The sun., 1918-07-31
|BREAK BY TURKEY
LONG SEEN HERE
No Official Report Of Actual
Breach With Germany
Yet Received.
Special Despatch n Tur srH.

WASHINGTON, July discrimination
OF the reported break between Germany
and Turkey is stir lacking at the state
Department. officials, however, are in
clined to believe that serious friction
between the Germans and the Turks has
been smoc:cering for the last week or
more. and advices show that It has been
growing more and more menacny to the
continuance OF such relations as would
be expected to exist among allies.
The reported dispute between the Ger
mans and the Turks over the cruiser
IIa,nidieh. which Germany demanded as
compensation for the former German
cruiser Breslau, which was destroyed in
the Dardanelles while under the Turkish
flag. is not regarded In diplomatic cir
Giles here as the real cause OF friction,
though this admittedly may have been
an incident contributing to an outburst
of Turkish Indignation, since Germany
seized the ship regardless of Turkeys
permission.
The real cause OF the growing friction
~ believed here to be due to the grow
ing disappointment Of the Turks over
the trend of military events affecting
their interests and the dissatisfaction of
the Turks over the territorial adjust
ments' made at Bucharest.
Tired of Continued Loss.
Reports received here have reflected
not only distinct feeling OF war weari-
ness In Turkey, but n deep rooted i'm
preston that Turkey had been imposed
upon by Germany and then left to face
consequences without German help. The
British campaign In Palestine, the
progress OF war events In Mesopotamia,
where the British have repeatedly de-
feated the Turks, appear to have i'm
pressed them with the price they were
paying for their alliance with Germany
and Austria.
German officers in Constantinople re-
peatedly promised the Turks that Ger
man assistance would deliver them from
these losses. but no German aid has
ever been extended. The Turks appear
now to be reaching the stage, officials
here say. where they are taking stock In
war developments and asking them
selves whether their present position Is
a profitable one.
Lack OF food and supplies in Turkey
IL understood 10 have contributed to the
growing depression and discouragement
caused by repeated military reverses.
There has been a division or opinion III
Turkey for many months regarding tho
wisdom OF Turkeys course In having
csat its lot with the Central Powers
Wilson's stand Significant.
These facts are all known to officials
here, who expect collapse of the pro-
German domination in Turkey to come
before long even II the report that K has
come already proves unfounded.
1t Is because Of this situation that
President Wilson has sought by all
means to refrain from precip.tatng mat
tiers between the United States and Tur-
key, despite agitation in certain Con-
gressional circles. Secretary OF state
Lansing at the time of the recent Tabriz
incident. when Turkish troops were re-
ported to have attaclNd the American
and British consulates and to have
sacked an American hospital. indicated
clearly that this Government had had
good reason for not rushing into a dec
laration of war against Turkey.
II is understood here that certain
strong Turkish factions have been ind
rectly seeking to approach the Fnited
States Government with respect to d.
Vorcing Turkey from German domna-
ton. A special Turkish mission is said
to have gone to Switzerland to further
this plan, but nothing further has been
made known OF IL.