The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 44, September 9, 1897 | Page 4

kept under arms, as at any moment the Sultan may take it into his head to try and reconquer the Balkan provinces which he lost in the war with Russia.
Should he attempt such a thing Europe would be bound to go to the aid of the province, and the much-dreaded European war would result. Until the Turkish army is disbanded the peace of Europe cannot be assured.
It was felt, therefore, that Lord Salisbury had chosen a happy time for his protest, and that the Sultan must now be forced into doing what is right.
Unfortunately, Lord Salisbury, while he is a very clever statesman, has not the courage of his own opinions. He can think out a clever plan which would be of the greatest benefit to his country, and though in the beginning he will try with great firmness to enforce it, he cannot stand up against strong opposition. He has time and again abandoned some excellent policy, and veered completely round, when he has met strong opposition.
Much anxiety was felt in London on the present occasion lest he should not be able to maintain the firm stand he had taken on the Greek question. This anxiety grew keener when it was found that the other Powers were opposed to him. His party and his friends did their best to persuade him to remain firm, and for a time it seemed as though nothing could shake his resolution. At last the unwelcome news was given out that the British ambassador in Constantinople had received instructions from Lord Salisbury to accept the peace proposals of the Turks, and allow them to remain in Thessaly until the debt should be paid off.
Lord Salisbury's reason for yielding is rumored to be that the five ambassadors, representing France, Germany, Russia, Austria, and Italy, were ready to sign the first treaty without waiting for the consent of England.
This is said to have alarmed the British Prime Minister, and made him fear that the other Powers would combine against England if he persisted in his determination, and so he weakly deserted Greece; and the Turks will remain in Thessaly until the war indemnity is paid.
It is, however, stated that the British, French, and Russian ambassadors have all sent word to their governments that it is quite impossible for Greece to pay the sum demanded by Turkey.
Steps are therefore being taken to induce the Sultan to accept a smaller sum, but the chances are that his success in securing Thessaly will make Abdul Hamid refuse to take a piaster less. He will be sure to think that if he only holds out long enough he will get everything he asks for.
In Athens the people are not at all willing to accept the proposed treaty.
At a mass-meeting the other night a resolution was prepared and sent to the King, asking him to reject the treaty and resume the war.
The general feeling throughout Greece is, however, against a continuance of war.
* * * * *
The news from India is of a gloomy character.
Fresh revolts have occurred on the frontier of Afghanistan. A tribe, the Afridis, has joined the rebellion against the British rule.
The disaffection of this tribe, which numbers about twenty thousand first-class hill-fighters, is most serious to the British cause. It is not its strength that alarms the English, however, but that the English army in India has been largely recruited from the Afridis, and so the rebels are not confined to the enemy that has to be faced, but numbers of them are found in the very regiments that are being sent to the front to quell the disturbance.
The Afridis have until now been most loyal to the Government, and were looked upon as safeguards in case the rebellion assumed a more serious form. During the Afghan war this tribe held the Khyber Pass for the British, and did them great service, as this pass is the main mountain route in the north between Afghanistan and Hindustan.
A revolt of the Afridis was the event most to be feared by the British, and it now appears to have taken place.
A large force of tribesmen entered into Khyber Pass, attacked the forts which guarded it, and unfortunately were successful in capturing them. The force of British soldiers at hand was not strong enough to drive them back, and they were able to swarm into the Pass in great numbers and possess themselves of it.
The Pass once taken, they had the temerity to offer to treat with the British for peace, and promise to go peaceably back to their homes if the soldiers should be withdrawn from all the forts on the frontier.
The British Government is incensed that the tribesmen should be so little afraid of the power of the English arms, and has determined to conquer this rebellious tribe,