The sun., 1918-07-30

An OmClal OF q neutF..I latlOn, VINO
had just returned from Constantine
pie, is reported in a SrS despatch
from Paris as describing the situa-
ton in Turkey "as one likely to have
disastrous consequences very soon to
the Teutonic alliance"
For some time 1t has been evident
that Turkey was becoming a burden
to the Central Powers. The Ottoman
Government, so adroitly built up into
n subservient machine by German
diplomacy and placed under the con-
troll Of ENvER Pasha and TALAAT Bey.
has recently proved rebellious. The
gift OF khe Transcaucasus region.
one of the prizes Of the rest-Litovsk
negotiation. did not satisfy the greed
Of the land hungry Turks. They be-
! gan Immediately processing a great
revival of national Ottoman spirit
and demanded the possession of the
Crimea and Of western Persia. But
this territory was material to the
success Of Germany's eastern scheme
and she refused to encourage the Otto
man revival by acceding to the de-
mands of her glorious ally"
Not only has Germany refused this
grant of territory, but she has done
nothing to assist Turkey in occupying
the Transcaucasus region. The Turk
ish troops, by destroying the Chris
tian towns of the Black Sea coast and
| massacring the inhabitants. swept al
most unopposed to the Caucasl
mountains. Here they were checked
In six months offensive warfare
they have been unable to make any
| Roadway, although the country Is
known to be held only by bands OF
Georgians and Armenians. The last
report from this region received at
Washington is to the effect that the
GeorgianArmenian troops are not
! only holding their positions but are
making decided gains. The question
! to the Turks Is, How can these people
! In this isolated theatre of the war
keep up such a sturdy resistance
The Turkish military leaders charge
that the Germans never intended that
Turkey should occupy this. territory
and that the Georgians and Ar
menians are receiving their supplies
Of arms and ammunition from Rus.
sian ports controlled by Germany.
The visit Of Emperor CHARLES to
Constantlnople and the efforts Of the
German diplomats failed to reconcile
the differences between Bulgaria and
! Turkey. ENyER Pasha demanded that
since the Central Powers had given
the Dobrudia to Bulgaria, Bull
garia should return to Turkey the
Martha valley and n part Of the
.Egean coast This Is the territory
which Germany forced Turkey to cede
to Bulgaria ms the Bulgarians' price
| for entering the war as allies Of the
Central Powers. Bulgaria refused
and Germany has sided with her in
the controversy. Frequent clashes be.
tween Turkish and Bulgarian troops
have since been reported, and ENvER
PNsha, despatch from CONSTANT
Dpple says, has threatened to occupy
the controverted territory with an
armed force II Berlin continues to op.
pose his demands.
There have been frequent NANTES.
tatiops of discomfort among the PEG.
pie and in the army. At the time that
General Won MACKENsEN was sent 10
| take control of the Ottoman forces In
Asia Minor despatch from Constan.
tinople, which appeared to have Off.
cial sanction, reported the desertion
OF 10000 Turkish troops. A report
from Smyrna, which has just been
confirmed, says that In mutinies al
many points in Asia Turkish troops
killed their German officers and that
whole regiments deserted. The fail
ure to make the long threatened effor,
to halt the British advance In Meso
potamia and Palestine Is generally be
lieved among the Allies TO be due tC
the lack Of faith OF the Turkish and
German commanders In their troops