New Britain herald., 1916-03-07
OTTOMAN EMPIRE
 DOWN ON ITS KNEES
Turkey Is Ready to Beg Russia
 for Peace =

Washington, March 7-Turkey has about reached the end of her rope, and would like to drop out of the great European war. Definite lnfor- mation of the most trustworthy char acter, to the effect that the backbone of the Ottoman campaign against the Russians has been broken has reach ed Washington, coupled with the as- sertion that developments of a start ling character may be epected soon in the Near Eastern situation.
 It is intimated that Russia has al ready been approached on behalf of the Turks for a separate peace. Over lures in this direction are not eN- pected to be accepted by the Rus sians at this time. not so much be- cause it is not believed that the Turks are yet ready to give Russia what she wants mostly from Turk eA' an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea, as because Russia has entered into compact with the other Entente Allies not to sign separate peace. But the information that Turkey $ power for both offense and defense has reached it's limit and is now ra- pidly on the decline is made on 1n- formation of definite and reliable semi-official character that has reached Washington.
 Turkish Army Cut in Half.
 It is coupled with the statement also made on the most trustworthy authority, that the Turks are not able to resist the onward advance of the army of Grand Duke Nicholas, flush ed with it's victories at Erzerum and Ritlis. across the heart of Asia Minor to the Syrian coast. The victories of the Grand Duke, which, according to information reaching Washington will shortly be followed by sensa- tional military developments in Asia Minor, are expected to cut the Turk ish empire in half, have made the capture of Bagdad certain, and blocked the Teuton plans for drives against India and Egypt:
 Among the many things that nave demonstrated the inability of Turkey to successfully cope with her enenllos among the Entente Allies, partlcu- larly with the Russian advance through Asia Minor, is the food sit nation. The entire Ottoman Empire, according to reliable advices received here. has been virtually without suf- ticient food for nearly two months. The crops of Turkey have been the poorest in generation A visitation of locusts out of Egypt through SE- ria created frightful havoc with the growing crops
 Crooked Officials Seize Food.
 To add to the misfortunes of the crop shortage and the terrible food situation large quantities of food were disposed of to Germans. 1nfor- 1 mation has come to Washington to the effect that when the German drive through Serbia succeeded in 1 putting the German armies in toucn l with Constantinople, high Turkish l officials who were pro-Teutontc in their ideals and sympathies, among them Enver Pasha, requisitioned large quantities of food and sold 1 them at high prices to the Germans. 1 Some of these Turkish officials be- l came wealthy through the requisi- l of food for sale to the Ger l mans at Constantinople.
 The Turkish financial fabric has | also greatly weakened. The princi- l plc source of funds has been Ger l many, and Germany is shutting down 1 on the granting of financial aid to 1 the Ottoman government. But the | real blow at Turkish power has been | the advance of the Russian armies 1 under command of Grand Duke Ne 1 holas from the direction of the CaG- casus upon Erzerum.
 The Grand Duke has an enormous