The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-23
TURKS BLAME THEIR
ALLIES FOR DEFEATS
Gcrmans Meanwhile Place Re.
sponsibility on the Sui.
tan's Generals.
ENvER PASHA IS HATED
Sssess, Cor,sspoadsses 70 rns srx.

oeseiei CorssSpoadsNcs 70 fRs srS.
RoMs. March c2.-Sews leaks out
mysteriously from Turkey and strangely
reaches Rome. The sources OF
Information available here are numerous
and naturally II would be unsafe TO
enumerate them.
A a rule the convenient expression
neutral diplomatic sources" 10 used by
the initiated to cover both real diplo-
matte sources. It must be remembered
that in Rome are i've sets Of diplo-
matists. or rather two diplomatic corps.
that accredited to the Quirinal and that
accredited to the Holy See. and other
channels OF information. ecclesiastical.
political, military and private. The
same expression has to be used TO ex-
plain the origin OF the following in
formation, belated but substantially ac-
curate, from Turkey.
According to information from "neu-
trail diplomatic sources" now available
mere the German headquarters stan at
C~onstantinoplc is o%minously silent about
operations In Armenia. The fall OF
Erzerum was not oficlally announced,
hut Il was known all the same at Con-
st%antinople. where fugi,ives from the
territories oce upied by the Russians ar
rived shortly after Erzerum had fallen.
These fugitives say that the Turkish
troops in Armenia are so demoralized
that In most cases they offer no resist
ance. hut retire before coming In con-
tact with the Russians.
Each Blanses the Other.
The TURKS openly blame the Germans
for the Russian successes in Armenia.
The Germans. on the other hand. blame
the Turks. especially the Generals who
disobeyed Marshals Won der Goltz and
Won Sanders and refused to follow their
! plans. but acted Independently. with
disastrous results. The Germans are
now compelled to enforce their orders
and they are striving to raise the
morale OF the Turkish troops by shooting
officers and men at the slightest provo
cation. The salu,ary effects OF such
methods are doubtful since the Turks
often retallate by numbering German
officers In isolated places.
Al, available Turkish troops are now
being sent by rail TO Angora and konia
1 whence TWO Columns H'e TuAItutls CdsN-
ward 10 NEE, the armies retreating from
Armenia. AS the Turks in their retreat
are burning cities. towns and villages,
J destroying bridges and roads and ravag.
ing the country generally. all the ,nha b!-
tants are abandoning the region and
thousands OF refugees are arriving a
Denial. Adm and smyrna. All Chris
tians. the Greeks especially. have beer
ordered TO eyacuate the regions likely &c
he occupied by the Russians and they
have been sent to Asia Minor. where the
MosieIs are treating them PRACTICAL!
as slaves,
Enyer Pasha has just returned &c
Ccns,ant;nople from Syria. where IN
vas sent for the Vurpos" Of distributing
decorations and money among the Arat
! chiefs, whose loyalty H. very doubtful
Together will German officers the Min
lister OF War inspected tho lines OF de
fence and field foI tiflcations between An
CORA and konia, where the Turks arr
organizing their chief dcfcnces aeasns
an eventual Russian advance toward III
west.
Meanwhile the Germans continue thei,
systematic depletion OF the country. The,
are exporting regularly from Asia Mino
not only live stock and wheat, but ais
cotton wool. which Is urgently nc"deC
by the arm, medical corps In Ger
many and Austria. The Germans en-
courage the exodus Of the ~inhabitant'
from towns and villages which are no
imminently threatened by the Russian
in order TO collec; all the foodstuns an'
cattle left behind by the inhabitants II
their hasty flight.
Keep Eav~r Pasha IN SiGht.
Since Enver pasha il held responsible
for the war and the alliance with Ger
many both the Sultan and the mos
prominent Turkish statesmen insist tina
he should assume command of all tn
armies in Armenia, Anatolia and Syria
but the Germans refuse to allow him GU
of their sight. as they consider his pres
ence at Co%nstantinople Indispensable TO
their protection in case Of a military re
volt. Although Enver Pasha has los
much OF his power and influence he |
still the most hated man In Turkey. an
In case OF a revolution the German
would not hesitate to sacrifice him |
order TO gain time and escape them
, selves.
There are more thar 5000 German pc
licemen at Constantinople and a de
tachment OF Austrian a%rtillerymen Wit
heavy guns. All German civilians ar
armed and trained to defend the Ger
man Embassy. where all Germans are I
assemble In case Of danger. A revol
at Constantinople is not likely to oc
cur suddenly and Unexpectedly, as III
Germans have organized an admirabl
: system OF espionage and are warned q
danger in plenty Of time. Besides tn
household troops of the Sultan are loya
and can he relied upon in any case. s
that even IL a revolutionary outbreak oc
-, ours the Germans are not likely TO be tn
| victims. as they will have ample oppoI
tunity TO escape.