The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1916. TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 February 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1916. TURKEY.

The murder of Prince Yussuft Izzed-din' (for there now seems to be no doubt that Yussuff was the victim of foul play), rnee more draws attention to tiio chaotic state of affairs existing in Turkey, The one strong, self-willed man wiio is practically sealing the doom of the Ottoman Empire is Enver Bey, the Minister for War, and it is owing to his masterful influence that the Germans have obtained so firm a hold in llirkoy. The irresponsible pat:. 1 "// of Young Turks, in. whose hands, to its utter misfortune the des'liny of the country at present lies, arc fitting cooperators with the unscrupulous Germans, for they are so constituted that they will stoop to any means, however repulsive, to attain their ends. When the pilotage of Germany passed from the hands of Prince Bismarck into those of tho Kaiser, certain tendencies showed themselves, and certain demands were made on Turkey, which led to tho conclusion that Germany had decided to obtain a dominant influence over the Turkish Empire, and subsequent events have fully justified that opinion. The process whereby Germany carried out her intentions was partly subtle and in other part openly dictatorial, but it was Enver Bey, who, having received his military training in Germany has always been a partisan of Germany, that has enabled Germany to eventually force Turkey into the war. The statement made by Cherif Pasha, head of the Turkish Opposition (appearin in 'to-day's cable news), throws sufficient light on Prince Yussuff's death to leave no uncertainty as to its cause, Yussuff (the heif-apparent ito the throne), was a sincere friend of France, and consequently struggled valiantly against Enver, repeated furious scenes occurring and arousing bitter hatred. The Committee of Union and Progress (the Young Turks) instigated by Enver, we are told, surrounded Yussuff with spies and put hint oiifc of the w-.y, choosing a death that would lead the people to consider th'it Yussuff was haunted by his father's death, and followed his method of crossing the Great Divide, but Cherif lias no doubt thai Yussuff was assassinated—nor do we think the world at large will question the accuracy of that statement. It will, doubtless, be recollected that in spite of all the agitation in. Turkey against Britain, fomented by the strenuous and determined German Ambassador. Baron von Wageiiheini, the majority of the Turkish Ministers and people remained friendly to Britain even after she hail exercised her right of pre-emption over l >vo powerful battleships built in h;nd for tiie Turks, although day after dav the people were told in the p~"ss : .--hii-ii was 'practically under German rule), in the mosques and ill the hospitals that England was the enemy. It will also be remembered that the demand for the dismantling of the Goeben and Breslau, which had taken refuge in the Dardanelles, was refused by the Germans, strongly supported by Enver, Admiral Suction (the commander of the Goebcn) subsequently stating that if any attempt were made to take his crew out, he would blow the Porte down about the heads of tho occupants. .Meantime, during August. September and October, men and munitions from Germany were being poured into 111? country. Enver pretended that these were only designed for purposes of defence, but as they included floating mines for the Dardanelles and Bosphorus it was evident that they were more for war purposes than for defence. Thanks to Enver Pasha, Germany has now completed her domination of Turkey, and Prince Yussuff has paid the penalty for his friendship with the Allies. German gold, intrigue, duplicity and arrogance has done its work and Turkey is now but plastic clay in the hands of the German potters. Tt may. perhaps, be said that it was high time the power oi the Turks for evil deeds was brought to * that it does 'pot .matter

whether Germany, Britain, or any other Power puis, an end to Turkish rule. It does, however, matter greatly, for by replacing the Turkish fiends with German will only aggravate instead of ameliorate matters. When Germany has no further use for Enver Pasha and the Young Turks they will be discarded like a "scrap of paper," but their plotting and assassinating practices will have received a further impetus and become a greater menace than heretofore. It is said that Prince Yussuff's successor Stahid Ed-din is a more bitter foe of the Young Turks than YussuiY, and he too will meet his fate. Any moment, however, a revolution may occur, and if the opposition obtain the aid of the soldiery (lie Germans may be driven out of Turkey. At present the Turks ate practically cowed by the Germans, but whatever happens the Ottoman Empire has little chance of continuing its existence, after the war, and that is the only grain of consolation that 'the world can expect as a set oft' against Turkey's evil reputation in the past.