The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1918-10-23
wTURIeY Ng0eoPe ANATouA
va sSHr1sf4IH sSHsr HsFIIsH1 = IIIl hesopoTAE4A
E@S SYRIA. .eLHALAz: YEMEN, ELRRSI

Present Sultan of Turkey and map
of his dominions; General Liman
Won Sanders arrow, in command
of German Turk forces, and MEM
bers of his staff.
The world Is now witnessing the
last act in the long drama of Tur-
keys dissolution as an empire. AS
the curtain falls at the peace con-
ference. beholders will see Turkey
not as a powerful empire with do
minions extending over three CONT
nents, but as a weak and insignifi
cant state embracing the semi-arid
hills and plains of Anatolio or as 1t
is perhaps better known. Asia Minor.
Europe has not been in serious
danger of domination by the Turk
since 1888, when a great Turkish
army was defeated at the gates of
Vienna. At that time Turkey was
master Of Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece,
and Crimea and was by far the most
powerful nation on the Mediter-
ranean. Since then the Turk power
slowly crumbled, yet within the
memory of many men now living
Tudlish possessions have ade an
impressive showing on the maps Of
Asia and Africa, as well as Europe.
Turk Almost Out Of Europe
At the outbreak of the Balkan war
European Turkey in the possession
of the Turks amounted to $3.50
square miles, but the peace of 1915
left the Ottomans only 1882 square
miles of this. Turkish territory in
late years has been further depleted
by the loss of Tripoli, annexed to the
Italian empire in 1912; of Egypt,
proclaimed a British protectorate in
1915, and Of Samos held by Greece.
the holy city of Mecca, declared its
independence last year. Before the
loss Of this province. which has an
area Of 10000 square miles and a
population of 1,050,000, Turkish pos
sessions in Asia exclusive Of Arabia,
which is nominaIly under Turk con-
troll. had an area of 710,224 square
miles and population of about 49,
100000.
How will Turkey be carved? No
living man can tell. but the civilized
shall be done. When Bulgaria sur
rendered the other day it was rumor-
ed that she did so in the hope that
she might be rewarded with Turkey
in Europe, Bulgaria being the only
European nation whose boundaries
touch those of Turkey. CONSTANT |
nople may be internat tionalized, but
Turkeys European dominions are
too large to be disposed Of In this
manner.
ri Hejaz in all likelihood viii be |
permitted to retain its present gov
Syria Wants French Proteesorate
Syria win become a French colony, |
if the wishes of the Syrians are con-
sidered. The area OF Syria, includ- |
ing Palestine, is 114,530 square |
miles: the population is. 1876, 100. |
The British conquerors of Palestine |
may establish this historic place as
q Jewish state.
Armenia desires independence. In |
Armenia before the world war there |
were 100000 Armenians and about
an equal number of Kurds. Almost
the entire Armenian population has
been butchered since the Turks join
ed hands with the Hun.
Mesopotamia whoch has been con-
quered by the British, may remain
British colony. IL has an area OF
143, $50 square miles and q population
of 10000
The only Turkish yilayet In Asia
which is peopled primarily by Turks
Is Asia Minor g. Anatolia Asia
Minor has an G-sg Of slightly less
than 200, 600 square miles and a pop
ulation Of littfe more than 10000.
What we now know as Anatofia will
be all that the world will know as
Turkey after the coming peace con
ference experts confidently predict.