Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-12
THE TURKISH ARMY.
The Objections to Enrolment Of Jews
and Christians.


In view of the uneasiness on the
Bulgarian frontier, the fighting
strength Of Turkey Is Of supreme in
terest in the east end Of Europe. Un-
der German auspicies, with Gen. Won
der Goltz and a number Of officers
of all arms in control. with a re-
formed general staff, with a new
equipment Of howitzers and field guns
generally, the Turkish army has OF
late made great strides. Yet II Is the
opinion of experts that, against dis
ciplined troops Of other nations, 1t
could win only by the force Of supe-
rior numbers. If one weakness,
more than the general lack Of dis
cipline, which the energetic Mahmud
Shevket is gradually reforming.
strikes the observer Of Turkish troops
on parade, 1t is the cavalry. Those
who are unacquainted with the coua-
try are apt to confuse Turk and Arab,
and the error is fatal as regards both
man and beast. The Turk Is not the
born horseman Of the Arabian desert,
nor does he understand horses in
anything like the same degree, while
those who expect to see Turkish
troops, or even officers, mounted on
blooded Arabs will be sadly disappoint-
ed by the spectacle Of stocky animals
from Hungary. The art Of horse
breeding, whatever 1t may have been
under earlier Sultans, is practically
non-existent in the Turkey of today.
The two problems which. before
all others, are at present exercising
the minister Of war are, first, the dis"
couragement Of politics among tho
younger officers, and, second, The
proposal to enlist non-Mohammedans
in the Turkish army, eligible to all
ranks. The first can, to some extent,
be overcome by propaganda and edict,
and ever since the affair Of last April
Mahmud Shevket has not shown him.
self backward in his condemnation
of the practice Of officers meddlinS
with politics, which not merely
take them from their professional du-
ties, but is also certain to prejudice
the parliamentary conduct Of affairs.
Silent enim leges inter arma.
The enrolment of Christians and
Jews in the Ottoman army is
graver matter. Only a year ago the
authorities were all in favor Of 1t,
and would hear no criticism. The
present writer discussed it with Hilmi
Pasha, then Grand Vizier; with
Major Ally Wassfy, one Of the few
military deputies in the Turkish
chamber; and with others with equal
weight, and one and all declared that
stitutional Turkey. Since then, how
ever doubts have crept into the
councils of the nation. Greek and
Armenian patriarchs have taken up
an attitude not altogether friendly
to the new Ottoman patriotism
and the project of military service
for non -Mohammedans has not, In
fact got much further. 1t was found
that most of the Greeks within the
empire resented the idea of conscrip-
ton Internationally, and that the
anxiety of the Armenians to serve
rested on their hatred of the equiNa-
lent tax than on any fighting ardor.
The scheme, if adopted, will mean
that quarter Of the Ottoman army
mainly Greeks, will have no regard
for the bond, hitherto all-powerful,
of Islam This is a serious matter.
The Turk is essentially a fighting
man. Not his worst enemies have
accused him of cowardice in the field.
But Islam has hitherto been the one
inspiration Of the army. Whether
the substitution of Turkey" as a
battle cry will be as successful re-
mains to be seen, but those who are
sincere -wishers OF Turkey enter
tain not unreasonable doubts Of it
Pail Mall Gazette.