Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1897 — WEEK OF CRUEL WAR. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WEEK OF CRUEL WAR.

END OF THE TROUBLE BELIEVED TO BE IN SIGHT. • ■ Britain Takes the Initiative in Intervention by the Power*-Aaks Their Co-operation Favorable Answers Given by Germany, France and Italy, Helleaic Spirits Drooping. It is a week since the outbreak of war between Greece and Turkey was announced. And it was precisely a week after the campaign was formally opened before anything decisive was accomplished on either side. The victory of the Turks at Mati and the subsequent evacuation of Tyrnavos and Larissa by the Greeks is probably the beginning of the end. The evacuation of Larissa leaves an open road for the Turkish invasion for nearly half the distance to Athens. This does not mean that the march to Athens will lie an easy affair or speedily accomplished. The Greeks fight desperately in retreat, and when they have lost one fight they are ready to tight again. Under these circumstances—with the reserves reaching the front and the whole population aroused and armed — even the Turkish victory at l.arissa will simply mean more hard fighting along the new line of defense which Prince Constantine's forces have taken up. An Athens correspondent believes that the situation is not yet desperate for Greece. A brave people thut will fight as they have fought during the past week are unconquerable in a mountainous country like the Greek peninsula, except as the result of a long campaign with overwhelming forces. If Ed item Pasha's army follows the retreating Greeks to the

Pharsalia line of defense they will be still farther from their base of supplies and In a country whose every inhabitant Is a deadly enemy. But what is more likely to happen now than anything else is the intervention of the great powers. No doubt these powers have more respect for the Greeks than they had a week ago, nnd it has not been a part of their plan from the beginning to allow either Turkey or Greece to' win a decisive victory. It is difficult from the tangle of conflicting telegrams to understand the exact position of affairs. Following the Greek defent at I/arissn, London opinion is almost unanimous that the end is in sight, and this view is probably shared by the powers, as they are already moving to intervene. It is believed that intervention will first take the form of a suggestion of armistice, to which the combatants would no doubt agree. It is Btated that the British foreign office has sent an identical letter to each of the powers asking for their cooperation, and that Germany, France and Italy have already returned favorable answers. As a condition, however, Germany insists that Greece must promise obedience in the future to any mandate from the powers. News from the front is of a character unfavorable to the Greeks, and as a result a gloomy feeling is prevalent at Athens. The reverses of the last few days, say dispatches from the Hellenic capital, have caused a growing feeling favorable to the cessation of hostilities. When the news of the fall of Larissa and the retreat of the Greeks was received in Athens a council of the ministry was hastily called, and as a result it is asserted a demand was made upon King George to make an immediate change in the command of the troops. The order to retreat, issued by Prince Constantine, is held to have been inexcusable, and his purely defensive tactics are blamed for the loss of Damasi. There is a revulsion in popular feeling toward the royal family, and sensational news may soon come from Athens. From Constantinople comes the news of concession to Bulgaria, which may quiet the malcontents there. The Sultan is reported to have promised that country three more berats when the war is over. Edhem Pasha has been partly consoled for being superseded by Osman. The Sultan has softened the blow by conferring upon ljim high decorations. The commanders of the six divisions of the Turkish army now at the front have received similar honors.

GHAZI OSMAN PASHA.