TURKEY'S RESOURCES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 244, 15 October 1877, Page 4

TURKEY'S RESOURCES.

[Daily News.] The resources which Turkey has developed in this war have been au object of wonder alike to her friends and enemies, and Europe ia warned on

authority uo less thau that of Midhat Pasha] that (hey are, iv faot, i. exhaustible. In a conversation intended to be published, that eminent statesman observed to a German interviewer that Turkey (by which the Pashas always mean the Turkish Government) wants only one thing — -money— since of men there are enough. The foreigu money markets of Europe, however, are now closed against Tarkey, and if this state of things continues, nothing remains but to declare the " holy war." This, it seems, is a measure by no means such, as Western Europe imagines; it involves no .massacres of Christians, who would rather acquire a new value io the eyes of the Government, but is for the most part, a financial operation. The proclamation of the holy war obliges every Mussulman aud every Christian living under the Mussulman dominion to sacrifice; uot only life but also " all he possesses," in defence of the faith and the fatherland. This is a prosaic and practical view of the matter, Certain Moslems, at once devout and politic, perform a religious ceremony, and straightway, not only every Mussulman's, hut every Christian's property to the last farthing becomes the property of the Pasha, to be employed in the defence of their faith and fatherland. The description of the measure makes it tolerably certain that the holy war will ba pro cluimed. Midhat Pasha thinks that the resources of Turkey in Asia aa regards men ara inexhaustible, and as for the expense of maintaining them he asks, "Do you know what an Asiatic soldier, to remain completely capable for marching and fighting, requires everyday? Oue pound of dates 1 " This remark of Midhat Pasha contains a truth well worthy of consideration. So firmly has Turkish' statesmanship grasped this tact, that it finds it cheaper to call up fresh men from Asia Minor tban to attend to the wounds or diseases of its sick and wouuded soldiers. The Sultan and his advisers have already determined that so soon as the Russians appear before Adrianople the banner of the Prophet shall be unfurled. The Shiek-ul-islam was opposed to taking this extreme step, so he was deposed, and a man more conformable to the Empire's necessities has beeu appointed in 'his place. *-'" •-' "* -****