Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-11-01
THE COLLAPSE OF TURKEY

eSAASAs " 10 SOGoAA vi Al ~ AO W Q
that Turkey has, as 1t appears at the time Of this writing.
Internationally surrendered-in fact, 1t would have been
much more Of a surprise to hear that the Ottoman nation
would be able to Withstand the pressure any longer. It
may now be taken for granted not only thar Turkey is
definitely out of the war. but also that the source Of all
future trouble-making on the Balkan peninsula has been
removed. ~
Aside from the qualification afforded by the news
itself. it is satisfactory to know that the second actual
breach in the iron ring forged by the Central Powers has
been effected. Bulgaria was the first to yield; now comes
Turkey. and it appears that Austria is on the verge of
collapse, miltarily as well as politically. The Isolation
to which, Prussian statesmen in former. years so often
alluded to-. has become an accomplished fact, for now
Germany finds herself bereft of allies and supporters m
a much keener sense than ever before in her history. In
.cidentally, the isolation of the court and the junker group
in Berlin is being applied from within as well as from
without. - e..
Generally, the humiliation of a nation is not a sight
that inspires a feeling of pleasure in other countries; but
in the case of Turkey the exception that proves the rule
has been found. No one voice in civilized communities
has been lifted in favor or praise Of the "unspeakable
Turk and the fact that he has been downed inspires all
humanity with joy. He has never been credited with one
single contribution to the welfare Of the world, and the
only movement in which he has taken part has been a
retrograde one. For every step European and even
aAdIA LdI1ouS A!OVSu 4O1Wdlu, turkey LOOK II least TWO
in the opposite direction, and although there was a time
not so very many years ago when European statesmen
half expected that something radically progressive was
about to happen in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES is, when abdul
|Hamid was overthrown-all such vague expectations
have come to naught. = y
The Turk may not be forced to accept all the blame
alone. He had teachers and guides in the so-called high
er statecraft, and the dominating influence irradiated
from Berlin.
About forty years ago German officers began to or
ganize the Turkish army, and some time after Emperor
Williams visit at Constantinople in 1888, German influ-
ence made itself felt everywhere in Turkey. German Of
ficers were placed in command Of the Turkish soldiers,
and German engineers constructed the railroads-ever
with the idea Of ultimate Teuton control of the Near
East uppermost in the minds of German statesmen. In
a thousand direct and indirect ways Germany made her
self a friend of Turkey. and the object was obvious.
namely, to ensure the presence of an ally in the East
where SO many Of the chief aspirations Of Germany were
conferred. 9~@ -2 r. v
Mitteleuropa became a mere dream; the Berlin to
|Bagdad railroad: evaporated from the visions of Prussian
diplomats and generals, and the gigantic scheme Of Gre
|ating a Pan-Germany had been frustrated even before
Turkey yesterday lay down her arms.
But the event Of yesterday means that Turkish in
fluence in Europe is for all times dead, and that German
influence in Turkey has been reduced. to such a mini
mum that it will easily escape the microscope of future
historians. .
Turkey has succeeded in eliminating a nation from
the surface of the earth: she has caused the terrible and
tortuous; death of nearly every. Armenian man. woman
and child. The Ottoman collapse may not revive the
Armenian nation. may not call back to life all those who
have been slain outright or who have died after linger-
ing anguish, but it may prove to. be the heavy anderson
ing Of one Of the principles for which the Allied countries
of the world are now fighting: The protection of the
small nations. their rights. their just demands for a life
in peace and undisturbed prosperity.