The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1012. MAKING HISTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 148, 9 November 1912, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1012. MAKING HISTORY.

J History is being rapidly made in the j "cockpit of Europe." The war only started four weeks ago, yet since then the world has seen the power of the "Terrible Turk" irremedially broken, his prestige shattered, his land conquered. It has seen him gradually pressed back to his capital and Salonika, his next town in importance. His outposts at I Scutari and Adrianople, it is true, are still displaying the crescent flag, but their surrender can only be a question of a very short time. The Allies have met with no seriou.s check. The quality of their fighting has amazed the world as much as the incapacity of the Ottomans has done. The latter have sadly deteriorated during the last decade or two. There was a time when the Turk was considered among the world's very best fighters, deficient as lie was in other important essentials. His worth was established in his encounters in the terrific struggles with the Russians before the Crimean AVar and again at Plevna in 1877-8, when, under Osman Pasha, he repulsed time after time the Russians with great slaughter. Only through the genius of the great Russian engineer, .General Todlebon (whose magnificent defence of Sebastopol Britishers have cause to remember) were they ultimately vanquished. To-day we read of the officers refusing to go to the front and hiding themselves; of others abandoning strong positions without offering the slightest resistance; and of the general commanding shooting his officers for cowardice in the field! Is it any wonder that the rank and file are making such a poor show? The Turk has always been regarded as a fanatic who feared not death; and the neighboring Slavs as inferior clay. After the happenings of the past few weeks this judgment will have to be transposed. It is the Bulgarian, the Servian, the Montenegrin and the Greek who are exhibiting fanatical ardor and indifference tp death, and it is the Turk who is deficient in bravery and strength. The Allies have for centuries been more or less under the heel of the Turk, and the present is the opportunity to pay off old scores for •which they have as nations been awaiting for generations. The Porte is imploring the Powers to step in and save it from annihilation at the hands of their victorious foes, but very properly the Powers will not do so unless invited by the other belligerents. The latter I have disregarded the wishes of the Powers right from the commencement, and have made it quite clear that they will not tolerate any interference with the conditions of peace, The French

Premier, in hi 3 anixety to preserve peace, has suggested that previous to any further attempt at mediation the Powers should all formally repudiate any intention of securing territorial advantages for themselves in the Balkans. Austria and Germany have shown no disposition to fall in with the idea. The former country does not disguise the fact that she is both surprised and chagrined at the great success attending the efforts of her small neighbors in the present campaign and sees the opportunity of strengthening her Empire southwards, one of her most cherished dream 3, slipping rapidly away. The peace of the whole of Europe will be endangered the moment she endeavors to assert her claims. Austria can depend upon the backing of her Allies, Germany and Italy, neither of whom want to see established a strong Balkan Confederation. i On the other side, in such an event, will be found Russia and France, and possibly Britain. Britain backed the wrong horse in the past, otherwise the Turk would have been 'bundled out of Europe years ago. It is hoped she will not repeat the mistake. The situation, from whatever point it may "be regarded, is full of peril. Britain is hurrying warships to Constantinople, whose condition is daily becoming more desperate. Pillage, outrage and massacre are reported as already having been committed, and it looks as if the passing of the Turk from Europe is going to be marked by deeds equally as black and brutal as those inseparably associated with his misrule for over five centuries of the land which is at last beinjj liberated from his thraldom.