NEW TURKISH ARMY.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14888, 30 January 1914, Page 10

NEW TURKISH ARMY.

♦ ;—- ---REPORTED GERMAN CONTROL. (TKOX OUR OWN COJUtESTONBEXT). LONDON, December 19. The British,' French, and Russian Ambassadors in Constantinople hare asked the Grand Vizier to givo them information with regard to the powers of General Liman yon Sanders, who is heading the Gorman Military Mission to th© Turkish capital. The "Osmanischer Lloyd" publishes an account of an interview granted to one of its representatives by a "high and perfectly informed personage," who made a long statement concerning the powers of the German General.. The personage, whom rumour identifies with Djemal Bey, began by, stating that tho decision to invite a German military mission was taken by tho late Mahmud Shevket Pasha. The head of the German Mission would be Commander of the Ist Army Corps—that is, of all the troops stationed in the capital and its environs, with the exception of the fortresses on the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles. Marshal Tatar Osman Pasha would remain as heretofore Inspector-General .of tho Ist Military Inspection. General Liman yon Sanders would also undertake tho re-organisation of tho military schools. As the stato of siege was going to be maintained, tho .Government proposed to invest a "special organ" with the presidency of the military government of the capital. In the event of internal trouble which the police and gendarmerie could not quell, the Commander of tho Ist Army Corps would cimply supply troops, in accordance with the universal custom, at the request of the Prefect of Police. The Ist Army Corps would be a model corps. The German Mission would naturally occupy itself with the re-organisation of the defences of the capital and the Straits. As regards the objections of the Russian Press, Turkey had simply applied to the Powers without distinction for expert advice and assistance. The appointment of "Admiral Limpus to tho effective command of the Ottoman Fleet was a case in point."The Turkish Government now contemplated the engagement of another British admiral, who would command th© torpedo flotilla in war time. Foreign comment hostile to the appointment of General Liman yon Sanders might be disregarded by Turkey. With regard to this statement, the Constantinople correspondent of "The Times" understands that "the Porto •wishes to find a retired British officer who would renounce his nationality, become an Ottoman subject, enter the Turkish Navy as assistant to the present Naval Adviser, and take the command of the fleet in war timo as Hobart Pasha did in the war of 1877-IS7B. It is impossible to deny that the Turkish contention i* supported by certain arguments which are strong. At the same time, it is difficult to resist tho impression that iho Porte has made a serious mistake in tactics."