The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-03-23
GIVES INTERVIEW ON CONDITION
OF TURKISH ARMY. BUT Vt
is ANONYMOUS.
Says Reporters and Editors Have Lied
Blue Out Of the SKY. and
Insists on the Truth.

Correspondence % Associated press.p
CONSTANTINOPLE. March IS
'Thursday).-"lf you mention my
name In connection with what I have
told o ! will apply our military law
and have you shot. Your promise not
TO do so may be all right. but we do
not trust reporters and editors any
more. They have lied too much: lied
the blue out Of the sky. And let me
assure o that IL YOU use my name
the protection Of your embassy will
not help you. You know under what
stipulations have talked TO you. The
Turkish army has nothing to conceal.
but 10 does not want % be lied about.
This was the admonitory conclu-
sion Of a statement obtained by a
correspondent Of the Associated Press
from a man who would permit that as
authority a "semi-oficisl' source be
given. Since the statement thai he
must be looked upon as an authorita-
tive source will not bring the firing
squad any nearer. that designation
will be in order.
Condition Of Armies.
His statement follows.
The position and condition Of the
Turkish army in the Causasus are eX-
c~eilent. We do not expect that the
decision Of the European war Is TO
take place in the Caucasus. Our op-
erarions there have primarily the pur-
pose Of Obliging the Russians to keep
a large force there I'm order TO ease
our allies in Poland and Galicia. Some
OF the Russian companies in the eau
casus have dwindled down to % men.
instead Of $50. We recently wiped
out a Russian regiment so complete
ly that funeral services had 70 be
held for the entire organization.
There wasn't a man left.
The crossing OF the Suez canal
three months ago by a battalion OF
Turkish infantry demonstrates tina,
the waterway Is no obstacle TO us. We
do not intend forcing operations
against Egypt just now. We have
men enough there for that purpose
but supply conditions do not allow a
general offensive for the time being.
The railroad which will serve to make
communications through the 200 kilo-
meters Of desert easy Will be COM
Ipleted soon. ! cannot tell you where
that railroad Is being built; where u
joins the Hedjas line. or where It
will touch the Suez canal. our forces
az nANaN'AAAN hH AnHN ~ II lFhNlNAF
one army along the coast Of the Medi-
~terranean. another along the gulf or
Suez and the third I'm the center.
commisssry Excellent.
we have no trouble feeding our
men In the field. In the Caucasus we
have not always been able 20 give
them enough bread. that is true. but
the meat supplies in that region are
90 ALLnHNHHHN HAaH NJ go - .-
the ratiOns in that way. There are
thousands Of nocks of sheep in and
near the Caucasus. Our men live on
them and are well Off There has been
no difficulty Supplying our troops On
the south with food. though the scarci.
.ty Of water there has been somewhat
of a problom-ono which We are meet
InE satisfactorily. however. have mo-
recent data on that subject but be
IieFn that the rains Of tho season have
helped 20 solve this problem.
Talk 81 n scarcity Of ammunition
and other supplies OF war ia rank non
sense We have an ammunition fac
tory able fu meet 0u demands. and
there IH in operation "a plant Iu which
We n able fO turn uuf field arJI.
Jerry You are af liberty t0 rsprcf
both
IHn of fH.s country boo
men ff f0r military service have been
m surprise fu mr We DO not have Fp
take men from Turkey boz Europe for
sHr.Ir" .n Tho lHu...HH HrI AGAINST
fsr rf HNuHf now Hr Fra raising ..s
frHI corps Iu NrHfuI.. Nr HH.. Boo
Turkey Iu Europe a|E army corp. .u
rss a proper reception fu arv Tnrr.
Witch may uuf.rfHs. fH land uu
these shores. L# cam .# D.. HH###.H