Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-04-21
Not a War of the Govern
ment but War of People,
Says Enver Pasha.
FORCED INTO FIGHT
Russia's Action on Black
Sea in Caucasus Is Chief
~ Responsible.

CONSrANTINOpLE, April lS.-
" eva London, April 20.-l2:45
a mD-"I am glad you asked that
Turkish government, but II val of
the Turkish people said Iinver
l'asha, the most remarkable mar in
turkey, who Is, at the axe OF 80
years, war minister and GENERALS
siuo OF the Ottoman army, to the
Associated Press correspondent in
the first interview ever given to the
american press.
"lndoubtcdly the world finds diff
flculty in understanding that the
Turkey of today is no longer the
Turkey OF the past, but that, never
thcless, is II fact which should be
apparent to all impartial observers"
he continued, showing meanwhile
the enthusiasm OF youth although IT
was almost in Il shamcfaCcd manner
that he admitted his light burden of
years.
The worlds youngest commander
in-chicf typifics the young Turks in
intellectual attachments and ideals.
The conversation with him was car
ricd ON n German, and besides hay
ing a thorough command Of the
German language he speaks excellent
French. Envcr Pasha would be boy
ish in appearance but for a rather
heavy brown mustachc. Alert, frank
eyes, and pleasing manners make
him ii delightful conversationalist.
lie has moreover a wcll-dcservcd
reputation for being the handsomest
man in the Turkish army.
When h correspondent entered,
Enver Pasha shocks hands cordially
and said;
II am sorry to have kept you
waiting, but | am very busy all day.
You have come to interview ne.
Wen, | will make an exception in
your favor, | am avcrse to talking
to men of the press What do you
want "The exact reasons for Tur-
key participating in the war" was
the reply.
You refer, no doubt" said Enver
hasha, "to the assertions in the news
papers of Great Britain, France and
Russia that Turkey entered the war
To help Germany. That is very true
at this moment, not when we mobil-
lied. Today Austria Hungary and
Germany help us, We help them. But
we modified because there was no
way out.
Long before we took this step
Russia had grown ugly on the Black
sea- and In the Caucasus. invading
territory there while England already
had operated against Mesopotamia
and had concentrated "A fleet before
the Dardanellcs. We were unwilling
To start the ball rolling md even
after the Russians attacked our fleet
IN the Black sea we still waited one
week before war was declared.
NV L,,ur thnt u'AIr,.. ,-,Il
again be led to the slaughter block.
Being unwilling that this should hap
pen we took the only curse open.
We Turks feel that we have right
to exist, especially when the best of
us are straining every effort and are
catching up with other countries in
intellectual and material develop
mcnt, | believe that there is much
good in the Turkish people, contrary
To what our traduCCrs say. At any
rate, we are about to prove il.
Democracy Crccps Out.
There was a time when Turkey
was merely a government clique,
which was not trusted by the people,
but gradually the people are begin
ming to feel that they themselves are
Turkey. | think that this is the
hcalthicst sign here today, and there
also is the promise that the progress
of all evil life will he rapid"
At this IN the war minister's
chief Of staff entered with papers.
When these were disposed Of the in
tcrview vas continued.
we are taking care of our troops
today" said EnVer Pasha. hence
their loyalty. Formerly "A man was
given a rifle and had to shift for
himself as best he could; today we
see that his land is cultivated in his
absence. Each village has this sys-
tem-while a man is at the front
his n%ciGhbors till his soil.
This measure has been So cffec-
tive that the area of cultivated land
is 20 per cen greater than ordinar-
n.y. he went on. "W.hen a man is in
the field we see that he is cared for,
simply perhaps, but sufficiently. The
Turkish soldier moreover now knows
how to shoot well, this is instilling
the confidence he formerly lacked"
To the question as to what was re-
sponsible for the better quality OF
troops, which has been SO very ap-
parent, Envcr Pasha replied.
Discharge Old Officers.
when | reached the head of the
army | discharged on my second day
in office, about three thousand old
Wv bth lVllllNll bttl
merely "A burden on the Ottoman
military establishment. Next | made
every effort TO have the common SOL
der feel that he was part OF the serv-
tee. instead of the subject of it. |
can hardly believe the difference this
made. The men now have an esprit
de corps"
Replying to questions as to the
present status of the campaign the
generalissimo said:
Conditions In the Caucasus are
more satisfactory. Regarding the
situation in the Dardancllcs | will
say we are fully confident that II has
been demonstrated that fighting down
the forts there will be "A huge task
for the allies. But even should tina
happen, we would still be masters OF
the situation there by means OF how
tiers. mines and a fleet which is not
50 inconsiderable as some think. The
allies coming up the straits would be
Obliged to move in single file. and tho
effectiveness of our protective meas
ures should be apparent"
In view of the fact that some ex-
element has been observed in Tur-
key because of the export OF arms
and ammunition from the United
States to the powers triple entente.
particularly Russia. Enver Pasha was
asked for his views on this subject.