Though the Turks have now a very large force in
Albania it must not be supposed that they have been quite as suocessful from the military point of view as the communiques of the Government might lead one to suppose. It would seem to be more likely that, though the Turks have not suffered any acute reverse, they are finding, as usual, the campaign in the moun- tains inconclusive, arduous, and expensive, and have thus been brought by circumstances to the inevitable conclusion that the game is not really worth the candle. Probably, the polite but firm representations of the Austrians and the Russians and the discovery that the Germans are not inclined to back Turkey against Austria have hastened this process. In any case, all true friends of Turkey will be delighted if the net result of the new developments proved that the Turks are not going to push matters to extremes, and that they will in practice, if not in theory, allow. a good deal of local autonomy to Albania. If the Turks are wise they will now try to win the confidence of the tribal leaders, and, as we said last week, while dropping the attempt to force the Arabic alphabet on the Albanians, will employ those great instruments of pacification—roads and schools.
