TURK’S LAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1753, 30 August 1917, Page 1

TURK’S LAMENT.

“WHY DID WE JOIN THIS WICKED WAR?” .The following; is a copy of a lottor written by a Turkish officer to his wife and captured on the held of battle in Palestine hy a British officer, who has sent it home to his parents: — Ayesha. —My Angel of Beauty, how pleased I am with God and Allah for the letter received from you, my dear, and also that my two smaller angel darlings are happy and well. Oh, Ayesha, my morning star, what reply (-an I give you? God has given me health and strength, and has brought me safely through, but when ean it possibh end? We arc bombarded by the English;'no rest we receive, and very little food, and our men are dying in hundreds from disease. Discontent is already beginning to show itself among the men, and I pray to God to bring all this to an (■ml; 1 can sec our lovely Constantinople in ruins, and our houses burned to the ground, andonr wives and children put to the sword. Nothing but some favour from Allah can prevent it. These English are very persistent, and (here is no (ear of death for them. They are very cruel. They watch us like wolves in the night, and arc upon as like the devil in the day. Oh, why did we .join this wicked war? England was very partial to ns in (he past, and we may therefore expect no mercy from one who is so sadly injured. Oh, Ayesha, star of the night, cal! in Mehev the magician and sec from him what my future holds. Prior to this kiss my two angels, hands and ■feet —and [may that the good God may keep me safe. Ayesha, 1 must now lake leave of yon, ns the sun Is sinking. I must away to my devotion, in which J always pray for you, my star of the morning, and for my two angels of night. God bless you, Ayesha. 1 wish 1 were at home to give you my adoration. To my high-born royal wife, Ayesha. — Prom your husband, M.M., Captain 13th Turkish Infantry.