Evening star., 1907-08-18
Affair Of tho Stamboul Bridge an
Instance.
MILITARY SITUATION IN YEMEN
War There Likely to Last Years, Ow-
ing to Notorious Inefaciency of
Turkish Troops

Everywhere throughout the country the
power of German influence and the energy
Of German action were making themselves
felt with increasing force. AS regards
politics. the imperial divan or rather Yildiz
Kiosk, where is centered all political power.
took no decision Of any importance without
nrst consulting the German emperor. whose
advice was always religiously listened to
and followed. 1t is only necessary to recall
the events in Crete. the Greek war and the
Mitylene incident to be satisfied that in
reality Germany directed Turkish policy.
On the other hand If German enterprises.
commercial financial or industrial, have at :
tained the high development and degree OF
prosperity they have, 1t is greatly due to
the initiative. courage and activity OF the
individuals interested, and also to the en-
couragement and protection they obtain
from their government. But there would
be no exaggeration In saying that the prin-
cipal factor in their progress is the marked
favor which all German enterprises en-
1oyed up to the present from the Turkish
authorities from the highest person who
gave the orders to the lowest who executed
them, perhaps without enthusiasm. but
always with fidelity. For fifteen years all
the big orders for war material have gone
to Germans: 1t was only necessary 1or
Krupp's representative to make tender
for any other offer to be at once refused
The Germans have secured all the import
ant concessions and the high posts IN the
ment departments
1t was only natural that German COM
merce under this high favor Of the author
tiles developed greatly and little by little
supplanted the trade of other countries. 1t
is, however. certain that for some time Aer
influence has been waning and change mas
occurred in high quarters with regard 10
Germany. This is particularly to be noticed
in the evident tendency there is on the part
of the government to oppose all demands
and claims even the most just ones, II
made by Germans. by offering its pet
weapon passive resistance. In spite of all
the energy of the German ambassador
many questions which few months ago
would have been settled at once remain
| unsettled. because the government pays no
attention to the demands. One of these
which. as it is purely business matter. is
OF relatively small Importance. but owing
to the circumstances connected with it has
a peculiar slgnfication.
Instance Of a Bridge.
An iron floating bridge connects Galata
and Stamboul. 1t is a famous bridge, and
has been often described that it is un-
necessary to do so here. 1t is. however.
| most famous for the way it has withstood
the attacks of the elements and, age and in
| cessant collisions with the Turkish ferry
steamers. but in spite of everything 1t con-
tinues to act as a Turkish bridge. 1t is an
absolute ruin. and the lives of thousands of
people are daily endangered by 1t. For over
twenty years the government has been
troubled by this state of things, which
might lead to Q catastrophe, and has sew
eral times thought of repairing it. But the
execution of plan takes long time with
the Turks Anyhow, six months ago Ger
man firm got the concession for the con-
struction of a new bridge. The contract
was signed, and the bridge was to be ready
for use in twenty months, the government
undertaking to pay the cost Of construction
In regular inStalmentS.
In nr,3a 70 ,,alr>
ernment agreed to contract loan with
the Deutsche Bank Of 81 600 600, to which
the latter agreed. 1t looked as IL there
was nothing more to be done but to set to
work. but in spite Of repeated representa-
uons by the ambassador In spite of the
good will of the Deutsche Bank which
offered to make the first payment without
waiting for the guarantees, and in spite
of the constant danger to the population
OF the town nothing is done The grand
vizer refuses all the facilities offered and
always puts off the first payment neces-
Sary for the commencement of the work
The non-execution of this work, so essen
tial to the safety and comfort of the town,
Is due to a question Of offended dignity.
When the last loan was obtained in France
by the Turkish government certain
amount OF the loan was used for pur-
chases from French firms. The greater
part of the orders were given to CreuZot,
but still sum Of se5o.OOo remained over
| for French firms. and then the Turks had
| the grand idea Of giving to the French
who did not want 1.-THE construction of
| the bridge. Acting at once the process YER
| bal was prepared and sent by the porte for
the imperial sanction. but in Turkey every
thing is known as soon, or sooner than it
| is done, and the German ambassador got
| wind of the affair before the sultan had
even received the papers. He at once went
| to the palace, and in very strong language
| protested against the concession being given
! to any one except German firm. He
| said that during the last twelve years the
SAY iYna lrnry sod -, H.
most precise and formal manner that the
| bridge should be rebuilt by German firm,
| and that he had come to demand the full
| f1llment of the promise. Within twenty
| four hours the contract was signed be-
tween the Ottoman government and a Ger
| man firm. But the porte took the affair
personally as an insult. and has done every
| thing possible to hinder the conclusion of
| the business. 1t Is impossible to suppose
| that the porte Is doing this entirely on its
own responsibility. as in all things it is gov
erned and directed by the palace and
doubtless 1t has been informed that this
there.
Fun for the Rebels.
That the military situation in Yemen is
unsatisfactory appears clearly by the fact
that the most optimistic letters which have
arrived from the front during the past
few weeks merely express the belief that
| F'aizi Pasha and his force will be able to
| hold Sanaa till the arrival of the reinforce
ments, which were so insStently demanded
| by the commander of the Yemen field force
The Idea that the appearance of these rein
forcements on the scene of action can have
! any permanent effect on the issue of the
campaign is secuted in Syria where II is
believed that the Imam Yahya will at most
retire before the new forces into the noun
tains and thence conduct a harassing
guerilla campaign till the newt able vast
age or the Turkish armies enables him to
take the field with a better chance of sue
cess. Moreover it is improbable that the
| turkish forces, as at present organized and
equipped can ever force their more mobile
| opponents to action In the open, while the
rebels in their own mountains are now
| considered to be tactically equal. If not
| superior, to the Turks. The utter nef-
| fciency Of the coast blockade, or rather
watch. conducted by few superannuated
| gunboats and customs craft. enables the
contraband trade in arms and ammunition
| between Yemen and Massawah, Jbuti, and
other ports on the west coast of the Red
sea to be carried L. with the minimum of
| risk. Many thousand rifles and large guam
| titles Of ammunition have been captured
| during the campaign, and the shooting OF
/ the insurgents is said to be far more ac-
| curate than that OF the majority Of the
! Turkish troops, whose musketry training.
as rule. begins and ends with manual