A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 8

A BACKGROUND OF THE WAR

The Rebirth Of Turkey EYES TURNED FROM EAST TO WEST Down in the Balkans much is stirring as move and counter-move in what may or may not be another war of nerves follow one another in quick succession. In this region there is a vision of small Bowers preparing for the worst while hoping against hope that the spectre of war which hovers near will pass them by. At a time when some neutrals have already paid a heavy penalty for hesitancy and unpreparedness in the face of Nazi threats, Turkey’s unwavering attitude has been both a credit to herself and an inspiring example to others. She has charted her course clearly and lias not deviated from it.

Her position is this: She does not want war in the Balkans .and will do everything possible to avoid it, but if her vital interests are threatened by aggression in that region she will fight.

The New Turkey Compared with the broken Turkey which emerged from the World War, the nation of today is a new Turkey. Twenty years ago the country appeared to European nations as something rather like a survival from the Middle Ages, but under the dynamic leadership of Kemal Ataturk she set out to become a modern nation by western European standards. In a remarkably short space of time, she has gone a remarkably long way toward achieving this great transformation. When Ataturk set about the rejuvenation of his country he realized at once that a people with a mental outlook largely oriental could not hope to build themselves a place among nations of the west till the retarding influence of old customs and old prejudices had been swept away.

Tradition Uprooted With the departure from the Turkish stage of Sultans who ruled in the name of Allah in an “Arabian Nights” sort of way, there went also the fez, the harem, the Arabic alphabet and the general accent on things oriental. Having surmounted these barriers on the way to progress, the Turks of today look back on them with scorn. Battling against the appalling handicap of a 90 per cent, illiteracy among his followers, Ataturk abolished the Arabic alphabet with its stupendous total of 612 letter forms and himself produced a simple Latin alphabet augmented by adaptations of modern words in international use in the same or similar forms. He made the obtaining of education easy and strove to make it as universal as possible. Now illiteracy has 'been reduced to 70 per cent, and progress continues in the gigantic task of breathing new life and creative Instincts into a people which is busy shaking off an age-long apathy toward things other than the simple facts of a simple daily life. Emancipation Of Women

Not least among Ataturk’s reforms was the emancipation of Turkish women from the secluded life that once they had to lead. Today Turkish women have a freedom it would have seemed impossible to contemplate a short quarter of a century ago. The smart young people, in the words of one commentator, have turned from East to West

On an economic structure primarily agricultural the new Turkey has superimposed a considerable amount of modern industry. Ankara, which superseded Constantinople as capital, has been rebuilt with modern buildings, and the Turks are proud of it. Turkey has a population of 18,000,000, and half this number are below 20 years old. The Turks have been described as a people of amazing vitality, for there are also 15,000,000 Turks in Soviet Russia and 3,000,000 more in various parts of the Near East. Fine Soldiers

Turkish infantrymen are among the best in the world, tough and of patient endurance. The present army totals 22 infantry and five cavalry divisions, which in time of war could be expanded to perhaps 1,300,000 men. The army’s present problem Is mechanized equipment, of which it still needs much, and its lack of a strong air force. Doubtless it is remedying these deficiencies as speedily as possible. Its need of a strong air force is particularly great, as the country is almost bare of the trees that provided cover for Finnish soldiers. There would, of course, be Allied planes to help the Turks if they were needed. Able Teacher

Ruling Turkey in Ataturk’s stead is President Inonu, general, diplomat and administrator. It was he who built to Ataturk’s plans, and he has recently been described as the brainy and efficient chief of as able and patriotic a group of leaders as ever set a nation on the road to greatness. He is quiet, studious and conservative, and in the past built up a fine record as a military commander. When Turkey was growing to nationhood she leant first on Russia. Last year she entered alliances with Britain and France, with a safeguarding clause that she could not automatically be required to go to war with Russia’ But Russia today regretfully regards ’Turkey as being on the wrong side of Hie political fence.

British Aid To Finland The list of British war materials promised to Finland and those actually sent, as given by Mr. Chamberlain in the House of Commons, was:

The list included other items such as medical stores, tents, equipment, sandbags, steel helmets, etc., and large quantities of small arms ammunition. A Vital Need

“.Some people seem to think that, our victory being certain, all they have to do is to patiently await the end of the war. Il is not patience you require, but ardour. It is not. a question of submitting to war but of winning it.” —M. Paul Reynau'd, French Premier.

Promised. Sent. Aeroplanes 152 101 Guns (all kinds) .. 223 114 Shells ,.. 297,200 185,000 100 100 Marine mines .... 500 400 Hand-grenades ... 50,000 50,000 Air bombs ,.. 20,700 15,700 Signalling sets ... 1,300 SOO Anti-tank rilles ... 200 200 ,.. 60,000 60,000 Greatcoats ... 1 oo’ooo 100,000 Battle-dress ,.... ... 100,000 100,000 Anti-tank mines .. ... 20,000 10,000 Ambulances .... ... . IS 18