Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-03
TURKEYS NEW NAVY
Four Obsolete BattIeships
Bought From Germany.
PRICE OF KAISER'S HELP
Hands Off in Cretan Difficulty There
by Is Assured.
QUEER LOT OF WAR DOGS
Anticipated Vessels Sold by Govern
ment to Scotch Bidders to Be
Broken Up for Junk.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Corresponding Of The Star and the
| Chicago Record Herald.
| CONSTANT1NOPLE, August 81 1910.
The army of Turkey has been brought
into an excellent condition of discipline
| and equipment by the genius of Gen.
Shevket Pasha.
The ambition of the Turkish ministry is
| to rank as second-class naval power.
1t is considered vital to have a fleet, in
view of the prospect of a war with
Greece. The situation is critical and is
| likely to be worse before it is better.
Christian Inhabitants Of the island of
| Crete insist that they are part of
| Greece and are electing delegates to- a
national assembly. to be held in Athens
this fall. If Greece admits these dele
gates to the assembly it will be consid
cred a sufficient cause of war. Turkey is
| anxious to be ready for the emergency.
| The naval status Of Greece, however is
| much the same as that of Turkey. Neither
| nation has more than one or two men-of-
war that will feat.
| Turkey has every advantage from a
militay standpoint. Her army is in al
| most perfect condition. Greece has prac-
tically no army.
Turks Military Spirit.
The Turks have always had an effec-
tive army. Although they have lost a
considerable part of the empire by the
aggressiveness of Russia, the success of
Turkey as nation has been won by
the sword.
When the young Turks undertook the
regeneration of the country. the first
task was to put the army in the best
possible condition. The effectiveness Of
their efforts was plainly demonstrated in
April, 1909, when Abdul Hamid attempted
to recover control of affairs.
After his dethronement the military re-
organization continued. The money, So
0O0, 600 or more, found concealed in Yildiz
Kiosk, was used to buy new uniforms
and arms and equip the cavalry and ar
tillery with the latest improved &C
coutrements.
Ever since the new regime there has
been talk of a new navy. Shortly after
the reinforcement Of the old sultan par
s25, 00O,O 600 for the construction of two
Dreadnoughts. two cruisers and ten de-
| stroyers.
The shipbuilders Of the world were in
vited to compete for the contracts. They
came here with plans and propositions
Our vigilant ambassador, Mr.. Strauss
made full announcement of the oppor-
| tunities, and persuaded the minister OF
marine to postpone the opening Of bids
| for several weeks in order that Ameri-
can shipbuilders could have little more
time to prepare for the competition.
There was a hot contest. particularly
between German and English shipyards
The American competitors withdrew
when they discovered the terms of the
contract
Difficult Financial Conditions.
The Turkish government, being with
out funds, insisted that the successful
bidder should find the money for his
own payment. In other words, the gov
eminent would issue bonds for the
| amount of the contract, and the con-
tractor must finance them.
Even then, while the ships must be de-
livered within three years after the con-
tracts were signed, they were to be paid
for in ten annual installments. During
the seven years while the contractor was
waiting for his pay he had no security
whatever.
American shipbuilders who came over
to bid promptly decided that they did not
care to do business on those terms and
withdrew from competition. The Eng
lish and the Germans, relying upon the
backing of their governments, felt that
the terms were safe, and continued the
contest.
On several occasions it was announced
that the contract had been let to Brit
ish companies, who were named, and the
details were given. Therefore, you can
imagine the establishment and chagrin
of those directly interested when it was
announced that Turkey had purchased
four obsolete, small battleships from the
German fleet.
Bid for Germany's Aid.
This announcement, however, threw a
searchlight upon certain mysterious pro-
ceedings. The Turkish ministry relieved
the German government Of four small,
| antiquated ships. twenty years old, which
the German minister Of marine was
about to send to the scrap heap, as an
inducement foC the support Of Germany
in the Cretan controversy. and the per-
mission OF that government to increase
the duties upon imported merchandise
from II to ID per cent ad valorem
This advance in the tariff is necessary
to provide the revenue to buy the ships
and to carry on certain other public
works. Germany refused to agree with
the other powers until she was given
some adequate consideration.
The situation is made the more inter-
esting because the kaiser's sister is the
wife of the Crown Prince of Greece
German Influence Continued.
Under the. old sultan German influence
was paramount in Turkey. Kaiser Will
liam II was the only friend Abdul Hamid
had. and the latter paid dearly for that