The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-17
FUTURE OF TURKEY
MAHMoUD sCHEEkETRAsHA TALKS
or SITUATION.


constantinopie. May 1s.--Mahmoud
Sehefket pasha commander Of the
Turkish constitutional forces, both
land and sea, u the man most fre-
quently In the thoughts OF those OBJ
serving or dealing with the confused
politics of the day In Turkey.
He is the one quiet figure upon whom
rests the preservation OF order and the
civil branches or the government look
to him to Impose their liberal rule up
on the empire and to deal promptly
with persons or factions dangerous TO
the state.
The skill and celebrity with which
General Schefket brought the third
army corps and part OF the second
army corps before constantinople and
occupied the capital, has amazed the
German military men here's Besides
those attached to the embassies, seven
officers came from Germany and ave
British oficers from Egypt to observe
the development of the campaign. They
have not ceased to discuss the details
of the constitutlonalist commanders
arrangements.
General Schefket has been something
of man of,xnystery. which impression
he has been taking trouble In recent
days to remove. He has called In sue
cession during the past week upon ev-
cry ambassador and msnfster In Con-
stantinopie and upon those Turkish
Subjects holding high paeisl9n Nuell
6s the creek Patriarch ana ffie Afiife II
ian Bishop representing the vacant
patrlarchate. He has talked modestiy
upon political affafrs and the relation
Of the army to the government. posai-
bly, with the idea Of checking the
spreading notion that he Is virtually
dictator and he and parliament are
near to a rupture. Speaking on this
subject today, General Schefket said: I
THE army 10 merely an instrument
of civil power. The army and as an
officer in IL, derive our auth GRITTY to
establish order from the national AS
sembly. The army Is a finger of par
lament only, and works under the VIII
Of the cabinet"
The general had an hours talk with
HIM Pasha. the Grand vizier. yester-
day morning. after the conclusion OF
which he said:
THE Grand vizier and / are in per-
feet accord"
Later, In conversation, he said:
I'VE have obstacles to overcome In
our progress towards free and stabis
Institutions. have hope that We VIII
rise above them"
The disorders In Adana province.
General Schefket said. were in pro-
cess Of solution. The court-martial
there could be trusted TO make q thor
ough Investigation and provide Ade-
Quate punishment for the guilty. The
agitation in the fourth army corps at
the headquarters In Erezum has ceased,
most OF the mutineers and deserters
having been arrested. In conclusion
General Schefket said:
1--WE desire very much to have the
good will. sympathy and moral support
Of the Americans in the present move
ment toward better government"
General Schefkets whole day after
o'clock in the morning Is allotted 70
military business. He 10 a tall. wide
shouldered thin Arab OF Bagdad. with
some Georgian blood He is man Of
extreme composure, only his eyes shine
like those of an enthusiast.
some OF the members OF the COM
mittee," said Rauf Bey, one OF three
who represented the Young Turks
committee In the navy before the ad-
vance on constantinople, doubted
whether General SchefI<et was the man
for the work ahead. He was so still.
so tranquil. SO silent; but what man
he Is; what energy; what intellect;
what disinterested motives. To him
the cause is everything; he thinks
nothing OF himself"