MOT A RELIGIOUS WAR.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13567, 7 November 1912, Page 7

MOT A RELIGIOUS WAR.

Mr 4 V Maniachi, a Greek resident of Melbourne, made tho following statemerit to the "Argus" :— , "The issue which is raised, that the war in tho BZalkans is a question of the Orescent and tho Cross, and a religions war in the Balkans is a question of the King Peter, in calling the war holy in their proclamations, do so as far as the riohts of human ' existence are concerned, which are denied to the nationalities ruled by the oligarchy which follows the Crescent in European Turkey. The Turkish papers are misinterpreting this intentionally, desiring to throw dust in the eyes of Europe, and thus gain sympathy for Turkey. It is also holy because these small and! poor nations are grappling with an Empire (declined certainly, bub still an Empire more numerous than them-' selves, and accustomed to lighting from infancy), and sacrificing their manhood on-the altar of human rights and existi ence. Moreover, 'religious war' it could not be called, as many readers may be under the impression, as the exercise of •the respective religions is not interfered with in the countries of the belligerents. Mohammedans live in peace Si Greece, Bulgaria, and Servia, and exercise unmolested their religious duties, and the Christians do likewise in Turkey in normal times. At present tho Christians who could not buy their exemption, or escape, are serving under Turkish colours, and Mohammedans in the allied armies, principally in the Bulgarian. The Greeks, in particular, are never intolerent, and T " ;>:sammedans in Thessaly have even b.Km elected, to the Greek Chamber. Russia's policy, with which the interests of France and England coincide, is to create a bulwark in Macedonia, with Salonika as its capital—checkmate Austrian designs, and serve as a nucleus to the future federation of the Balkan States. The Triple Entente, therefore, is interested in keeping the ring clear end allowing the nationalities concerned to solve the problem without a European war, thus serving their interests."