Turkey,

Manawatu Herald, 5 December 1895, Page 3

Turkey,

The Ottoman Empire spreads over part of Europe and part of Asia. The portion in Asia 13 not so well known. First, it comprises Asia Minor, the land opposite Constanti nople and bordered on three sides by the Mediterranean, and the Black Saa ; secondly, Syria, including Palestine ; thirdly, the greater part of Armenia (where the horrors have lately been practised), which adjoins Asia Minor on the East ; fourthly, Kurdistan and Mesopotamia, which is situated at the north of Arabia ; and lastly, the western portion of Arabia bordering the Red Sea, the districts being Hedjag, Asir, and Yemen. It will be fresh in the minds of our readers that some trouble broke out during the year at Jeddah, which is a town in Hedjag, and it was caused by the intense religious fanaticism, of the inhabitants. The idea is that the rising in Yemen has something to do with the same cause, and, for all we know, may be prompted by the Sultan. He, be it remembered, is the head of the Mas hommedans, and is credited with the power of inciting a religious war over the whole Mahommedan world by raising the Green Flag. Thus the Turk holds many strings to his bow, and while England is knocking at Constantinople, the Sultan may be knocking at Delhi, Cawnpore or other centres in India. The position the Sultan holds in the forces of his co-religionists is of more value to him than the actual army and fleet he is popularly supposed to control.