ITALY AND TURKEY.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13095, 21 April 1908, Page 7

ITALY AND TURKEY.

STRAINED RELATIONS.

DISPUTE OVER POST OFFICES

ITALIAN SQUADRON DESPATCHED.

POWERS SUPPORT ITALY,

United Pros* A*sociation—By Electric Telegraph—Copyrieht. HOME, April 19. A semi-official not© states that owing to Turkey threatening to forcibly prevent the establishment of Italian post offices at Constantinople, Salonika, Smyrna, end Jerusalem, Italy is despatching three naval divisions to Turkish waters. (Received April 20th1>9.00 p.m.) ROME, April 20. Italy's claim ie based on the most favoured nation clauses in tho treaties with Turkey. The Porter replied that nost offices belonging to other Powers were tolerated, but not officially sanctioned, hence Italy was unable to invoke the clauses. Tho Porto officially informed the Italian Ambassador of tho Government's intention, if post offioce wore opened, to station guards outside and forcibly prevent tho public entering. This brought matters to a head. Jtaly has resolved to demand that other grievances be redressed, notably the vexatious obstructions placed in the May of Italians and Arab customers in Tripoli, Turkey's refusal to allow Italians to acquire property in Turkey, and the restrictions in the coasting trade. All the Powers, including Germany, recognise that Italy's action is correct and proper. The squadron was got ready in twelve hours. It goes to Asia Minor. It consists of eight first-class battleships, and one second-class, and three torpedo cruisers. The ships are manned by 329 officers and 6178 men, and carry 459 guns. LONDON, April 20. Tho Rome correspondent of "Tho Times" says that the Porto's contention is untenable. Turkey's attempt in 1901 to suppress foreign post offibee on the ground that the Turkish postal service was sufficient was foiled by the energetic action of the Powers. Foreign post offices tavie since then increased. ST. PETERSBURG, April 20. The St. Petersburg newspaper "Novoe Vremya" declares that Turkey's defiance of Italy is the immodiate consequence of Germany and Austria weakening in the Macedonian concert.

Turkey is no match for Italy et sea. Italy's battle fleet consists of six modern, and five loss mod«rn battlasbitpe, nine more or lees modern cruisers, twenty-eight destroyera, fifty torpedo boats, two submarines, and scouts and mining ships. The older vessels form the coast defence fleet. According to the latest returns, Turkey has nine coast-defence ironclads, five protected cruisers, forty-six destroyers and torpedo-Doatej. and a few other vessels. In discipline and general efficiency, the Italian is much superior. "" Many of the Turkish vessels lie rusting at their anchorages aU the year.