The fact that so large a force, fully equipped with
guns, ammunition, and supplies, was brought from Salonika without hitch or disturbance shows that this portion at any rate of the Turkish Army is in a far better condition than has hitherto been supposed. We have no doubt that the explanation is to be found in the fact that during the past six months the Com- mittee of Union and Progress have been silently working at the restoration of efficiency among the troops. The result makes for the peace of Europe. The belief that the Turkish Army had under the old regime become hopelessly demoralised, and that Turkey had no force available to protect herself, offored many temptations to her neighbours. After the display of energy and military capacity shown by the Salonika army, the various Powers interested in the Balkans will feel that the problem has entered on a new phase. Here it is satisfactory to note that Bulgaria, acting under the advice of the Powers of the Triple Entente—Russia, France, and Britain— has signed the Agreement for the recognition of Bulgarian independence on the one hand, and for the payment of com- pensation to Turkey on the other, thus removing a potent source of danger and. difficulty. The position in South- Eastern Europe must no doubt still continue to cause grave anxiety ; but if, as now seems likely, civil war is avoided in Turkey, it is possible that we may be entering upon a temporary period of comparative quiet.
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