Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-03-03
TELLS WHY TURKS
ARE WAC|NG WAR
Forced to Support Germany In
Self Defense, Says Leader
Declares Holy War Is
Menace to World.

C~onstanlinople Special, via London:
turkey declared war without being
urged by Germany or impelled by any
other influences. save those OF the m
pire.' said T'alaa Bey TODAY i'm a state
ment to the Associated Press. made in
reply to questions concerning the polltl-
cal and military situation in his coul-
try.
Talaa Bey fills the positions of min
lister of the interior, minister of finance.
and minister OF marine III the TURKISH
cabinet. Two weeks ago in addition to
these offices he was also minister OF
war. which gave him tine TOUR foremost
portfolios of the government. He is
a Young Turk and is undoubtedly the
most important man in Turkey at the
present time. His advice is needed ev-
erywhere and he virtually directs the
public affairs OF the Ottoman empire.
Defensive War He Says.
Turkey engaged i'm military opera
TONS he continued. "only when ac-
tons on the part of Russia and Great
Britain made defensive measures nee
essary and today Turkey has taken all
steps needful to carry the war through.
The holy war is not menacing Chris
tians. but the holy war is a fact which
the enemies of the MohaInmedan world
should bear in mind. Christians in the
Ottoman empire. who are participating
in the destinies of their country. are not
suffering from conditions brought
about by the present state of affairs
II any statements to the contrary are
a result of British. French and Russian
i~ntrigues. the purpose of which is to dl-
rect against Turkey the pressure OF
neutral countries of lower standing i'm
the ottoman world
To the correspondent of the Associa-
ted Press Talaat Bey complained of the
attitude of foreign newspapers, includ-
ing fhp American press which. he said
were ObliviOus alike to the position of
Turkey under the pressure of the
entente powers and the efforts of the
young Turks to accomplish the reforms
associated with that party.
"On land n sea alike. the Rus
slams and the British provoked hos
tilities." he declared. "Our action
finally was the result of the efforts to
bottle up our feet by mining the en-
trance to the Bosphorus.
1000, 1000 Men in Field.
Turkey is prepared to carry on the
war to the end of the European con-
flict. The fact of being able to face
ly against forces three on fOur times
greater than ours and to mobilize at
the same time an army of more than
1000 900 men for u reserve is for us
as we'll as for our allies a matter of
the greatest Importance. and for our
dllleS II precious
his was the answer of the minister
in reply to an inquiry as to the po-
litical and military advantages gained
by Turkey up to the present time.
The interview then turned to the
holy war. Answering a question on
this subject. Talaat Bey said the holy
war was n fact, in spite of the claims
of the enemy, and he added that Chris
tians were the enemies of the Mussul-
man world. Questioned concerning
the oft mentioned 'reprisal policy the
minister answered:
Turkey decided at the outbreak of
hostilities just what retaliatory meas
ures h would employ i'm case the
powers of the triple entente acted con-
trary to the regulations set down by
international law
Says People Wanted War.
The next statement of the minister
was that no other war ever had beer
so enthusiastically received in T,ur-
Key. This was made in reply to a
question concerning he attitude of the
Turkish people toward the conflict.
Russia is our hereditary enemy and
Great Britain is the power which sub
1ugated ISLAM" the minister said,
Nothing demonstrates the enthusiasm
OF the people so we'll as. the forma-
tlon OF regiments In all cor
ners of u immense empire