ANZAC CRAVES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2492, 12 October 1922, Page 1

ANZAC CRAVES.

TURKS HOLD THEM SACRED. SYDNEY, Sept. 20. After the signing of the armistice, Mr E. R. Peacock, business man and journalist, of Sydney, visited Gallipoli. He was afforded special facilities by the British Admiralty and the War Office. In addition, Mr Peacock has travelled extensively the present troubled areas, and considers Ilia intimate knowledge of Groek and Turkish character is of particular value, in view of the Turkish occupation and fortifying of the Peninsula. “In my opinion, based on many years’ experience along the Mediterranean and its hinterlands, there is nothing to fear from Turkish desecration of Anzac graves on the Peninsula,” said Mr Peacock. He considered in such case there was more to fear from tho Greeks than from the Turks. “Take, for instance,” he stated, “tho Greek method of burial, concerning the sanctity of the dead. _ The corpse is borne to the local cemetery in an open coffin. If the relatives are rich enough, tho deceased is buried in the coffin —if not, tho coffin is carried back again, and the deceased- is simply buried in a blanket. After tho burial, if the relatives are rich enough, the dead is allowed to remain undisturbed. If _ the money is not forthcoming, the remains aro exhumed, and tho bones, after being scraped, are placed into a charnel house. There is no senso of sanctity whatever. On the other hand, every grave, pagan or Christian, is sacred to the Turk. Mahommedauism is the religion of tho sword, of punishment, and the reverence of graves is part of the Turks’ religious belief. Mr Peacock was on Gallipoli just after the signing of the armistice. lie found that Abdul was “playing the game" as faithfully in peace as in war. Every Allied cemetery was carefully preserved, and near each was placed the sign : “English Burial Ground.” “This effectually prevented ,desecration. Muntapha Kemal Pasha is a cultured gentleman,” Mr Peacock went on. “1 met him on two occasions. He is educated in the highest sense, according to western ideals—is a keen diplomat, and a clever soldier and strategist. ICemal Pasha is at the head of tho Young Turk movement, and his object is to raise Turkey to the level of European Powers, with a definite voice in world politics.” “Much had been said of late concerning the unfurling of the green flag—the flag of the Prophet," continued Mr Peacock. In his opinion, the possibility was very remote. The outcome would bo so tremendous, and would deal such a blow to tho white race, that any Power would hesitate before precipitating such a catastrophe. True, to side with Islam meant power, and the ex-Kaiser took good toll of Turkish sympathy in declaring himself “The Friend of Islam.” But in any case, the Mohammedans themselves would embark on a holy war only after tho most mature consideration, and the provocation would have to be extreme. “Before taking tho field.” concluded Mr Peacock, “the holy soldier is required to first kill his wife and children, or any female or mule relation likely to hamper him in the execution of his duty. lie must close up or sell his business —there must be no tics for him, either domestic or commercial- —his sword, his energies, his very life, is at the command of the Prophet—so you see a holy war cuts both ways.”