The Dominion. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1912. WAR COMPLICATIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1606, 25 November 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1912. WAR COMPLICATIONS.

The situation at the seat of war is again showing signs of complications. Not only is there some evidence to indicate that tho Turks, despite their tremendous losses, are not altogether without hope, but Austria, notwithstanding assurances given, still maintains _ a menacing attitude towards Servia calculated to ca'use uneasiness to a wider circle of interests than those of the Balkan States. When hostilities were first commenced by the combined States and Greece, the press of Europe was well-nigh unanimous in anticipating that tho Turks would emerge victors from a bitter and bloody struggle. That there would be desperate fighting, and that the Allies would meet with small initial successes, was generally admitted, but the consensus of opinion was unquestionably against the possibility of thelAllies' being successful when the armies met in strength. We now know how completely those views have been falsified; but some of the , grounds on which they were based still hold good, and even no\y cannot be entirely ignored. For instance, the conclusion of the war with Italy was regarded as a very important factor in the situation because it opened the way to the transport of Turkish troops by sea. So long jas hostilities with Italy continued, the _ Italian fleet prevented the Turks bringing to the centre of war troops which had been serving in Tripoli,' and also those in Asia, which might be called on in case of emergency. Italy, in fact, was blamed in Bome j quarters for replacing "an inglorious war with an inglorious peace." "Without firing a shot," commented The Tablet, when discussing this matter, "simply by letting her ships lie idly on the sea, it was in the power of Italy to paralyse a large part of the Ottoman Empire for all the purposes of the war, and in a military sense to,cut.the Sultan's dominions in two. Every crowded transport which sails from Smyrna will carry with it the safe, conduct which was signed [the peace treaty] at Ouchy," _ But perhaps a still more important factor in the situation which influenced opinion in England and elsewhere at the outset of the war was the enormous population which Turkey had to draw on for her troops as against the comparatively limited population of the Allies. From the outset the Allies threw practically the whole of their fighting strength into the field. They ha,ve nothing to fall back upon. They cannot replace the troops they lose, and in the event of the heavy losses which were regarded as inevitable in such a war, could not hope to maintain a prolonged campaign. In these circumstances it was felt that whatever their preliminary successes might be, they would in the end be worn down by the weight of numbers. While the complete and seemingly overwhelming nature of their victories up to the present, coupled with the demoralised state of the Turks, would seem to have falsified these views, the fact cannot be ignored that the later' news appears to indicate that the. Turks are even now not wholly despondent. Their position looks hopeless enough, judged by the records of the war, out the situation is not so simple, as it might seem. The Allies are not without their embarrassments. Apart from the foe they are now in grips with, Austria is standing hungrily by waiting her chance to profit by any false step. The situation for the rest of Europe is also complicated by the fact that Russia, whose sympathies are supposed to be with the Allies and against Austrian, aspirations, is also suspected of being ready to act. Mr. Asquith, according to a cable message this morning, still speaks reassuringly of the harmony prevailing amongst the Great Powers, and hints at united action at the proper time; but lie outlook nevertheless is far from being a pleasant one. Tlie Tablet, commenting on October 19 last on the ■attitude of the Powers, pointed out that all had committed themselves to the statement that whatever the fortunes of the present war, the territorial integrity of Turkey would be preservod.. But, it added, if they were really united and prepared to uso force, why could they not have acted long ago. As a matter of fact, both sides in tho war ignored tho threats of the Powers because both sides agree in believing that the Powers are too divided l)y their ambitions to bo capable of united action. "Whether they win or lose," remarked one London journal, "the Balkan States may be assured that the status yuo can never bo restored. If they win, the task of coercing them will not seem any more, inviting than it is _ afc present. And if they lose, Russia will be forced into the field to protect them." It iB altogether a complicated situation, and while Mr. Asquith's assurances arc pleasant enough in their way, and must carry weight, they arc not, in face of the facts, altogether convincing.