Turkey

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 48, 1 February 1916, Page 5

Turkey

CONSTANTINOPLE REJOICES. THREATS AGAINST EGYPT. United Peess Association. London, January 30. A Weekly Despatch man who dined with the Kaiser describes the frantic way the news of the withdrawal from Gallipoli was received at Constantinople. Two days after Constantinople had finished “mafficking” ten thousand of the weakest soldiers ever seen passed through the streets in a draggled line, staggering from fatigue. The public knew not from where they came or they might have given a warmer reception to the Gallipoli defenders. Numbers who were utterly spent were carried by their more stalwart comrades. It was a line opportunity of witnessing how German officers had been incorporated with the Turkish army. There were two Germans to every Turkish officer. If the Anzac heroes had been with me they would have been comforted to know that however great their hardships and privations, their foes had suffered equally, and it will be some time before they are lit for active operations. It would give the Empire a better idea of the Turkish attitude of the war if we realise that all the Turks believe they are fighting for their existence, being convinced that war with the Allies was inevitable, because Constantinople bad been promised to Russia. i “My few days in England,” continues the correspondent, “convinced me that you are not taking the threats against Egypt and India seriously enough. What 1 saw in Constantinople and Asia Minor has convinced me that the Turks are serious and intend invasion under German management. The latter is thoroughly prepared, and even trained four thousand Germans to ride camels in Hagenbeck’s menagerie at Hamburg. Djemal Pasha, the Turkish leader of the Egypt expedition, is now at Aleppo, which is the jumpingoff ground. The Turks are still a formidable factor, despite their great losses. Plenty of soldiers are available, and the authorities are calling evcrybodv to the colors,”