TURKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 February 1916, Page 5

TURKEY

CONSTANTINOPLE "MAF-. FICKS: THREATS AGAIXST EGYPT. Times and Sydney Sun Service. Received .lan. "1, ~>.n. p.m. London, Jan. HO. A Weekly Despatch man who dined with the Kaiser describes the frantic way the news of the withdrawal from Gallipoli was received at Constantinople. Twi, days after Constantinople, had finished "mallicking'' ten thousand of the weakest soldiers ever seen passed through the streets in a draggled line, staggering from fatigue. The public knew not from wher.ee they came or they might have given a ivarmer reception to the Galliooli defenders. Kumbcrs who were utterly spent were carried by their more stalwart comrades. It was a fine opportunity of witnessing how German officers had been incorporated with the Turkish army. There were two Germans to every Turkish ofKcer. If the Anzae hc"ocs had been with me they would have been comforted to know that however great their bn.'dshins and privations, their foes had suffered equally, and it will be some time before they are (it for active operations. It would give the Empire a better idea of the Turkish attilude 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 had been promised to Russia. '•My few days in England,"' continues the correspondent, "convinced me that you are not taking the threats against Egypt and India seriously enough. What f s'aw in Constantinople and Asia Minor has convinced me that the Turks are serious and intend under German management. The latter is thoroughly prepared, and even trained four thousand Germans to ride camels in T-lagcnbeek's menagerie at- Hamburg., Djemal Pasha, the Turkish leader of the Egypt expedition, is now at Aleppo, which is the jumping-ofi" ground. The Turks are still a formidable factor, despite their great iosses. Plenty of soldiers are available, and the authorities I are calling everybody to the colors."