TURKEY AS AN ENEMY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2344, 29 December 1914, Page 3

TURKEY AS AN ENEMY

AN AUSTRALIAN'S VIEW One view of the possibility, or impossibility, of an invasion of Egypt by the Turks is presented by E. L. Holmes in the following article published in the Melbourne "Argus":— The conflicting reports that have appeared in the war i.nws from time to time regarding the advances (?) of the Turks towards Egypt, coupled with the rumours that have been in circulation for the last few days, have made the question of the Turk rather a prominent one, and, having recently returned from a three years' stay in Egypt and Turkey, it has been impressed upon me that any information on the subject would be welcome. The Turkish army, on paper, may look rather formidable, and the figtttwg of a year or two ago against Italy, Greece, and the Balkan States may be regarded by some as being of exceptional merit, but a personal view of the material places a different complexion upon it as a modern fighting force. With the exception of a few Turkish regulars, the war with Italy was carried on by the Senussi Arabs, the virtual owners of Tripoli, in Africa, whom the Turk had only beeu able to hold in subjection by non-taxation, absolute freedom, and religion. With Greece and the Balkans, Turk was practically fighting. Turk, for the actual difference in the opposing forces was very trifling. Moreover, this fighting took place on fertile soil, and at no great distance from Constantinople, and with good communications.

Now,, against Egypt, Turkey is faced with an entirely different problem. The nearest military centre of any importance is Damascus, where very large barracks, .training grounds, and stables psi6t, all under German instructors when I was there. Conscripts are drafted there from all over Syria for training, and,. from what one of the German instructors ,told me, the work was slow and difficult, for the men never had any heart in 6ho work. Assuming tha.t a large force has been got together, with animal; transport—wheeled vehicles are, unknown put of the large townsit would be necessary to use the single line to Mecca for a distance of 300 to 400 miles, in' itself s, difficult problem, but doubly difficult when it is remembered that this railway possesses hardly sufficient rolling-stock to handle the pilgrim traffic. Leaving this railway the force- would be faced with a journey of nearly 100 milos to the Egyptian frontier, then, about 120 miles to the Suez Oanal, the'whole of this distance being through a dry and practically waterless desert; in fact, Bir Montoul is the only -known' well between the Egyptian border and the canal, and thereare also but two known caravan routes. The difficulties, even with a highly efficient and organised transport, would bo immense, for there is no fodder or water—only sand. The canal also would prove a fatal ba-rrier, for this; bejngm French hands, could be patrolled by, the tugs of the Canal Company, and any'concentration by Turks could bo shelled very quickly, as the Egyptian State railway runs parallel with the canal for nearly 60 miles (Port Said to Isnialia).

The only other means of attack would be by rail to Jaffa, and then along the coast,, but as there are no reads, and the distance would be about 300 to 400 miles, 1 am'.'quite sure this would be out of the question. The Turks being a non-maritime power, access by water is impossible; even if England and France permitted it. \ Regarding the all-important question of personnel and communications, Turkey is lamentably weak. The' "Turk" is unknown outsido the rank of officer, the rank and file being composed of Arabs, Syrians, Druses, Armenians, Kurds, etc., all of whom are forced to serve with the colours, with a small rate of pay—which, they never by any chance receive All tho component parts of the population by Turkey having been ground down bit by bit by oppression, taxation, etc., the people are always in a btato of semi-starva-tion, with a corresponding decrease in the standard of men, so that the Turkieh army is composed of small, •■undersized men, of little or no physique, and quite unable to stand any great strain. I have seen returning soldiers landed at Bevrout and Alexandretta-, and it would be difficult to imagine that men could become such awful wrecks. . In rags, without boots, bagging wrapped round the feet being their only protection from the hard road, and without a single piastre in their possession, these men. were landed like sheep and left. They had : to beg food right from the time they landed, and many wore faced with a journey of 300 to 400 miles to their homes in the interior. In the past tho army has been confined to the Moslem population, for the Turk would not trust the Christian population with rifles, but this has latterly been altered, and a certain number of Christians are forced to serve. Bribery and corruption of the worst type exist throughout the military system, and, owing to the general method of commandeering everything in the way of-camelsj donkeys, and horses in the.past withqut payment it is difficult now for the Turks.to find transport animals,, these being driven off and hidden in, the mountains- upon the first warning 'of danger. Turkey is sadly lacking in railways, and none connect Syria with Asia Minor. The line from Beyrout to Damascus and Aleppo is French', and has barely enough rolling-etock for ordinary traffic, and should the French officials be withdrawn, I am sure there would be serious trouble. ■ .To sum up the Turk, as an enemy, can be regarded with supreme contempt.