USELESS PROTESTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16328, 26 August 1913, Page 6

USELESS PROTESTS.

Tire situation in the Balkans is developing in the expected way. Tho Turks arc entirely unmoved by the demand of the Powers that they should respect tho Treaty of London and have re-occupied the. whole of Thrace. They havo even crossed tho Maritza, which they named themselves as tho new boundary, and have appeared at Kirdchali, on the Bulgarian frontier, fifty miles west of Adrianople, while their fleet is reported to bo threatening a bombardment if the Bulgarians occupy Dedeagatch. The Bulgarians, unable to fight again at the present time, can do no moro than protest and it is obvious that mere words aro not going to prevent the Turks recovering every inch of territory they can reach. Already Bulgaria's share of Macedonia has dwindled down to a narrow strip of country with less than a hundred miles of sea frontage. The Russian Ambassador in Italy has stated that his country is resolved in. "a pacifio yet vigorous policy to enforce respect for tho Treaty of London," but these words may mean' little or nothing. The plan for a financial boycott of Turkey is said' to be collapsing already and it is fairly certain now that no Power is prepared to use tho force which alone would compel the Turks to abandon the territory they have regained by what is to them an extraordinarily lucky turn of fortune's wheel. Wo may fairly safely, assume that Thrace and perhaps a small part of Macedonia • are going to remain under Turkish rule while tho Bulgarian people repair the terrible havoo of the war and prepare for tho inevitable resumption of tho struggle that will not end until tho Turks have been ejected "bag and baggago" from Europe.