A YEAR OF WAR.

Southland Times, Issue 17232, 31 December 1912, Page 4

A YEAR OF WAR.

The year has been marked by continuous war. Op January Ist last Italy and Turkey were still at grips in Tripoli. The struggle attracted but little attention: it was isolated, and there was an almost total absence of authentic news. No battle was reported, but each side claimed the victory. The outstanding facta were that Italy found the conquest of Tripoli a prodigiously difficult matter, and that though the command of the sea was absolutely in her hands her troops were unable to make any real progress against the Arabs and such Turkish regiments as there were in the theatre of action. Of course the odds against Turkey were enormous, and when it appeared likely that Italy w’ould refuse to confine hostilities to Tripoli and would increase the pressure by harassing the coasts of Tur-? key with her fleet the end was only a question of time. Peace was arranged in October and Tripoli became virtually an Italian possession, though it is certain that the process of pacifying the country will occupy years, since the Arab tribes are unconquerable and are not likely to submit willingly to Christian rule. While peace proposals were under discussion at Geneva the Balkans were seething with unrest. The official question at issue was the autonomy of Albania, but really the Christian States were ripe for an attempt to drive the Turk from Europe. Before Turkey had obtained release from the quarrel with Italy on or about 15th October, Montenegro had declared war on 6th October, and within a few days P.ulgaria, Servia and Greece had joined in the attack. Then followed a series cf tremendous battles that recalled those of the RussoJapanese war, but which were far more decisive and fruitful. The Bulgarian and Servian armies proved to be extraordinarily efficient. Well organised. well drilled, well equipped, and well led, they took the field to strike quickly and strike hard. In Turkey, on the ether hand, the efficiency of the Army had been under-

mined by political Influence. When the officers of the Army became politicians they ceased to be good soldiers, and the hour of trial found the organisation defective and the morale of the troops unreliable. Attacked from north and north-west by Bulgaria and Servia, in the west by Montenegro, and in the south by Greece, Turkey sustained a scries of crushing defeats. The Servians and Bulgarians were particularly successful. Upsetting all the theories of the experts who contended that with modern artillery and L modern rifles battles would be fought at long range, the Bulgarians used the bayonet time after time. WTth the bayonet they took Kirk Kilisseh, a stronghold that was supposed to have been made impregnable by German r engineers and artillery officers for the Very reason that it lay across the path of a Bulgarian ’ invasion. Kirk Kilisseh fell to a tremendous assault, and Kirk Kilisseh was followed by Kski Baba, Lula Burgas and Chorlu. From one point to another the Bulgarians pressed forward, and from one point to another they drove the Turks. Adrlanople Was closely Invested, some of the outer defences were captured, and the Bulgarian field force pressed on towards Constantinople right up to the Chatalja Hues. The Servians were scarcely less successful, the Greeks also gained victories, and if the Montenegrins failed to win signal victories they were at least not defeated. Everywhere the Turks were worsted, and before the end of November Constantinople was seeking the assistance of the European chancelleries in order to avert the final disaster. Early in December the fall of Adrlanople seemed Imminent and the Bulgarians were hammering at the Chatalja lines and the speedy occupation of Constantinople was predicted. An armistice was arranged and hostilities were suspended. At the instance of Sir Edward Grey a meeting of delegates representing the Belligerents was arranged m London and the conference is now sitting at St. James’s. Turkey may be able to make terms, but at the best she will lose a great part of her European possessions. and the map of Eastern Europe will have to be drawn afresh.