The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1909. THE TURKISH REVOLUTION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14978, 26 April 1909, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. MONDAY, APRIL 26, 1909. THE TURKISH REVOLUTION.

The mainstay of tlie Turkish Committee of Union and Progress in tlio July revolutiou was the Third Army Corps, stationod in the Salonika district, and if this army had made common cause with tho First Army Corps at the capital the constitutional movement would have suffered a disastrous check during the past fortnight. But tho provincial armies seem to have remained loyal to tho progressive cause, and the constitution is apparently safe. Tho triumph of the Young Turks may not yet be complete, but their organisation is standing the tremendous test. When tho First Army Corps, which is practically the garrison of Constantinople was perverted by tho reactionaries for that is the only construction to be placed upon its action—the revolution had apparently been accomplished without bloodshed. Somo of the leaders of tho July revolution, like Enver Bey and Hakki Boy, were in Vienna. Ahmed Riza, perhaps tho most enlightened of them all, was President of the Chamber of Deputies, and many of tho other members of tho Committee of Union and Progress were occupying parliamentary posts. The

time for tho coup d’etat was not ill chosen. Tho newness of the constitutional situation was wearing off, and tho deputies were beginning to separate into groups. Tho Greeks were complaining that they were under-rc-presonted in proportion to their numbers, and the various nationalities were: airing their grievances. Moreover, tliero was already a marked disagreement between tho Committee of Union and Progress, which was still controlling tho Government of tho Empire, and ia strong group of forty or fifty deputies who had formed a Liberal Union.” As the Liberal Union supported Prince Sabah Eddin’s decentralisation scheme, it had the sympathy of tho Albanians and the non-Turkish nationalities generally, and there is little doubt that tho plot against tho Committee of Union and Progress arose out of this particular . controversy concerning the administration of the provinces. Sabah Eddin has not figured in recent events, and thoro is no reason to suppose that ho was concerned in tho plot. But tliero is a strong suggestion in the cablo messages that tho Liberal Union sided with tho mutinous First Army Corps, and ill the attempted reconstitution of the Government tho leaders of this group were appointed to important offices. Tho sudden action of tho First Army Corps undoubtedly took the Young Turks by surprise. Tho new revolutionists had command of Constantinople, and tho members of Parliament, who are, in tho main, loyal to the July programme, left tho city and met in San Stefano. Meanwhile the leaders of the Committee of Union and Progress hastened to Salonika, where they received tho assurance of Shovket Pasha, commander of the Third Army 'Corps, that the provincial troops remained loyal to tho cause. Immediate action was necessary, and the astonishing feature of tho situation lias been the evident preparedness and efficiency of the Salonika troops. Clearly the Young Turns were prepared to fight, if necessary,' in July. Within a fow days after tho mutiny of the Constantinople garrison, Shevket Pasha was ready to advance on Constantinople, and to-day tho Third Army Corps controls tho situation. Tho Committee of Unioii and Progress has cnco more behaved with moderation and good sense. There was no unnecessary fighting in Constantinople, and the portions of the city where no troops were camped were patrolled for tho maintenance of order. Tho crisis, however, is by no means at an end. The Young Turks may prefer to have the final settlement now and may elect to precipitate a conflict by demanding the abdication of the Sultan. It is difficult to believe that thore can ho any assurance of peaceful progress wliilo any of tho “old gang” remain in high positions, and tho Committee of Union and Progress may at length make tho “ clean sweep” which some of its Lionels, including most of the British newspaper correspondents, have persistently recommended.