How the War Helped Turkey.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 May 1914, Page 2

How the War Helped Turkey.

ADMIRAL BUCKNAM BELIEVES NEW ERA 'OF PROGRESS WILL NOW BEGIN. DESCRinKS ESCAPE OF CRUISER HA MIDI EH. Rear-Admiral Burkr.arn Pasha, International sailor .of fortune, who for many years has presided in an active and advisory capacity over the destinies of the .Sultan's Navy, has given his opinions concerning the future of Turkey in Asia now that her dominion in Europe has I assed into other control. "T first want to voice the opinion of the wideheads of Turkey for many years, that is, that without the Balkan Stales we are much better off. The Turk came into Europe after the Greeks had worn themselves out with the crusades, and naturally he has remained, but he is primarily an Asiatic, and in Asia only does he rightly belong. Therefore his European possessions have never been profitable. "The Balkans have always been a

source of trouble and a danger zone all on account of the Turk. If I were a Turk I might be accused of expressing this opinion because the Turks are beaten, but on the contrary, I see the situation purely as an Occidental, but with an intimate knowledge of the vast resources of Asiatic Turkey that I hope now will receive proper attention and development. !• firmly believe that the defeat of Turkey at the hands of the Balkan Allies will ultimately prove as beneficial to her as were the benefits Russia received after being beaten by Japan and Spain after the war with the United States, and even England after she discovered some weaknesses in her armour in the South African war.

"The Turk has a vast Asiatic Empire almost as large as Europe. Much of it is unexplored. It is so ancient a land that it may almost be said to have become virgin again. In mineral output and in oil regions f believe in a few years it should easily lead the world.

"The Turkish Government now is practically a military despotism. which is necessary under unsettled conditions. I believe there will be a far more liberal form than ever before, although it will necessarily take time for a people who have always been under the rule of a despot to govern themselves successfully. Therefore I believe thn; foreigners will be taken into every department until the Turks are able to govern it alone.