The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26

~ IN IIIOI6 SGT bDOut ltS WOTk Ol
reform. Tho gendarmerie was i'm.
proved and developed. much vas &C.
complished In reorganization of the
customs. Insurance was regulated, san.
itation improved, and the movement foI
the education and enlightenment OF
Turkish women received much needed
announcement. But against these
things must be counted many and
costly blunders. most OF which had
their source In the determination Of the
Young Turks to Turkify everything
and everybody in the empire. Albania
was alienatcd by the ban put on her
" language, a quarrel was precipi-
tated with the Greek subjects Of the
empire. while the obvious Introduction
Of political methods into the delibera-
tons Of the committee tended 70
weaken its prestige.
The definite loss Of Bosnia and
Herzegovina and the final severing by
Ferdinand Of Bulgaria of the ties that
bound him to the empire increased the
agitation and distrust Of the Turks,
though the war with Italy in the au.
tumn or 1911 soon gave them
thing o important TO think about.
h Turks had been SO occu-
pied with internal ~dissensions that they
had largely neglected their army or
ganization- Beyond pouring into
Tripoli as many men as they could
they made a poor showing AGAINST the
Italians. The ~disanection in Albania
became more pronounced. The dam
gers OF The Young Turk party steadily
increased and its Ministry became
steadily weaker. The Italian war
dragged on. At length the Porte be-
came aware of the mobilization of the
armies Of the Balkanic League. and a
peace with italy was patched UP.
Approaching the momentous sum
mer OF 1914. Sir Edwin Is once again
amazed that events Of such trernen-
dous import should have been in the
wind without his knowing anything
about them. Herein he seems to have
shared the condition Of the British
diplomatic stan at Constantinople.
which placidly accepted diplomatic as
surances and ignored the logic OF
passing events.
In the spring of 1914 there were
many signs in Constantinople that.
viewed from a later standpoint. were
highly significant. Among these WAS
a considerable increase OF German
officers with the army and "a general
stiifening in military organization and
discipline. The declaration Of Austria
against Serbia and the rents that fol-
W ed in quick succession came. how
ever as a complete surprise 10 the
entire city. except probably TO the
German officers and 10 Enver T,asha.
Until the end of August the impr.s.
sion prevailed that Turkey would re-
main neutral. The Ministry in pou.r
was hostile neither to England nor 70
France. Repeatedly until the middle
OF october the Grand Nizier gaye as-
surances OF continued neutrality, ask
ing only that England and rance
sho'ild guarantee tho integrity of the
'fnplrr. Meantime the German AM
bassador. Baron Won Wangenhelm. and
the commander of the Goeben and tho
Bresiau. Admiral Suchon. were show
ing the greatest energy. r~esourcesful-
ness and ability in arming Turkey and
driving her into war. International
rules were detied. and the Porte was
treated almost as negligible.
The failure OF British diplomacy in
"''p'e III" author attributes
10 tne personnel OF the
h.d "a,Iet ilad never
mo-, 80, -" I'm! anu uru
p.,,nou, i""'>"' M
orv,noa was "usliE
Lnau. -o,htnn -, re also
become acquainted with the
people. The first and second secre-
ono os them u,s an '"', an"
fore tho ou,brcak ~, tho na. ,nHn.'
ish Embassy had had % .x.au
fetal draroman IN -bo norsa, ~
Tit2maurice I'M, a.. = 49, w.
England and his failure ~ ra,,.n o,".
Edwin calls "a national mjsfor,m,'."
BY the middle Of oc,ober 4, r,as n.r
fcctly evident that Turkey N,s a,,,,
ing rapidly into war sn,.na;,m
]randa a~gains, rrn.n
had infamcd the TURK W. -
arations were rapidly nusb.d forrr
But evcn then tho ,mh,ss, ,a,a' -.
believe that tho reno
England and hIana,u
timed IN accent Tho ..sun.n
turks. The nreemn,,on H.. ,ha Nv
ish Of the two droadnough,s h,,,ain,
in England for Turkey y,as ,.,ahah,.
the most powcrf,,I veannr ,.h,.n .ns
German marty noss.ssns T.; u
tinopIe erains, tho pri,i.h C".ua
mem, I'm IN tho ,.r,. loo, 1870
OF the Turks AND ,h.i. ,a,n.".'
ioin in war with Cermor,. n'i.,h,
p~reyentcd n 1e6ri,o hr.o "",e
british had an IT, .,"w ~