THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1912. THE BALKAN CRISIS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 10716, 9 October 1912, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1912. THE BALKAN CRISIS.

The progress of events in the Near East is being watched with absorbing interest. The mobilisation of the forces of the- various Balkan States, following the aggressive attitude of Turkey, has created a feeling of profound uneasiness throughout the world. Tho Great Powers are using their utmost endeavours to prevent the clashing of arms. But, although the outlook has been more reassuring during the last day or two, it is certain that the only condition upon which peace' will be maintained will bo a definite undertaking on the part . of Turkey to effect reforms. The special correspondent of the London Daily News, writing in August last, said: —"After visiting each of the Balkan States in turn, what aniswcrs can now be givon to the questions asked in the first of this series of letters? Is the Turk any longer possible in Europe? Has he learnt wisdom from adversity? Can ho rule as well as light? The answers are all j negative. In tho twentieth century the Turk is an anachronism in Europe. He is an Asiastic, not European, and as such a stubborn opponent of Western progress. His only means of rule is the sword, and the Turkish sword lias'lost its sharpness. After watching Turkish troops on the training ground, and accompanying thorn on the. march in Albania, I am convinced that they have made little, if any, progress in training since the war of 1877-7 S. With few exceptions Turkish officers are slowminded, lethargic, and incapable when judged by modern standards. Away' from their German instructors they don't seem to know how to move, or where to turn. They work spasmodically, nofc regularly, half-heartedly, not thoroughly. They are unequal to that daily sustained and disciplined effort, without which there can be no control above, and no obedience bolow. The the bulk of whom i

are Anatolian conscripts, are as stupid as thoy arc illiterate. Of physical courage, animated by tho fierce spirit of religious fanaticism, there is abundant show; but modern war ii no longer a contest of bra'-e strength and lias become one of the mosi highly-developed of nmdewi sciences There is no indication that tho Turk: understand this; or, if thoy do, the; could adapt their minds to meet tin altered conditions of present-da: lighting. If tho military administra tion of Turkey is inollioieut, stil more so is its Civil Government. have seen Turkish ofiiciuls at vvori from Cabinet Ministers down to dis trict Mudirs, and t can truly say tha statesmanship apart, for no one ex poets to find that official possessed o oven tho ordinary common-sense abi iuy which every member of an Eng lish Borough Council brings to be-a on the performance of his dutios. In stead'of doing work, tho Turkish of ficial is for ever talking about th work he is going to do, with the re suit that in tho end he does nothing All day long tho ante-room of th Minister of tho Interior at Constant inople, no matter who is in office, i crowded with people- waiting, accord ing to Ottoman custom, to .see him generally about some trifling persona matter of no public importance. Af tor interviewing as many as he caai and putting off others who cannot ge An innings, tho Minister thinks h has done a good day's work, when a: the while he has only been wastin; time. It is the same in the provin ces, Valis, Kaiinakans, and Mudir aro eloquent expounders of reform which aro to be, blit which novo come. When talking to them tho, seemed like blind men groping in th I dark, without wishing to see th light. Glued; to their office stool they rely for information, not o personal inspection, but on tho r£ ports of tieir subordinates, who ca say and write what they like, wit the knowledge, that, whother true o false, their reports will never bo v« rifted. Except under superior pres sure they will never lift a finger t redress a grievance or punish a crime Callous, by nature a,nd fatalistic b creed, neither good nor bad iwv affects their spirits or influences thoi ■ actions. Though a bad master, th Turk makes a* good servant, and un der superior direction he can andoes get through excellent work Left to himself, he does nothing."