The Pensacola journal., 1907-07-09
COnStanfinOpIe'S Silence
and Sham, Farce and SIOfh,
Under the SuIfan's Shadow

bauched for succession. 1t does not
follow that their sins are more mon
strous than usual What does follow
is that the Sheikh-ulIslam has be-
come rich.
Riches often follow in this illogical
way. Lying Uaere in the Golden Horn
Is the battleship Mahsoudieh.
4 She was built in England thirty
three years ago, and after the Greek
war new engines and guns were or
dered. Vickers rendered for S224, 600.
The italians for G4S0,000 got 1T. A
Pasha built himself a beautiful palace
to commemorate the event
There, too, lies the Aysari-Tewik, a
still older ship, for whose re-arnna-
ment Vickers rendered E149.000 and
the Italians E246, 900 in 1899. The
Italians got it but ultimately
believe she passed to Kiel because the
Italians refused 100000 to a certain
Pasha A fortnight ago she came
back, after seven years, her armament
incomplete but the full price paid.
Nothing Bit Graft.
Two steamers were wanted for the
Tigris. The English tender was E 12,-
700 apiece, the Belgian tender $4,000
and Belgium got them.
Four torpedo boats have just been
delivered here from Germany after
three years delay. The German ten
der was $4,000 apiece higher than
the English.
For re-arning eight old ships in
1902, Vickers' tender was c126,OOO
less than Krupp's, but Krupp's was
taken. For re-arming the field artil
lery with quick firing guns no English
tenders were admitted, but Krupp
was taken, though S640.000 above the
next
Each of these transactions is a
proof of our countrymen's Want OF en-
terprise, but each enabled some one
at the court to look forward to an
honored and indepenent old age.
Swallow sword!" said the Sultan
to juggler. why, my minister of
Marine has swallowed a battIeship,"
The supply of such riches chiefly
comes from the Germans now, as is
900 of them in the city and all that is
1cials they get.
The influence of their imperial COM
mercial traveller who labors so hard
for markets is everywhere felt. This
is his reward for refusing TO share. IN
securing liberty for Crete; this for en-
couraging the Sultan to let the bloody
chaos of Macedonia continue: this
for setting up near st. Sophia a Gar
man fountain that would make a
London borough council shiver at its
hideousness; this for lending Ger
man officers to train and organize the
SultanS army.
Not that the army is trained and
Since the Greek war it
has been allowed to fall 20 pieces
again. Beyond the barrack square
there is no drill.
Not Obliged to Drill.
No maneuvers are held, no shooting
is practiced. The men are not trusted
even with blank cartridge The ar
tillery never fires.
I'VE Turks are born soldiers said
a general I'VE do not require the
drill and exercises"
When you have no drill and eXer-
cises it is very comforting to be a
born soldier.
1t is a city of farce Nothing is
made but Turkish delight. People
live by buying and selling. They
buy on credit and sell on hope. Every
one sits waiting for pay.
1t is a charming city. where no one
works and all have time to be pleas
ant Amusements do not exist, but
it's amusement is ineXhaustible.
Sit in the custom house for four or
five hours, gradually paying seven
pence for a shilling packet from
England. You'll see almost the only
place in the world where a proposed
increase CT per cent will mean a
reduction of 4 per cent.
Sir Edward Grey fondly supposes
that to increase the import duty from
s to II will give the treasury per
cent for the relief of Macedonia. but
perhaps he does not realize that the
present rate is really Is per cent, and
no one can tell how many big and
little people would lose by a rigorous
change
Yes, it would be a city of farce if
the gloom of tragedy did not lie so
close behind it. / am not thinking
only of the Bulgarians in Macedonia
or of the Armenians by Lake Van.
The Turks themselves suffer almost
and with even less hope of
For them also life under the