The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-20
TURK GOVERNMENT
HAS BIC PROBLEM
Unifcation of Various Factions No
Easy Task, Says R. H. Fife-For-
mer Sultan "A Dead One"

A serious problem -confronts the
new government OF Turkey. In the
opinion OF r. H. Fyfe. who returned
Wednesday from a three months tour
OF the orient
The religious superstitions OF the
people in different parts OF the coun-
try are very great. and much bitter
ness exists between the various fac
lions. said he. For these aud other
reasons IL will be almost impossible
manner satisfactory to all.
ION thing Is certain, however. the
Young Turks will succeed In keeping
the old sultan. Abdul Hamid. down.
To use colloQuial expression, he Is a
dead one. AS a result of his SO years
misrule. the governments finances are
In most deplorable condition. and
this is another OF the serious problems
that confronts the new administration.
"A glaring example OF the old sui
tan's way OF running things Is AFFORD
ed by the Turkish navy It's officers
outnumbered the officers OF the Eng
lish navy by more than a thousand.
and the army has been maintained on
the same basis. This excess OF Of
ficials in every branch Of government
was great burden on the people and
there Is no clamor for a return TO the
old regime
Mr.. and Mrs. frye spent five days
In Constanunople. leaving as soon
as possible after the battle between
the Young Turks and the sultan's
forces. which resulted In the surrender
OF the latter.
I'VE knew clash was impending.
Mr.. Fyfe continued. 1T was In che
afr. wherever one went. and for that
reason many people kept away from
the capital. but We had mapped out
our course and concluded TO adhere TO
1t The military operations caused
considerable delay. however. Every
where We went In Turkey We saw
boats and trains filled with soldiers.
At times the regular trains were so
full OF soldiers that We were unable
10 get on and had TO wait for the next
one.
Driving one day at the Sweet Wa
tets. about eight miles from Constan'
tinople, we suddenly found ourselves
right in the midst OF an army OF
Young Turks. They stopped our
horses and ordered us 10 one side.
Then, while we waited, We saw the
army march on garrison occupied by
the sultan's forces. and the latter sur
rendered without firing gun. Ii look
ed almost like a cut-and-dried affair.
but we were not sorry they refrained
from exchanging bullets. In that case
we would have been In the thick OF
the fight"
Mr.. Fyfe spent more than six weeks
In the Holy Land, and. while the trip
is fraught with great interest. IL also
means putting UP with many hard
ships. he says.
| 1T all sounds very nice when you
I read about IL In the books and looks
: very pretty In the pictures used 10 IL
! lustrate the literature put out by pro-
moters OF these tours, but thew Ion :.
tell you anything about the difficulties
attending the jaunt." he says. The
changes OF climate. very hot one day
and very cold the next. as one goes
from below sea level TO above sea
level. is very trying. And before the
end OF the journey one gets enough OF
camping out nights and riding on don
keys"
Mr.. Fyfe spent some time in Egypt,
studying the conditions under English
rule With reference to this subject,
he continued:
While there is a feeling OF unrest
among the people as a mass. England
does not permit that feeling to get
the upper hand. She rules with firm
hand and is giving the country. a good,
honest stable government. Under
English rule all kinds of business in
Egypt has increased tremendously.
The country was never more prosper
Gus than II Is today
Mr.. Fyfe's itinerary included Asia
Minor. Assyria and the Grecian arch
apelago and a part OF Italy.