The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 30, June 3, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and GirlsVarious
History
The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 30, June 3, 1897: A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls
Various
History, Modern -- 19th century -- Juvenile literature -- Periodicals
Acting on this belief, they made Greece give up certain advantages which
she had regained in Epirus, and made her withdraw her troops, promising
that Turkey should not advance any farther, if Greece would obey their
wishes.
Greece obeyed, only to find that the Powers had made promises which they
could not perform.
Turkey has become intoxicated with her success, and may no longer allow
the Powers to influence her.
The Turks have taken Dhomokos, the last stronghold of the Greeks, who
fell back on this city after the retreat from Pharsala. It is feared
that the Moslems will advance to the very gates of Athens, unless
something is done to prevent them. What this something shall be, the
Powers are at a loss to state.
Backed by the approval of Germany, the modern Turks are no longer the
despised nation they have been for so long. It has been the custom to
speak of the Sultan as the "Unspeakable Turk" and "The Sick Man of
Europe," whom the Powers were keeping alive until they had quite decided
how to divide his possessions.
Turkey's success in Greece has changed all this.
Every one knew that the Turks could fight well, but it was the custom to
treat them contemptuously, and say that after all they were "only
Turks." The short war with Greece has put an end to this feeling for
good and all. The Turks have proved themselves a powerful nation. They
have won back their own self-respect, and have forced Europe to take a
more respectful attitude toward them.
They have surprised the world with their bravery and their fine
generalship; and there is beginning to be a good deal of fear lest this
despised nation shall rise in its newly-found might, and dictate to
Europe.
The Turks, despite their victory, are still the same shifty, cruel,
unpleasant people; and the Powers must feel a good deal ashamed that the
only result of their diplomacy has been to put fresh power into the
hands of people who are a blot on the face of Europe, and who would much
better have been driven back into Asia among peoples who are more in
sympathy with their savagery and semi-barbarism.
But the Powers have now to deal gently with the Turk.
They have sent another message to the Sultan, demanding that hostilities
cease while the terms of peace are being discussed. No reply was made to
the Sultan's note, but the message stated that Europe would not allow
Greece to be crushed.
It is said that if the Sultan persists in asking the unreasonable terms
he does, and will not grant the armistice unless they are accepted,
Europe will declare war upon him.
There may be another week of waiting before the Sultan sends any reply
to this letter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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