Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-18
TURKS TAKE PART IN WAR
OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL
Not Urged On by Germany or I'm
PEELED by Any Influences Save
Those of Empire.
COUNTRY FOREsEEs VICTORY
TaIaat Bey Tells OF Enthusiasm OF
His Countrymen, and Declares
Holy War Is Success-Complains
OF Attitude OF Foreign Newspapers.


London. -"Turkey declared war with
out being urged by Germany or I'm
PEELED by any other influences save
those OF the empire" said Talaat Boy
to day I'm Il statement to tho Associated
Press.
!alaat Boy to-day nils the posts Of
Minister OF the interior. Minister OF
Finance and Minister of Marine in the
turkish Cabinet. Two weeks ago. in
addition to these Offices. he was Min
ister Of War. giving him the four most
important portfolios In the atlmin:stra-
tion He is Young Turk. and at
present undoubtedly is the mos; i'm
portnnt figure In Turkey. His advjc.
~ needed everywhere. and he virtuall..
"irccts the public affairs Of tn. Otto-
man empire
Turkey engaged ~ military opera
tons he continued only when NO
toms by Russia and Great britain
h'h"" d"fens" measures necessary: and
to-day Turkey has taken all steps need
i"i 10 carry the war through The
HoiF war Is not mcnacing Christians
hut the holy war Is a fact which
should bear in mind. Christians in tho
ottoman empire. wNlo arc participating
IN The dcstinies of their country. are
NOT suffering from present conditions
ana any statements to the contrary are
" result OF British, French and Rus.
SIAN antiques. tho purpose OF which is
70 direct against Turkey the pressure
ot neutral countries OF lower standing
IN the Ottoman rorld"
COMPLAINS Or ATTITUDE
or FOREIGN NEWSPAPERS
ihlaat Beg complained OF the atti-
'Hd" OF foreign newspapers. Including
IN" American press. which. he said.
""re oblivious of Turkeys position
under the pressure OF the entente
powers and Of the Young Turks efforts
10 accomplish the reforms associated
with ;ha; party.
ON land and sea alike the Russians
ana The British provoked hostiIities."
ne declared. our action finally was
IN" result OF efforts TO bo,:lc UP our
ncet by mining the entrance 20 the
liosporus
turkey Is prepared To carry on tho
war TO the end. The fact Of being
aoIe TO lace the enemy on four fronts
simultaneously against forces three or
'ouF times greater than ours. and TO
mobilize at the same time an army of
more than 100000 men for a reserve.
is for us as well as for our allies a
precious advantage.
Iaiaat hey reiterated that the holy
war was a fact. in spite of the claims
Of the enemy: ard he added that
Christians were tn. enemies OF the,
M"sscinan world. Questioned con
corning the oft mentioned "rcprisaI
b. iuf
Turkey decided AT tn. outbreak OF
hostilities just what rctnlia,orv mems
urcs she would employ in case the
triple entente acted contrary to inter
rational law"
Tn" minister declared no other war
ever had been so enthusiastically- re-
oe!vcd In Turkey
Russia is our hereditary enemy. and
Great Britain is the power which sub
iugated Islam" the minister said
Nothing demonstrates the enthusiasm
OF the people so well as tn. formation
OF volunteer regiments I'm all corners
"f our immense empire"
ISitM'S SORHOWFtI. EYES
ARR: TURNED TOWARD TrRks
Askrd what possible effect would re-
suit from success OF the Ottopna,
armies. the minister said
NJ! ihe sorrowful eyes OF Islam TO-
day are turned toward the Turks who
since ihcir appearance on the historic
scene. always have been the beneyole,.
champions OF the disciples of Moham.
med and all Asiatics generally. sue
cess q! Ottoman arms can have but one
result. namely. the rise OF all MussuI
men subject 10 Russia. France or Great
Britain.
Persia is living symbol OF wbat
Turkey would have become II we had
not taken part in this war In addi-
ton 10 similarity in religion and race
We have with Persia absolutely identi-
cal interests. created by the political
dangers OF having the same enemies.
our military strength is greater
IMAM generally is believed Despite our
costly and murderous wars in Tripoli
ana the Balkans, and the drain of
continuous Instructions Turkey il
stronger to-day than ever. We already
have more than 100000 men on our
various fronts.
Asked about reports that Turkey
soon would be in need OF war supplies
ana that Germany and Austria now
were leagued in establishing n free
route from Berlin to Constantinopie.
Talaat ReN replied:
Leave that to the armies The voice
of guns predonInates to-day over the
voice OF statesmen who permit them
selves to be interviewed"
Discussing guardcdly the political
and military situation Of Turkeys
allies, Talaat Rey said:
rms situation appears TO me en-
cellent from every viewpoint: even
admirable am not competent to
judge OF military matters. All know
* that the Germans are lighting con-
tinually and advantaGcously ON French
and Russian territory in such man.
ner that their enemies do not dare
go from the defensive to the offensive
Public opinion In Turkey concerning
the audacious German offensive at sea
simply Is overcome with astonishment'
COMING OF SPRING
WILL SEE NEW ACTIVITY
In the Caucasus, Talaat Boy said,
the coming Of spring would mark a
recrudescence of Turkish operations in
tcrruptcd by winter.
Speaking of the outcome should OF
toman troops cross the Suez. the min
lister said:
This will be the greatest coup pos