New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-20
ENGINEER, NOT DIPLOMAT
REAR-ADSfIRAL AHMED PACHA EX
PLAINS HIS MISSION.
SAYS THE SULTAN WANTS TO INCREASE
HIS NAVY, AND THE ENVOY WILL STUDY
AMERICAN NAVAL METHODS

HIS NAVY. AND THE ENVOY WILL STUDY
AMERICAN NAVAL METHODS
Rear-AdmiraI Ahmed Facha. who arrived at
this port Friday night on board the steamship
Auguste Victoria, as announced in The Tribune
yesterday. said last night that his mission TO
this country had no connection with any work
of diplomacy Instead. the purpose Of his mis-
sion, he said was TO inspect American war
ships and methods of naval and ordnance con-
struction with possible view 10 purchasing a
cruiser for the Turkish Government
In speaking of the report that he had any
proposals to make to this country concerning
the indemnity claimed by the United States
from Turkey because of injuries suffered by
missionaries during the Armenian troubles. he
said TO Tribune reporter:
NY business is that of an engineer. not of
diplomat OF diplomatic relations. therefore, I
nave 70 rlght 20 speak nay Ia!ls 10 tne uuIy @ u
waiting instructions from the Sublime Porte They
are 20 come 20 me from the minister out - lnasL1ed
as I arrived only last night l am not surprised
that have NOT heard from him.
From what could learn OF the desires of the
Sultan in conversation with him he is anxious 70
increase the prowess Of his navy l VIII not & give
the reasons will not say whether we Iear rus @
sia or England or any other country. but at any
with western Countries SO From what we have seen
and learned of the American Navy. it seemed that
methods of construction than in America Again
1t I Is neutral & GO Goumtry one Tncn JHH fad ~ For the
mission because am the Engineer in Chief OF the
Turkish Navy
Here the Admiral shrugged his shoulders as
if TO add emphasis. What. then. do I know
about diplomacy? Why. an engineer like
would make botch of any such errand.
Accordingly he added. II shall doubtless
visit the different naval stations of this country;
perhaps go as far San Francisco, but will give
special attention TO the Navy yards at Brooklyn
and Newport News When have reported to
the Sublime Porte the result Of my study, then
I may make some purchases"
When the Admiral was asked to speak of the
situation between Russia and Turkey. he said:
As a cosmopolitan. rather than an envoy Of the
| Sultan, would say that Russia's greatest danger
is from herself she is composed of strange con-
Sympathy for each other 1t also happens that
some Of the subjugated peoples that have come
standard of intellect morals and physical strength
the Caucasian. for instance who is far superior
in prowess of war; there is the Pole, who is higher
Finn, who more moral in his habits Of life. And
more sf taxing under her peoples who are Wholly
antagonistic her in point OF all racial qualities
The envoy had become so enthused with his
subject that he shrugged his shoulders higher
than ever
Let me tell you he began again Let me
tell you if Russia suffered great, overwhelrn-
ing battle she would go to pieces because OF her
| own decentrazing forces; forces which are kept
! within hounos only by fear and the dread OF
punishment and exile.
Has. then. the United States anything 20 fear
from expansion 20 was asked
Your expansion"-and at these words the
envoy gave several shrugs, with as many bursts
of laughter.
Your expansion won't hurt you II is all
| bosh about the domineering American in the
| Philippines When these people come TO see
| u
| the institutions and the methods of thought
which characterize your Anglo-Saxon race. they
will forget all about AguinaIdo as the founder
| Of their liberties and talk of Washington in
| stead
Neither has the United States anything TO fear
/ from the great number Of Immigrants who.
! I understand. are coming to your shores
They are coming hither OF their own will:
they ara dissatisfied with the cramped conditions
of their own country. its seu1i-feudaIisrn and
serfdom. They are willing to learn, and. I be
| leve will work into the solid building UP Of Il
| great cosmopolitan nation"
| When the Admiral asked If the general
| opinion at the Turkish Court was that the
claim Of the United States was well founded he
replied; Why. don't think anything about
it. I never heard much about it, I do not think
it is half as serious the newspaper CORE
| spondants have made out
Admiral Ahmed Pacha is a man Of medium
| height with a good breadth of shoulders. When
/ seen at the Astor House last night he wore
| light gray suit. with trousers as large as the
| fashion of this country dictated time
He had an overcoat. also. and a broad brfrnmed
| black felt hat which he said he wore in case
| of storm He is not dark OF complexion as
some Of his countrymep. His face was smooth
| with the exception OF a small. brstling. black
| rnustache which off square with the
| edge of his upper lip.
The Admiral speaks English fuenJly- He
said that he went 10 England every year. and
was a member there of the Institute of Me
| chanicaI Engineers. In his career in the Turk
! ish navy he said. engines for use in the navy
and merchant marine had been designed by him.
He left Constantinople on May on the
Oriental Express for Paris. Then he visited the
Exposition for day going on 70 London He
took the steamer at Southampton