PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3061, 13 November 1912, Page 84

PATER’S CHATS WITH THE BOYS.

“THE POWDER MAGAZINE OF EUROPE.” This is the name sometimes given to the Balkan States, about which much can be written, and yet very little known. I’ll try, however, to make one or two points clear. Turkey is the sick man whom Mr Gladstone wanted to turn, bag and baggage, out of Europe. As Turkish rule is an anachronism in the twentieth century, why is it allowed? That isn’t a question easily answered either, but here are one or t\so points which may give some information. Russia wants to get to warm waters, and, as 1 have pointed out in recent Chats, the “Colossus of the North” has three objectives—(a) The Pacific Ocean, an objective blocked by Japan in the meantime ; (b) the Persian Gulf, via Persia, which is in process of absorption ; and (c) Constantinople and the Aegean Sea, the last concerning us now. But, apart from the desire to reach the southern open seas, Russia wants Constantinople or Byzantium because, though the political capital of the Mohammedan world, it is looked upon as the capital of the Christianity represented by the Greek Church, the established form of Christianity recognised in Russia. For this reason Russia is always favourable to anything weakening Turkish power in Europe. Then Austria has Salonika for her objective, and is alwavs willing to take any advantage that will cause it to fall into her hands, the objective also including the possession, if possible, of the eastern coasa of the Adriatic Sea. Here, however, Italy comes in, for she want to make the Adriatic an Italian sea, and is said to be coveting Albania, «rhich will give her complete control of tile Strait of Otranto. Italy lias just been profiting in Africa at Turkey’s expense, but the cost of tile war, the indemnity to lie paid, and the chronic Arab unrest will make her acquisition profitless. Finally we have Germany wishing to get more or less of Asia Minor. No wonder that the Balkans are the storm centre of Europe. But another factor comes in, and to consider this we must go back to. sav, 1878. In 1876 occurred the Bulgarian atrocities, when Bulgarian Christians were treated'in a horrible and nameless manner by the Turks. Russia, glad of an opportunity to wage war upon the Turk, did so as a champion of Christianity. The result was disastrous to L’urkev. At San Stcphano, within sight of Constantinople, Russia forced Turkey to agree to a treaty, but Disraeli, who’was Gladstone’s political opponent and who had been created Earl of Beacon®!’- Id. insisted that no treaty would be valid that, was not previously agreed to by a K mopea” congress. The outcome waa’a ma-hng of the Powers in Berlin. The fo!!<-'.v : ::g. taken from Gardner’s .Students* History or England, gives a brief

outline of the treaty signed here ; —By the Treaty of Berlin, which was signed in the year 1878, Rouniania and Servia became independent kingdoms, with some additions to their territory; Montenegro was also enlarged, and Bulgaria erected into a principality paying tribute to the Sultan; whilst a district to which the name of Eastern Roumelia was given was to be ruled by a Christian Governor nominated by the Sultan, who was to have the right of garrisoning fortresses in the Balkan Mountains. Russia acquired the E'ece of land near the mouth of the anube, which she had lost after the Crimean war, and also another piece of land round Kars, which she had just conquered. The Sultan was recommended to cede Thessaly and part of Epirus to Greece. The protectorate over Bosnia and Herzegovina were given to Austria, and, by a separate convention, Cyprus was given to England on condition of paying tribute to the Sultan and protecting Asia Minor, which the Sultan promised to govern on an improved system.” The Sultan, however, never garrisoned the Balkans, and refused to abandon any part of Epirus; Eastern Roumelia added itself to Bulgaria; and in 1879 Egypt passed under the control of France and Great Britain.

Perhaps here a last of dates will help to show clearly how Turkey has been dismembered during the past hundred years. The ruling sovereign or prince at present is named. 1. Bessarabia, ceded to Russia in 1812.

2. Greece, 1829, to which additions were made in 1883 and 1881. King George, brother of our Queen Dowager Alexandra, and uncle of George V. His Christian name is William, but to suit the susceptibilities of the Greeks was changed when he accepted the throne in 1863. 3. Roumania, 1861. King Charles I; ascended the throne as Prince in 1.866; proclaimed King 1881. 4. Bulgaria, 1871. Ferdinand I, proclaimed Czar of the Bulgarians in 1908, when Bulgaria proclaimed herself an indenendent kingdom. 5. Eastern Roumeba, 1878, to which was added Bulgaria in 1885. 6. Bosnia and Herzegovina. 1878, but incorporated with the Austria-Hungary Empire. 1908. 7. Servia, 1877, and added to in 1878. King Peter Karageorgcvitch succeeded.the murdered Alexander I in 1903.

8. Montenegro, 1878. Nicholas I succeeded his assassinated uncle, Prince Danilo, 1860, assumed title of King, 1910. Asia I am not concerning myself with at present.

One result agreeable to Russia and Austria has been accomplished; but another difficulty has arisen. These kingdoms or kingdomlets refuse to be absorbed by Russia or Austria, and, being freed from Turkey, are working to bring about a federation which will block further progress of these Powers, and at the same time they are working to increase their territories and position by the further disintegration of European Turkey. And here is where one of the dangers lie, for Austria has already said that she. locks with disfavour upon any attempt to obtain possession of any part of the coastline on the eastern shore of the Adriatic Montenegro even is almost cut off bv Austria and Albania —or upon any acouisition blocking her onward march to Salonika. THE CABLED NAMES. Have you been able to trace them satisfactorily? I haven’t done so to my satisfaction, but as my atlas—“ The Worldwide Atlas,” published at 7s 6d, but not the latest issue—contains more names than appear in most school atlases, and as many homes haven’t any atlas -worth more than a shilling, I’ll indicate where some of the places are. Take first the larger area. Epirus lies along the coast east of the lonian Islands ; it extends through about two degrees of latitude. Lying behind Epirus, but extending north to Montenegro, and having a coastline north of Epirus, is Albania. Roughly speaking, lying south of the 42nd parallel, bounded on the south by the coastline, and, roughly, halving the distance between Albania and the Bosphorus, are Macedonia and Thrace ; and these two provinces in a general way correspond with Ronmelia. or, as it is now spelt, Rumelia. .Sandwiched in between Montenegro and Servia is the Novi Bazar district, and running south-east from it, and coterminous with Servia and South-west Bulgaria, is a rough oblong about 120 miles long, called Kossovo. In Kbssovo lie Mitrovitza, where the Servians captured 3.000.000 cartridges 500 rifles, and quantities’ of stores (lat. nearly 43 Jong, nearly 21) ; Kumanovo (lat. a little over 42. long, nearly 22) ; and Uskub (lat. 42, long. Prizren or Prizrend is a little over lat. 42, and nearly long. 21. Novi Bazar, Kossovo, Kumanovo, Uskub, Prizren, Veles, and Sibra the Federation propose to annex. Veles and Sibra I cannot locate. Scutari is being besieged, and a Servian army is marching on Du-azzo, on the Adriatic, lat. 41 l-3rd. Don’t mix up Scutari, south of Montenegro, with Scutari, the Asiatic suburb of Constantinople. Prevesa, a port on the southern extremity of Epirus, has l>eeii occupied by Greeks, a naval force helping. Monastir (or Pitalia). lat. 41, long. 21 .j, is a fighting centre, and as I write the allies are making for Fiorina, about 20 miles to the south. There is a railway connecting Salonika and Monastir, and as the crow flies, about a third of the distance from Salonika, is Yenidje, where the Crown Prince of Greece, after two days’ severe fighting, routed 25.000 Turks and captured 14 guns. East of Salonika, on the op]K>site coast, is Stavros, where Greek detachments have been landed. At Bnk (lat. long. ?Ai), on the rail from Constantinople to Salonika. the Bulgarians severed communication between Adrianople and Macedonia. I should have said that in the Vardar River Valley, evidently somewhere about Uskub, the Servians and Montenegrins have junctioned. Kirk Kilisse is about 25 miles a little to the north-east of Adrianople ; and about 35 miles south-east

of the same city is Lille Burgas. Around these two cities fierce fighting, graphically described in the. cables, has taken place, the result being the almost complete investment of Adrianople and its isolation from Constantinople. It is quite evident that, somewhere in the vicinity of Adrianople, are Chatalaja, Chorlu, and Midia, but I cannot place them. Rod os to (lat. 41, long. 27j), on the Sea of Marmora, is where the British Government has sent ships to bring away refugees. Besika Bay, mentioned in connection with our navy, is a rendezvous for our Mediterranean fleet, and Suda Bay, on Crete, is another. The former you will find on the coast of Asia Minor just outside the Dardanelles, and opposite the island Lemncs.

If my junior readers draw the Balkan States on a fairly large scale, and when possible put in important names mentioned —many need no recognition;—they will find it interesting to follow events I was asked to give an outline of the plan of campaign as it is developing. That, however, I do not profess to be able to do, for I have not studied military strategy; but it appears to me that four objectives are being- kept steadily in view—the isolation of Epirus and Albania from Macedonian, the isolation of Macedonia from Roumelia, the capture of Salonika, and the possession of Constantinople, the fall of Adrianople to be its prelude. But work out your own lines of thought. I have written more than I intended to, but as I had a little difficulty in placing some of the names, I thought that my looking them up might somewhat assist some of mv readers.

[Since writing the above I find that Midia is on the Black Sea, east of Adrianople; Chorlu (Tchorlu) is north-east of Rodosto, on the railway running west from Constantinople : Chatalaja (?Tchatalacha) is about 30 miles west of Constantinople on the same railway. Bunarhissar is about 20 miles slightly to the south-west of Midi a. Ohorlu and Chatalaja are being strenuously fought for, and it is quite evident that Constantinople is in imminent danger of being besieged—if, indeed, the Turks are strong enough to hold it long enough to constitute, a siege.]