DISTRACTED TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 May 1916, Page 7

DISTRACTED TURKEY.

ARMY DIVIDED INTO TWO CAMPS. The Mokattam, an Arab newspaper published in Cairo, printed a series or' articles a few weeks ago, giving reliable information about Turkish affairs obtained from a person who had just arrived from Constantinople. It stated that the late Prince Yussuf, the Turkish heir-apparent, had formed a strong party hostile to Enver Pasha, consisting of Arab and Turkish officers and members of both Houses who were daily gaining prestige. The prince continually urged the Sultan to end the relations with the Germans, and dismiss the Ministry and alter the present disastrous policy of Turkey. Shortly before, his death he persuaded the Suitan to hold a secret council of Prince Yussuf's partisans at the Dolma Bagtche Palace to concert measures. The German Ambassador heard of it and advised General Liman von Sanders, who was then in Gallipoli, and who forthwith went to Berlin to consult the Kaiser and explain that Prince Yussuf was a bitter anti-German and a serious enemy. The statement that the body was taken to Lule Burgas for the purpose of proving to Enver the death of his opponent is untrue, but prominent members of the committee viewed the body to confirm the death of the Prince.

When the Sultan heard the news his grief was such that he refused to receive Enver or the German Ambassador, or to transact any business. Tho Am-hus.-iulov intimated that if he persisted in this attitude he must either abdicate or accept deposition. The Sultan, seeing that it was useless to resist the Germans, gave way and resumed business relations, but everyone in Constantinople is aware that Prince Yussuf did not commit Suicide. After his death, the committee seized nineteen ■-■{ his party, imprisoned sixteen, and east three into the Bosphorus. The Mokattam's informant stated that the officers of the Turkish army were divided into two camps, one loyal to the vim-mans, the other strongly anti-German itul anti-war. This division has greatly influenced the nature of the recent fighting between the Russians and the Turks, also that between the British and the Turks, and it would continue to have an influence in the near future. ■ GERMANS CONCERNED. The state of feeling in Constantinople was rising. Herr von tfagow (German Foreign Secretary) spent three days in Constantinople, and after his return to Berlin the German Ambassador followed him thither in a special train, returning to Constantinople after' one night in Berlin. This was taken to indicate that the Germans were gravely concerned about the Turkish situation. Enver and Talaat had lost their popularity and bombast. Formerly, when Enver drove about, the people would line the streets and salute him as the hero of Turkey, but now, especially since the death of Prince Yussuf, ho

drives at full speed and unacknowledged. Talaat, who used to boast that 'lis -life was perfectly safe, recently had three shots fired at him, which missed, but killed his secretary; now lie only rides fully escorted. The population is furious with the Committee and the Germans, and the narrator instances the most recent Friday sermon in Santa Sophia, when the " preacher ended his prayer for the preservation of the Caliph with the invocation "Vengeance on the Germans and the Committee." The real state of mind of the Committee is illustrated by the fact that Talaat two months ago sent two, deputies to Switzerland to discuss peace conditions which would save Turkey's honor without jeopardy to the Committee. The terms were the restoration to the khediviate of Egypt with Prince Said .Halm as Khedive, the Russian evacuation of Armenia, which would receive autonomy under Russian suzerainty, the Briti.sk evacuation of Mesopotamia and a loan from the Allies to enable Turkey to carry on. The terms were rejected, but Talaat sent another deputation to Switzerland and France to offer concessions. No news about it had been received when the narrator left. The fall of Erzerum was expected in certain circles in Constantinople as early as January 20, Abd-el-Karim Pasha having previously demanded reinforcements, which were not dispatched. Nevertheless, the fall of the fortress came as a thunderclap to the Ministry, and has certainly lost Enyer half his prestige. The Germans, who are masters of the situation, have removed 60,001) troops, the flower of the Turkish army, from Gallipoli to Adrianople, where there are 5000 Germans, and sent 25,000 Germans to Gallipoli and 500 to Bagdad; where also four new aeroplanes were sent in addition to the oix already there. Enver, who was trying to send help to Abd-el-Karim, wanted to take 30,000' men from Adrianople, but the Germans objected that Turkish troops must remain in the Balkans until the enemies of Germany there had been swept away. Enver was forced to acquiesce and sent 16,000 from Djenal Pasha's army in Syria and some from Smyrna. This chronicle states that the fall of Erzerum has impressed the populace, and that if the British are able to take the. offensive and break the Ottoman resistance, as the Russians have done, the Committee will fall from power and another Ministry will succeed them and sue for peace. The Germans opposed that course of procedure, but Turkish troops will fight and oust the Germans. This tho Germans realise. Foodstuffs are very scarce, and prices extremely high.