NEWS OF THE WEEK.

THE Concert has failed to prevent war. The repeated raids of Greek irregulars into Macedonia so excited the Ottomans in Constantinople that the Sultan, who dreads war because it may produce a great soldier or be followed by a Conference, gave way, and on the 17th inst. war was declared by a formal Circular to the Powers, in which the Porte attributed the whole blame to Greece, disclaimed all idea of conquest, and promised to make peace if Greece evacuated Crete and withdrew her army from the frontiers. The challenge was at once accepted by the Greek Govern- ment, the Foreign Minister alleging in a Note to the Turkish Envoy that Greece rejected the responsibility of the war, that the Turks had entered the neutral ground of Analipsis and committed other acts of violence, and that consequently Greece is only defending her own territory. There will be much discussion at the conclusion of the war as to the truthful- ness of these Notes, as there always is when any war is de- clared; but their importance at present is only academic. The settlement will depend upon victories and defeats, and not diplomatic arguments, and it is therefore only for the E-ake of history that we record the facts that Greece was the first to permit invasions of Turkish territory, and that Turkey was the first to issue a formal declaration of war. From the moment when the armies began to face each other across the frontier war became nearly inevitable, if only because it is so difficult to send Reserves home again feeling that they have been called out to no purpose.

The first advantages have been with the Turks. Edhem Pasha's plan of campaign, which was settled at Constanti- nople, appears to be to seize the passes of Malonna and Reveal leading into Thessaly, carry the small town of Tarnovo, and after fighting a battle in front of Larissa, to occupy it and wait further instructions from the capital, the Sultan's idea evidently being that with Thessaly in his hands he will have something to offer through which to compel the -evacuation of Crete. The first part of this programme has been successfully carried out. The Turks, whose numbers are carefully concealed in the telegrams, succeeded in dragging mountain guns up to positions commanding the Malonna Pass, and after thirty-six hours of desperate fighting, chiefly around two blockhouses, the Greeks, whose numbers also are not given, retreated, leaving the pass open. This was on the 19th inst., and on the 21st it was rumoured that Turnovo had been carried, a report, however, not confirmed up to Friday after-

noon. The fighting of both forces is admitted on all hands to have been splendid, but the Greeks were terribly hampered by the superiority of the enemy in artillery and in numbers. The accounts of the slaughter vary, and are, we strongly suspect, doctored before they pass the telegraph wires, both parties dreading their effect upon local opinion. It is agreed on all hands that Edhem Pasha was surprised by the vigour of the Greek resistance, and that although he has one hundred thousand men under his command in Macedonia, and probably fifty thousand on the field of action, he has asked for forty thousand more. The request has been granted.

There has been severe fighting at Damasi, the debouchure of the Reveni Pass, and the point from which the Greek Staff hope to make a flank attack on the Turks advancing to Larissa, but the result is still not accurately known. There is a shower of telegrams, but they directly contradict each other. The experts here are understood to believe that Edhem Pasha hopes to envelop the Greek army and compel it to capitulate ; but it is doubtful if he has force sufficient, and if one of his wings is destroyed his scheme may not be com- pletely successful. The authorities in Athens are evidently puzzled, and the people there, like inexperienced men every- where, attach too much importance to skirmishes and minute details. They are, too, over-impressed by the success of the Greeks in Epirus, which is evidently not strongly garrisoned, but if Larissa is lost the occupation of Epirus will make but little difference. As yet the Greek fleet, from which so much was expected, has effected nothing striking. It has partially destroyed, but has not taken, Prevesa, and it is not certain, though reported, that it has broken at Katerina one line of communication between Salonica and Edhem Pasha. We see signs at Prevesa, as well as on land, that the Greek ardour leads to an extravagant expenditure of ammunition.

An absurd rumour is prevalent that the Concert intends to forbid the Greeks to attack Salonica, Smyrna, or Gallipoli, on the ground that those places are in some sense "inter- national positions." We do not believe a word of it, unless indeed the Imperial Powers are prepared to dissolve the Concert. No British Government, however powerful, could survive for a week an act of such clear injustice. The "Powers" might as well insist on hamstringing all Greek sailors because the Turkish ironclads are worthless in a fight. Even if the Concert claims legislative power, it must use it with some consideration for common justice and inter- national precedent.

King George of Greece has been interviewed by a corre- spondent of the Paris Journal, and has made statements, some of which are noteworthy from their outspokenness. He denies that either Greece or Turkey had resolved on war, and intimates that its outbreak is due to intrigues which will be revealed later on. "Orders were received to attack us," all the Powers being "against us, particularly certain nations." The King rather sharply affirmed that Europe having driven him to war there "could be no question of localising it. Hellenism now recognises that it must either conquer or resign itself to disappearing. We have courage enough to defend our rights." Nations do not disappear ; but the King's reliance upon aggregate " Hellenism," and his belief that he can avoid localising the war, are not a little curious. The King is only Greek by adoption, being a German Dane by birth, he is a man of sense, and he has in the whole of these transactions shown great nerve, and perfect devotion to the country which elected him, but we fear he is at present deceiving himself with hopes.

The accounts from Bulgaria and Servia are of interest. It has always been believed that if fighting began Bulgaria and Servia would both seize the opportunity to rectify their frontiers. They both profess entire neutrality and devotion to the cause of peace, but both are inclined to obtain all that is immediately practicable. Servia demands relief from Albanian outrages, and Bulgaria requires that the birettas of Bulgarian Bishops in Macedonia should be granted at once. Otherwise, say both, "we shall be compelled to mobilise." The Sultan will doubtless concede all he can, and if the war is a quick one the little States will remain quiet; but if it is not it seems certain their people will insist on action, and that it will not be on the Turkish side. In the Balkans, indeed, where the truth is known, every Christian may be relied on as a deadly foe to Turkey. The two States together control a hundred thousand men, but of course Austria and Russia do their utmost to keep them quiet, dreading always that they may be compelled to interfere, and interfering, may quarrel. Note as a fact which may be of importance that a Balkan federation, including Roumania, Servia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Greece, but not including Bosnia and Montenegro, would dispose of three hundred and fifty thousand troops, of whom half at least would be very fair soldiers. The Imperial Powers do not forget that.

The German Emperor arrived at Vienna on April 21st for a stay of two days. He was, of course, received by the Austrian Emperor, with whom he had opportunity for conferences of some length. The Austrian Emperor starts for St. Peters- burg on April 27th, where he is to be received with Imperial state as a most honoured guest. These visits have increased the tendency to regard a new league of the three Emperors as quite probable, though it may be more or less secretly made. It is believed in Germany that William II. is most eager for an understanding with Russia, but one point is left entirely undiscussed. If the three Emperors agree to com- bined action in Eastern Europe, which is, of course, the hypothesis of the hour, what is Germany, which has no territorial relation to Turkey, and not much direct interest in her fate, to receive ? Will she be permitted to absorb Holland on Bavarian terms, and so to acquire at once ships, colonies, and commerce, and a very curious and unusual relation to British South Africa ? We have discussed the possibility of a Drei kaiser bund elsewhere.

The Times of Thursday gives an account of the Greek Army as it was in October, 1895, drawn from a report to our Intelligence Department, which is somewhat depressing reading for the friends of Greece. The war strength, including officers and non-combatants, is put at only sixty- six thousand men. The organisation is based on universal conscription, liability to service beginning at twenty-two. Nominally, men stay two years with the colours, but often in reality much less. The Army is armed with the Gras rifle, which is not a repeater. The nominal war strength of the artillery is one hundred and eighty Krupp guns, but many of these weapons apparently only exist on paper. In cavalry the Greek Army is very weak, the riding being pronounced bad, and the number not more than four regiments. After enumerating many grave deficiencies in detail, the Times adds that if Greece has been able, since October, 1895, to make her Army really fit for the field, she has achieved "a marvel of progress in military organisation and military preparation." We fear that she has not done this, but at the same time the events of the last few days show that the quality of her soldiers is far higher than the military critics suspected. That she has made so gallant a stand with an Army evidently so ill-equipped is something to be proud of. The truth is, mountain fighting is a hereditary instinct with a large portion of the Greek population.

Reuter reports from Constantinople that fzzet Bey, the Sultan's favourite counsellor, who will be branded in history as the real promoter of the Armenian massacres, is for the moment in disgrace. He took it upon him- self to order telegrams from Edhem Pasha to be handed to himself, and then concealed them from the Sultan. No Sovereign likes that kind of trick, and when the Minister of War brought it before Abd-ul-Hamid, Izzet Bey was at once arrested. The incident is of the regular Asiatic kind, no favourite in an Asiatic Court ever getting a real foothold; but it is well to note the rise of military influence at Yildiz

Kiosk. The Sultan must attend to military representations in war-time, and as the fleet is now absent from the Bosphorus, he is completely in the hands of soldiers. It is lucky for him that none of his family has shown any military skill, or we might witness a Palace Revolution.

On Monday Renter published a statement, evidently in- spired, that an advance is to be made from Dongola to Abu Hamed as soon as the rise of the Nile makes it possible for the steamers now on the Merawi reach to pass up the fourth cataract. This, however, will not take place till July. When the movement begins the time occupied will not be long as the distance along the river is only about one hundred miles. It is not thought probable that any formidable resistance will be offered by the Mandist garrison at Abu limed. The ad- vantages of occupying Abu Hamed are obvious. It is not really an advance into the heart of the hostile Soudan, as we have shown elsewhere, for Abu Hamed is north of Merawi. Yet when it has been occupied, and the railway, as is in- tended, has been extended from Wady Haifa, it will be possible to organise a flotilla which will be able to advance at short notice on Berber or Khartoum. From a little above Abu Hamed it is practically open water to Khartoum. The work of railway construction is nothing very tremendous. The distance is about two hundred miles, and of these thirty are already completed. The advance is not a new attack on the Khalifa, but merely the establishment of an outpost from which the real advance can be made with comparative ease.

The British Squadron under the command of Admiral Rawson, consisting of six cruisers, one battleship, and one gunboat, arrived at Delagoa Bay on Thursday, six of the ships entering the river, while two remained in the outer anchorage. The news was well received in Lisbon by all parties, who regard it as a demonstration against a possible raid upon Lorenzo Marquez by the Boers or by Germany. The Times correspondent at Lisbon reports that the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned to him that the British Government had given assurances of its good intentions towards Portugal. He inferred that the stories of the sale of Lorenzo Marquez were not true. For all that, we trust that ultimately Portugal may consent to an exchange of territories which will allow us to take possession of Delagoa Bay. We can understand a proud State like Portugal refusing to sell her birthright, but if territorial compensation of equal or greater value to Portugal could be found, such a cession plus money compensation ought not to be unacceptable.

Mr. Rhodes reached Cape Town on Tuesday, and was received by the Chairman of the South African League, and a deputation which included Members of Parliament and "leading inhabitants." In the course of his reply to the address presented to him, Mr. Rhodes thanked his friends for recognising his "higher motives," and declared that he still hoped by constitutional means to arrive at the point all desired,—" namely, equal rights for every white man south of the Zambesi, irrespective of race." Then, added Mr. Rhodes, will come gradually the union of South Africa. Referring to the Afrikander Bond, Mr. Rhodes remarked that this illustrious association wanted to destroy him, but that he did not mean to allow himself to be destroyed. The Progressive party in South Africa was bound to win. His hope was that the leaders would take the place of leaders, "so that we shall not have to fight them behind the bushes." If Mr. Rhodes could be judged by Ms words, the prospect is most promising. Unfortunately men must be judged not by their talk to deputations, but by their deeds, and Mr. Rhodes's deeds have given deadly blows to (1) the union of South Africa, (2) equal rights for all white men south of the Zambesi, (3) abrogation of the race feud,—in fact, to all the things he professes to care most about. His example even encourages fighting behind the bushes, for that was exactly what be was doing in the autumn of 1895. Mr. Rhodes later took his seat in Parliament, only one Dutch Membei making any signs of protest.

The Times of Saturday last contains an article on the future of the Transvaal by its special correspondent which is so full of wisdom, statesmanship, and moderation, that we trust it will be read and marked by all our public men, journalists and Members of Parliament. After noting that "it is known to

a certainty that seven hundred millions of gold lie hidden in the Transvaal," besides other mineral deposits of enormous value, he points out that its fine climate and other natural resources will ensure it prosperity even when the gold is gone. The notion that the Outlanders are mere birds of passage is absurd. The Boers do not understand this, however, and not from ill-will, but from want of knowledge, interfere greatly with the gold industry. If, then, Boers and Outlanders were always to remain the same, we might expect a revival of the difficulties of last year. The Boers, however, are getting gradually enlightened, and but for the Raid would already have granted some of the Outlanders' demands. Mr. Kruger is the chief obstacle to reform, but he cannot remain in power for many years more. The Outlanders, again, are improving in quality now that the feverish gold rush is over. They have only to play a waiting game, and they must win in the end. Such circumstances as the rinderpest fight for them. Sixty thousand cattle have already perished, and many more must ultimately be destroyed. But half the Boers live by cattle, and they can only get compensa- tion by going to the Outlanders for it. There is nothing to prevent the Outlanders waiting. Their lot is not a desperate one, and they run no risk of being exterminated. Finally, the Times' special correspondent would have the British Government do exactly what we have always urged that it should do,—insist on the Convention being carried out strictly, refuse to allow any foreign State to infringe our position as the paramount Power, and prevent the Transvaal ever being extended to the coast. These things done, we can afford to possess our souls in patience till such time as "the United States of South Africa" assume a position in the Empire analogous to that now occupied by Canada.

When in doubt call a conference and found a new association. That appears to be the rule on which the Irish patriot acts. On Tuesday a Parnellite Conference was held in the Mansion House, Dublin, at which "an Association of Independent Nationalists" was formed, with the following objects :—(1) national self-government ; (2) full civil and religious liberty; (3) independence of all British parties; (4) manhood suffrage ; (5) redress of Irish financial grievances ; (6) amnesty ; (7) Land-law reform and the development of Irish resources. That is, of course, a programme which has nothing treasonable or anarchic about it, and no one will object to the Parnellites attempting to carry it out as long as they stick to lawful methods. At a public meeting in the Rotunda Mr. Redmond explained that the new Association was intended to include men who stood aloof from the National League. The movement for national independence was at its lowest ebb at the moment, owing, he of course inferred, to the policy of the Anti-Parnel- lites. A new effort must, however, be made, especially to obtain protection from "the shameless and admitted robbery" of Ireland by England. Every vote of money must be made the occasion for a protest against this robbery. The Act of Union was illegal, and in future Ireland must not be content merely to ask for the compromise of 1893, but must demand Repeal. That is a movement which will suit many Irishmen exactly. It will save them from the danger of Home-rule, which, when it came near, was greatly dreaded by thousands of patriots, and will yet allow them the luxury of "a colossal grievance." Mr. Redmond clearly knows his countrymen.

The Times of Wednesday has an interesting special article on the resources, or rather want of resources, of Cambridge University. The article draws attention to the fact that the University is not, as many people suppose, a richly endowed Corporation, but rather a federation of corporate squires,— bodies, that is, which, though once rich, are now suffering very badly from agricultural depression. Most of the Colleges, like the squires again, overbuilt themselves in the good old times, and are now suffering a reduction of some 30 or 40 per cent, in their incomes. This means that the margins out of which it was once planned that the Colleges should contribute to University needs have disappeared. The last Commission devised a scheme under which the Colleges would in 1896 be contributing £30,000 a year to the University chest. As a matter of fact, they can barely supply 222,000. Where the money so urgently needed for University, as distinguished from College, work is to come from it is difficult to say. The "fees" have been raised as high as possible—perhaps too high—and there is no other source of local income available. A Government grant has been suggested, but that would involve many difficulties. The better plan is to appeal to the generosity of old Cam- bridge men as does the Duke of Devonshire, the Chancellor of the University, in a letter to Friday's papers. The Duke does not actually suggest a subscription, but lays before "members of the University and the public generally" the state of affairs. The University has pressing calls to undertake new work, ' yet out of its income of £62,637 only 2884 is un- appropriated to fixed objects. Possibly certain economies might be made by the Colleges, and the results impounded for the University; but here it must be remembered that Oxford and Cambridge are in no sense at present the home of big salaries. Nobody works harder on a small income than does the modern don.

The fifth annual conference of the Independent Labour party was held in London this week. At the final meeting at Essex Hall on Tuesday, Mr. Keir Hardie in the Chair, Mr. Tom Mann moved that the party should in future be called "The Socialist party." Its members "stood to-day as the representatives of the principles of Socialism, and there was no room in the party or organisation for any one who was not prepared to subscribe to the principles of Socialism." The party, however, appeared to be of a different opinion, and after a discussion the proposal was rejected. The programme adopted by the party was, however, of a distinctly Socialistic type. It begins by declaring for the collective ownership of all land and capital, and for an equal distribution of wealth. In order to bring about the desired state of things the party demand (1) an eight-hour day ; (2) the right to have work found for them by everybody at a minimum of 6d. per hour, the localities having power to find and spend the necessary money ; (3) State pensions for every one over fifty years of age, and adequate provision for widows and children and invalids ; (4) free education and free maintenance for children when at school or at the University ; (5) aboli- tion of child-labour ; (6) abolition of indirect taxation, and the transfer of all burdens to unearned incomes, with a view to their ultimate extinction. That is a pretty good programme. The last clause, however, is quite un- necessary. The unearned income will pass away with very little trouble, provided that the programme is properly carried out. The expenditures suggested will soon make incomes disappear.

A scandal which interests many countries was revealed in Paris on Tuesday. A man named Leo Taxil, by birth a Marseillais, has for a long time past been puffing a woman named Diana Vaughan, who be declared was the secret head of the Freemasons, who were alleged, in America at least, to be devoted to the worship of Satan. She herself, under the auspices of General Pike, an old and respected American Mason, was married to Asmodeus, a devil of high rank. This rubbish found believers among some clerical and ignorant Catholics, Leo Taxil was received in audience by the Pope, and the greatest interest was manifested in Diana Vaughan, who was represented as sincerely repentant and a convert to Catholicism, and to whom Cardinal Parocchio, a candidate for the Papacy, actually wrote a letter of sympathy. Taxil has now made a public speech in Paris in which in the presence of many priests he confessed that the whole story was a gigantic hoax got up by him out of sheer love of mystification, Diana Vaughan being a typrewriter of his acquaintance who knew nothing of General Pike or Asmodeus either. The audience were very much inclined to lynch M. Taxil, who had to be protected by the police, and whose motive for his discreditable imposture they evidently doubted. He was probably seeking cash. His stories had a ready sale; and there are men in Paris who would do anything to discredit the Catholic Church, which, no doubt, is inclined by tradition to be rather credulous about Freemasonry. It is probable that a good many of the stories about Satanism in Paris have been got up in the same way, by men who traded at once on Catholic credulity and on the appetite for the horrible and the nasty.

Bank Rate, 4 per cent.

New Consols (21) were on Friday, 112116. -