The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-25
GERMAN PRAISES TURK
TROOPS IN GAl|CIA

Berlin, Dec. 2S.--The thousands OF
crack Turkish troops rushed to East |
ern Galicia last summer to aid the
Austro-f+erlnan forces In the task OF
holding back the advancing Russians
are doing excellent service and thor
oughly maintaining the lighting ira
ditions of the Ottoman army. accord
ing TO the following report sent to
the Frankfurter Zettung BY Emil OPP
latka:
Thanks TO the valiant conduct and
the great adaptahility Of the Otto
mans, the distribution of several d.
visions of Ottoman troops along the
front In Eastern Galicia. decided
upon during the Russian summer Of
fens.ve, has proved . much greater
success than was expected.
TT was no doubt a surprise for the
skeptics among our opponents when
the first official announcement that
Turkish expedition was coming North,
despite the renewal OF the Russian
offensive on the Armenian front. was
followed by the actual arrival OF q
goodly number of Ottoman troops on
the fields OF battle north OF the Car
pathians and their immediate intro
duction to the baptism OF Are In union
with the allied German and Austro-
Hungarian divisions OF General Both
mer. fighting in Eastern 0alicia.
north OF the Dniester.
Their transportation BY rail- from
Constantinople through Bulgaria. Ser-
bia and Hungary to Eastern 0Alicta
and volhynia had been omplished
at the double quick. Only In Belgrade
and semlin were haits made for rest.
Then they were rushed directly 70
their predestined position on the
front east Of Lembers and an entire
army corps OF the elite Ottoman
| troops was thrown at once into the
firing line. while other divisions were
placed In reserve.
The question OF acclimatization
did not present any great dificulties.
as most of the troops were peasants
! from the mountains OF Asia Minor
and the climate Of Central Gaiicia
probably Is milder and more equabie
than that of Southern Hungary.
when the Ottoman troops arrived
In Galicia Bothmer had decided 70
evacuate the wedge-shaped strip
along the Stripa front The Russians
were In hot pursuit. and during this
great movement the Ottomans helped
defend the new line. From shallow
trenches, without barbed wire de-
lenses, they tirelessly held off all the
mass attacks of the RussianA
Zone of the divisions lighting near
Brxezany had. after a series OF little
campaigns In the Balkans, held of
the Greeks for a long time at Janlna-
In October. 1914. the month In which
Turkey entered the war the division
was thrown into Galipoli. and for
fifteen months defended Arr Burnu
under the murderous nre Of the heavy
naval guns
1.-THE men OF this division are near
~ all peasants from Anatolia In the
first flush Of manhood: the older men
are kept In reservea. Tho nom
! commissioned oficers are experienced
fighters, and are just a. good at IN
, dividuai service as they are at main
! tanning discipline.
I'VE know that the Ottomans are
brave, but we also know that they
feel no natural inclination to guard
and protect themselves. But under
capable direction they do surprisingly
good work in preparing the greAt
earthworks required by modern war
fare. Together with the farmer boys
from Anatolia night dark Skinned
Arabs and the lighter-complexioned
people from the neighborhood Of the
big cities. such ~ Smyrna and Bussa.
The conduct Of the Ottoman Of
ncers 10 equal in every particular 20
the best European model9 Every Of
ficer IL master Of either the German
or French language. Their air Of
stately assurance - very pro- |
nouhced.S