New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-03
A PLEA FOR THE TURK
A Brave and Chivalrous Fighter, Whatever
His Crimes.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In view of the sweeping conclusions
arrived at by one Arshag Mahdesian con-
corning the alleged poor fighting qualities Of
the Turkish soldier there are a number Of
statements in his letter which need correc-
ton even after due allowance is made for
the natural antagonsm felt toward the
Turks By a member Of the Armenian race
which has suffered much from their hands.
In the first place. every one knows that tho
"inglorious" defeat Of Turkish troops by the
Balkan League was caused by the lack Of
organization higher up; specifically the abso-
Lutte breakdown of the mythical commissary
department OF the Turkish army. The Turk
ish troops driven back to Tchataldja had
been without food and short of ammunition
for days As TO their personal bravery any
Bulgar who took part in that memorable
drive will testify incidentally, any sweep
ing indictment of the Turkish army must in
clude the members of the Armenian race
fighting in the ranks. While the fight at
Tchatadia was az its height the writer had
Il new waiter appear at his table in Con-
stantinople He was an Armenian who had
taken French leave from the Turkish ranks
and he said TO me- "They gave us nothing TO
eat so | came back. How could we fight"
As for the chivalry of the Turks. denounced
by Mr.. Mahdesian. American women residents
Of the Turkish capital have experienced more
insults on the streets from minor German
officers than they ever did from the Turks.
Neither does he arrive anywhere by quoting
an invective hurled at the English by Turk
sh journal, for he himself must surely be
aware of the crude state of journalism in the
Turkish Empire. where practically every line
is inspired and where the war news is juggled
so ridiculously that IT satiates only the most
ignorant
To say that "the Turkish soldier cannot
fight splendidly except when he is opposed to
defenceless women and children" is loose
statement, which cannot be made with entire
truth about any army in the world Mr.. Nah
desian also fails to make clear the various
component parts which go to make up the
Ottoman forces. 1t is impossible to class
the hardy, abstemious Anatolians. hardened
soldiers of the old school, with certain
younger levies led by immature officers
learned in the vices of European capitals.
Has Mr.. Mahdesian ever seen company of
bearded Redifs?
As for the Arabs, the last decade of Turk
ish wars has proven their shortcomings in
these days of scientific warfare. Splendid
in guerilla warfare and snipng forays. their
hysterical charges avail little against ma
chine guns. They have no place in a modern
military machine. To quote Mr. Mahdesian.
"ln Mesopotama the Turkish troops would
present a very sorry figure but for the brave
Arabs" Has he heard of the incident which
occurred in the recent campaign where the
commander of the Turkish forces asked the
British general for an armstice until he
could clean the Arabs out of that section Of
the country where they had caused trouble
by plundering the stores of both the Brit
ish and the Turks? Brave? Thieves are
brave. too.
The fighting quality of the present day
Turkish soldier is brilliantly demonstrated
in his precipitous flight before the victorious
armies of Grand Duke Nicholas" continues
Mr.. Mahdesian. Why then, are the Turks
not all crowded back 10 smyrna? They have
had sufficient time, and even Asia Minor has
its limits.
Every army has its licentious beasts and
eager plunderers. The Turkish army has
many of both, but not even the undisputed
horrible facts of the Armenian massacres
can efFace the records of individual proves.
bravery and downright chiyalry made BY
Turks on the open field of battle The mas
sacres of old men. women and children and
military operations directed against oppos-
ing armies are two separate phases of the
whole terrible war T. n. POCKNAN
New York Aug .. 1916.