, wellarmed and ably-led' foes. The Servians are pressing the other Turkish army under Zeki Pasha in the west, defeating them in a pitched battle at Kumanovo, and forcing them to surrender the important strategical point of Uskub, as well as other towns. There is little news regarding Zeki's movements of late, but it looks as if he is retiring with the main body of his troops to Monastir, about fifty miles south of Uskub, lying in the mountains and connected by railway with Salonika, which is also being hard pressed by the Greeks. The fighting of the latter has been one of the surprises of the war. In every encounter in the present campaign they have proved victorious, so different from their experience when they crossed swords with their hereditary foes a few years ago, when the Moslem Army simply "walked through" the Greeks. The Montenegrin mountaineers in the extreme

west are busy investing Scutari and Tara'bosch, Turkish strongholds. That the position of the garrisons is becoming desperate is shown by the demand of the Turkish commander for more troops, which, of course, cannot be supplied. The Turk is being severely worsted at every point, and, with the advance and progress of the Allies maintained, as they no doubt will be, the end cannot be far off. The situation is full of peril so far as the rest of Europe is concerned. If the Allies were left to themselves the Turk would probably be shunted from Europe, and his land partitioned among the Balkan States, or a confederation of the Slavonic States formed. But both Austria and Russia have for years been casting envious eyes on the "Sick Man's" territory, Austria to seize the province or "sanjak" of Novibazar, between Servia and Montenegro, with access to Salonika; and Russia, of course, to obtain what she has fought several wars for, namely, an ice-free port. Should Austria make a move, there will be trouble without a doubt. Russia has not forgotten her action in 1908 in annexing Bosnia and Hertzegovina, and the lesson then taught her. Russia, winged as she was as a result of the war with Japan, was< not in a position then to make a forcible stand against the action of her neighbor, backed up as the latter was by Germany, -ftut in the last four years Russia has made up leeway, and is said to be in a position to take the field, against Austria or Germany tomorrow. Should Austria be so unwise as to meddle in the Balkans, Russia would be found on the side of the Slavs. Then Germany would be obliged to go to the aid of her ally. The fat would immediately be in the fire. France would be called upon to help Russia; Italy would be embroiled, and Britain would be forced into taking sfdes with her allies, France and Russia. The danger is a real one. It will be avoided if the statesmen of Europe do their duty. The slaughter and misery of the past week or two would not have occurred, and the present perilous position would not have arisen, had the Powers dope their duty in the past by the Balkan people, by forcing Turkey to carry out reforms in Macedonia, which she undertook to do years ago. The Balkan States have nothing to thank the Powers for, but everything to blame them for, but it is to be hoped the Powers will not crown their past criminal neglect by unduly interfering with the course of events in Turkey. The best thing that could happen for the whole world would be to evirt the Turk from Europe; and this is likely to happen if the Powers will only leavr J ihe brave Allies alone and not rob tliem of the fruits of their hard earned victories. That the position is regarded as very serious in Britain is s!i(V.v;i by the concern of the Cabinet and King 'ioorge, tha activity at Portsmouth and the mobilising of a portion of the Xavy—the latter a most significant proceeding.