The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-18
Has Nothing to IRse. Says Young
Turkey, Explaining Nations
PARTICIPATION i'm the War.


Since II is vain to give reasons
for an insane act there will be some
difficulty in explaining why Turkey
entered the war. From the beginning
IL has been generally understood that
however the struggle may be de-
cided. Turkey has nothing to gain,
and everything to lose. She has been
properly regarded as the goat OF
Germany's ambitions. The reasons
that induced Germany to inveigle her
into the conflict were also based upon
misrepresentation. That Germany
hoped by Turkeys aid to bring about
a jehad, or holy war;" on the part
of the Mohammedans against the Brf-
fish In not to be doubted, and IL was
primarily for this reason that German
diplomacy successfully exerted it's au-
thorfty at Constantinople. None knew
better than Germany that the military
value of Turkish assistance would
be relatively slight: and Germany
must have known when she enlisted
Turkey as one of her conscripts she
was placing upon the table stake
that would very probably induce two
or three other powers to sit in the
game against her. But Germany
counted absolutely upon holy war
that would require the presence OF
tens of Thousands of British troops and
many British battleships in India and
Africa Therefore she made the mis-
take of dragging Turkey In
Nothing TO Lose, Anyway.
Germany's plans are easily under
stood. and before they were put to
the test of actually they looked
reasonable enough. The mystery is
why Turkey became victim of them.
Turkey could see the probability OF
being of great service to Germany.
Could Turkey see any prospect of be-
ing of any service to herself. OF
Germany being of any service to her?
Probably the best answer that can be
given to the question why did the
Turk enter the WARP IS supplied by
j. j. Bosdan. a Turk, formerly a
member of the late Young Turkey
Society of Asia Minor who discusses
the question in the New York Herald.
Speaking for Turkey, he says: we
reason like this: The nations we are
fighting own us body and soul. III
they defeat us, which they certainly
will. they will take what belongs to
them: on the other hand. II the Teu-
tons defeat the Allies we shall re-
pudiate our international indebted
ness. So whichever way the fortune
anything. and yet we cannot lose, for
we have nothing to lose"
Turkey q BANKRUPT.
He points out that the annual In
terest on part Of the Ottoman Gov
ernment's national indebtedness the
part covered by loans. amounts to
about one-third of it's actual revenue.
Before Turkey entered the war her
net revenue was equal to about one
seventh of the interest due on her
total Indebtedness. He continues:
After the Balkan War. bound Al she
was In International shackies- Tur-
key added links to her chains. until
she had mortgaged every available
harbor, river. forest and mine To Eu-
ropean bankers. And now. without
money, men or prestige, here she Is
again shackled to allies who cannot
help her. isolated, lighting three first-
class powers, who are striking her
from both TANKS, rear and front. We
will be certainly defeated. and i'm
mediately afterwards we will start all
over again, doing business at the old
stand; whatever is left of our in
tegrity will be guaranteed Jointly by
our combined enemies and friends
and we will continue paying interest
on our national debt. for we are .
hopeless case
German Influence.
Germany's predominating influences
In Turkey datas from the time wher
the Kaiser, on his way to Palestine
paid visit to Constantinople, In
those days the highest bidder could
command the services of Turkey In
diplomacy, and Germany soon be.