An aspect 'of the situation which must not be neglected
is the hardening of Turkish opinion in favour of war. We must never forget that the Turks do not in any sense regard them- Selves as politically played out or at the mercy of their Balkan
assailants: On the contisry;they, feel not only hatred for Bulgaria; Seivia; Montenegro, and Greece, but also contempt. The Old Turks, indeed, regard those States as revolted slaves, and would like nothing -better than to give them a lesson which they. would never forget, and which they, the Old Turks. believe they can give them. The Turks have a profound belief in their own military strength and in their power to beat any number of the servile riCes of the Balkans,'if only the Great Powers will not interfere. Many Turks also believe that a war in the Balkans will be positively beneficial to Turkey, as it willnnite the whole Empire in' a 'supreme effort 'against those who are compassing its doWntall. Accordingly the war is received in Constantinople, and indeed throughout the Empire, with something Very like enthusiasm. This feeling is well 'expressed in the words of a prominent Turkish politician, telegraphed to FridayYs -paper by the special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph: "Why seek to play with words P The question which is before us is not the Eastern- Question. They desire to drive us out of Continental Europe, out of Crete, and out of the Archipelago, and we will not go." In a word, the Turks believe that the 'moment has come to make their 'last stand and to fight out the secular quarrel between the-Crescent and the. Cross in Europe. This view brings elation; not depres-
sion, to a race of born fighters like the Turks. . •
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