Conditions in Turkey

Conditions in Turkey

BY DR. JOSEPH M. TANNER

The complete breakdown of Turkish resistance has caused no surpi ise to many thousands of people who expected the little

Turks to give a better account of themselves. Turkey has never before been so demoralized as at the present time. From the moment of the revolution that put the young Turks in power that demoralization began. The state of affairs in the empire were so confused, through subsequent years, that it was most difficult to guess even what the results of the changes would be. The Turkish government was in fact in a tottering condition. It needed only the touch of a revolution to make confusion more confused. If any real reformation were accomplished in Turkey, it must be by a new order of things completely unlike what had theretofore existed. Confusion had to be worse confused, weaknesses weakened, troubles become more troublesome, before there was really political ground for a new start in the government's life. Rapid interchanging conditions took place. They were far-reaching in their effect upon the empire, and the internal conditions that existed after the revolution were not easily comprehended by those on the outside. Loyalty was undermined. Strong and lasting enmities were engendered, and differences were perhaps never before so great in matters of policies to be pursued. The empire was poor the army was disorganized. Generals were at variance ;

with one another, and there seemed little or no likelihood that the Turks could ever be brought together in a harmonious effort toward a common good. If distracted Turkey were to be brought together, and a new and strong administration built up, it must be by outside pressure that would unite the Turks in a contention against the common foe. In the midst of such discussions, the Italians declared war and seized Tripoli. That war was in far off Africa. It created a little patriotism, but the great mass of Turks were wholly indifferent to its consequences. The leaders of the country became more violently discordant. They shouldered the blame upon one another for their misfortunes with Italy. It was the psychological moment, therefore, for the Balkan states to strike. The years of discord in Turkey had demoralized its army its revolutions had ;

depleted its treasury, and political strife had destroyed in a large measure the patriotism and loyalty of the people.

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It is known that Russia expected war and gave encourage- ment to it, but that Russia would have it postponed until the fol- lowing spring. To this the Bulgarians objected. They felt that the moment had come to strike. They had no immediate and specific causes for war more than had existed for many years. The war was a result of a settled determination on the part of the Balkan states to take Macedonia away from the Turks. The war at this writing is practically ended. There is little hope of retain- ing Adrianople, and the Turks must yield to the inevitable. Little by little their authority in Europe has faded away, and Constan- tinople is all that is left to them. The Turks have suffered their punishment, and their humilia- tion has been great. They have appealed in vain to the great powers for protection against so complete a dismemberment of their empire. The great powers were helpless to respond. There stood one great military power in the way to give them their res- cue from the great nations of Europe. That power was Russia. Russia has long been opposed to the advancement of Austria in the Balkans, and the latter's possession of Bosnia, Herzegovina. Russia has felt that the only barrier which she could erect against the advancement of Austria was the strong Balkan state which could be created only by the triumph of the Balkan armies over Turkey, and the erection of a great power sufficiently strong to resist Austria's advances. Behind the Balkan war Russia and Austria have been playing their part in their efforts to secure the ascendency in Macedonia. The world at large has found more interest in what Turkey and the Balkans were doing, but after all, the greatest interest is settled in the attitude of Russia and Austria. It was really their war, though both were behind the scenes. The real test of European harmony is yet to come. Russia has wishes for the success of the Balkans. Austria has hoped that they might be thwarted. When the distribution of spoils comes, these two great watch-dogs of European diplomacy will show their teeth. It hardly seems likely that they will escape a conflict. If they do, it will be because of the pressure brought to bear by their European allies who have nothing whatever to gain in a war that might be brought about by these two antagonists. Not one cause for war has arisen during the conflict where ten will arise in the distribution of the spoils and the erection of a strong Balkan state. The real test of Europe's security against an armed conflict is yet to come.

Department of Vocations and Industries BY B. II. ROBERTS

VIII — What Boys Should Suggest Last month our heading was "What to Suggest to Boys." This month we reverse the thought to "What Boys Should Suggest," meaning, of course, what boys should suggest to teachers, parents, or M. 1. A. committeemen, on Vocations and Industries. In other words, the boy should be encouraged to express himself, tell what he likes to do, and why he likes to do it. His attention should be called to the important fact that those who seek are the ones who find; that those who desire things ardently are the ones who obtain them; and if in their experience there comes a desire for help, they can generally obtain it by seeking for it.One of the sentences emphasized by italics in last month's Era, under this title, "If I Were a Boy Again * * —

• • — iffound that I zvas capable of some one thing in any especial I

degree, I zvould ask counsel on that point of some judicious friend; and if advised to pursue it I would devote myself to that praticular matter to the exclusion of much that is foolishly allozved in boyhood." Now this is — what is urged here getting the boy to express himself with reference to his likes and dislikes, in the matter of doing things, and to ask counsel as to what he ought to attempt; and so shall you get at a catalogue of things that the boys are capable of doing, and can succeed in doing, which will materially aid in giving suggestions as to what he shall choose as his calling in life. Our committeemen, teachers, and parents, then, have before them the task of finding out something of the boy's aptitudes, and hence the importance of getting him to reveal himself to those who are to counsel him in selecting a vocation. More than half the task of discovering the boy is accomplished when he is brought where he will ask for help in these things. Teaching and guidance become easy when once the one to be taught will so rely upon the teacher that he will ask, "What shall I do?" or "What would be best for me to do?" This mental attitude, however, must be induced not by thinking for the boy, but by teaching him to think, and leading him to form a conclusion that shall be his own. Committeemen, teachers, and parents, should not approach their work in counseling our youth in respect to vocations and industries, with the idea that our youth cannot think, and that, therefore, some one else must think for them. The desirable thing is merely to aid them in thinking for themselves upon these subjects. This help cannot be effectively given until they are brought to feel the necessity of seeking help, and this can only follow from the establishment of confidence in those to whom they shall make their appeal. Therefore, addressing ourselves now to our committee-