New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-08
STRAIT IS SAFE,
SAYS SULTAN In
FIRST INTERVIEW
Receives American News
paper Correspondents at
His Palace at GaIata.
ASKS QUESTIONS
AS TO DARDANELLES
Shakes Hands with Visitors In
Democratic Fashion and In
vltes Them to Seats.


Constantinople via The Hague and
Lordon). April IA am convinced
thai the Dordanelles cannot be forced.
The brave conduct of the Turkish
troops in the recent operations against
the strait permit me to conclude that,
although the Allies bend every effort
and use every means at their disposal,
they will be unable to achieve their
purpose"
Thus spoke Mohammed V. Sultan OF
Turkey and first Caliph of the Moslem
world, to-day in the course of an audi
ence which he had granted to The AS
sociated Press correspondent. The
Sultan throughout the audience showed
and expressed the greatest confidence
in Turkeys ability to withstand the
onslaught OF the allied forces, and fol-
lowed with the keenest interest a de-
scription OF the operations by the
Allies on March ls against the Dar-
danelles forts, given by the corre-
spondent of The Associated Press, who
acted as spokesman for those to whom
the audience had been accorded.
interviews the Interviewers.
The various phases of the lombard
ment were discussed by his majesty in
a manner demonstrating that he was
we'll informed on the affair, but he was
greatly interested in the human aspect
of this tremendous action. What was
the effect of the enemy's fire? What
impression was made upon the mind
by the Turkish troops, and what was
the fate of the population of the towns
near the forts bombarded?
Nohammed V was in most cordial
frame OF mind Many Of the incidents
related by the correspondents brought
TO the Sultan's face broad smiles of
satisfaction, appreciation and amuse-
ment. How the correspondents had been
obliged to make hasty retreat when
Kale Sultanie was reached by the Al
lies shells appeared to be of special
interest to his majesty.
When one of the correspondents told
the Sultan that he had been rendered
nervous in Chanak Ks-Essi by the ex-
plosions of large shells. which impelled
him to stoop at every detonation, and
how an old interpreter. who also was
retreating, touched him on the arm
each time, saying "Yock kismet." the
Sultan was mucn amused and touched
the newspaper man on the shoulder in
a most fatherly fashion and proceeded
TO explain that the use of the word
"kismet" was improper under such cir
cumstances.
"The old man should have used the
word kader,' because that term ex-
presses more fully what he wanted to
convey" said his majesty The word
'kader' means that our fate is IN the
hands of a superior force and that
what is to happen will happen, any
way. The idea is known among you, |
believe. as fatalsm. But 'kader' alone
will not do. We must also work.
Listens to Battle Story.
This incident disposed Of, his majesty
asked the correspondent of The Asso-
ciated Press 10 continue his descrip-
tion of the sinking of the French war
shin Bouvet and the British battleship
Irresistible That the former had dis
appeared within three minutes brought
a look into the kindly gray eyes of his
majesty as if he regretted that so
many human beings had perished with
out chance to fight for life.
The Sultan then asked If his troops
appeared to be happy and contented.
The answer being emphatically in the
affirmative, a new smile of satisfaction
lit up his face.
at has been said that it was the
factor Of luck that made our victory
on March 18 so complete and great,
he remarked. "but we in the Turkish
have saying, Luck is infatuated
with the efficient
at appears very unjust to me that
the Allies want to force the Darda-
nelles and take Constantlnople Just 10
import foodstuifs from Russia. But
our army and coast defence force have
shown their ability and willingness to
do their duty. am speaking here not
alone of the Turkish defenders of the
Dardanelles. but also those Germans
who have so efficiencly and bravely CO.
operated with them.
Compliments German Troops.
"I would thank you if you would say
for me that my admiration for the
German troops in the east and the
west is so great that it is impossible
for me to express in words my high
opinion of their valor and efficiency
Concerning their chief commander,
Emperor william, | can only say that
VIC in Turkey pray that he may enjoy
the best Of health for many years.
81 have seen stories in the newspa-
pers asserting that the German En-
peror is on the verge of a breakdown,
Continued on page 2. column !