The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-05-20

= Tx. May ia special to the
8 s ON Paris says:
Ills Ashmead Ba' tlett was seen
World correspondent, Sir Ellis
On his way to London from Con-
lnople. IN an interview he said:
y have seen some criticisms passed
75n me for my friendship for the sui
Jan II is true that l stand in a posi-
ton Of peculiar advantage with regard
to Turkey and IT'S sovereign simply
because have always advocated the
policy Of friendship and alliance WITH
The Ottoman empire that was pursued
Ey Disrael- and all the greatest English
ministers. Ny convictions in this point,
which are known TO the sultan, are that
ii IS vital for England 10 keep Russia
ont of Constantinople, which would, in
Russian hands. be the greatest place OF
arms and commissary in the world.
Put" suggested the correspondent,
with British naval supremacy in the
Mediterranean, she need not fear Rus
...The russian Black Sea fleet, COM
bined with the PhOenician fleet, would
drive the British fleet to Gibraltar,
Egypt would be seized and probably
Malta also
30 you consider England TO be
STA under such circumstances?
YES; Russia would have the whole
fighting force Of Turkey, the finest in
the world, organized and armed under
Russian officers, and England would be
unable TO hold India against an army
of 100000 Turks led by European OH
GERS l have seen the Turks in action
I know the opinion concerning their
fighting qualities that is held by ex-
perienced European commanders who
have watched them in the present cam
paign, and if the Caliph if Islem was
under Russian control, the queen
60 600 900 Aussulman subjects in India
would be under Russian control also.
I believe that both policy and justice
demand equal treatment for Turks and
Christians by England on which ac-
count l avoW and have espoused the
cause OF the Ottoman empire. 1 know
the great mass of Turks to be honest,
temperate, kind and above all courage
ous.'
but do you consider that Turkish
administration needs no REFORM
Il admit that the Turkish govern
naenI needs Improvement, but that can
be best secured by temperate advice
and friendly pressure from England
The recent vihfication and coercion, as
i can say from personal knowledge, OF
his majesty's mind have only driven
Germany, and If pursued Will be Gala
lnitous 10 British interests in the east
/ have never Wavered in these opinions
II espoused the Ottoman cause in the
height OF the agroeity fever, when no
other man in England did so. The
Turks are naturally grateful for thls
support When visited Constantinople
lass January. / was received with open
arms by the officials and the people.
y = &--.sifssll E sEsTts se4-a special audience,
as he did again last week, Of eXcep-
li0nai length
.'Du.ing my stay, the sultan placed
4 pasta in attendance upon me, put
steam launch and royal equippage at
my disposal. and in January bestowed
on me the Grand Gordon OF Modjidien,
The highest ottoman decoration
WAS not the accordance Of the de
coration made the subject OF wide
spread attacizs2"
Yes, I was severely criticized and
meetings were held 70 denounce me TO
my constituents at Sheffield; but they
tailed When the sultan heard that L
was going TO follow the campaign IN
.Tliessa iy ne gave particular orders 10
The Vail and TO Edhem Pasha that
special facilities be given 10 my PARTY
10 see all that we wished. Accompanied
lv my eldest son. a dragOman ana an
escort of u soldiers and an ofncer We
left Salonica on April 20 for Elassona-
We saw the battles at Matt and Deilli-
hi, decisive struggles Of the first part
OF The VIZ. I was the nrst noncom-
blatant 10 enter Larissa- beating BY I'VE
minutes a German officer who raced
-,,s.