n it became evident that England's existence depended upon her
ships. If in time of war she lost control of the seas the enemy could
starve her into submission. Hence during the nineteenth century Great
Britain's policy was to maintain a fleet stronger than that of any
possible combination against her.

England's colonial system had been developed into a great empire.
Principles of English liberty and representative government were carried
by Britishers to many parts of the world. The American Revolution showed
the mother country that Englishmen would not brook oppression even by
their own king and parliament. During the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries England adopted the policy of erecting her colonies into
self-governing communities. Thus the separate colonies in Canada, in
Australia, and in South Africa were grouped in each case into a federal
government, somewhat similar to that of the United States, and three
great British democracies were formed within the boundaries of the
empire. So successful has been the British system of colonial government
that there has been virtually no question of loyalty during the Great
War. All parts of the dominions have contributed in men and money to the
common cause, and frequent imperial war conferences have been held in
London. In these conferences representatives from the colonies and the
mother country have joined in the discussion of important imperial
questions.

TURKEY AND THE BALKANS.--In 1453 the Turks captured Constantinople.
Thereafter their power was rapidly extended in southeastern Europe and
for several centuries they were the dominant power in the Balkan
peninsula. During this time they overran Hungary and invaded Austria up
to the walls of Vienna. They subjugated Greece and all the lands now
included in Serbia, Roumania, Bulgaria, Albania, as well as a number of
near-by Austrian, Hungarian, and Russian provinces.

Many diverse races were included within the Turkish dominions. They
differed among themselves in language, religion, and culture. The Turks
were Mohammedans, while their subject peoples in Europe were mainly
Christians belonging to the Greek Orthodox Church.

First driven out of Hungary and Russia during the eighteenth century,
the Turks lost nearly all their European possessions in the nineteenth
and early twentieth centuries. The subject peoples had kept their
national traditions and customs and from time to time they aimed at
independence. The Tu