Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-09-05
How Germany Forced
Turkey Into the War.
Henry Morsanth.u, in Land and Water.

fact that England had now become
Russia's ally. Pictures were published
showing the grasping powers of the en-
tente as rapacious animals, snatching
away at poor Turkey. Enver was adver-
tised as the hero who had recovered
Adrianople: Germany was pictured as
turkeys friend; the kaiser suddenly be-
came "Hadji Wilhelm" the great pro-
tector of Islam; stories were even printed
that he had become a convert to Moham-
mechanism. The Turkish populace wa in
formed that the Moslems Of India and Of
Egypt were bou to revolt and throw
off their English '%tyrants."
But Germany was doing more than pofs-
oning The Turkish mind; she was appro-
priating Turkeys military resources. 1
have already described how, in January,
1914, the kaiser had taken over the Tur-
kish army and rehabilitated 1t I'm prepara-
ton for the European war. He now pro-
ceeded to do the same thing with the
Turkish navy. In August Wangenheim
boosted to me that I'VE now control both
the Turkish army and navy" At the time
the Goeben and Breslau arrived. an Eng
fish mission. headed by Admiral Limpus.
was hard at work restoring the Turkish
navy. Soon afterwards Limpus and his
associates were unceremoniously dis
missed.
Night after night whole carloads of Ger
mans arrived at -Constantinople from Ber-
lin; there were finally $500 men. most of
them sent to man the Turkish havy and
to manufacture ammunition. They filled
the cafes every night. and they paraded
the streets OF Constantinople in the small
hours of the morning. bowling and sing
Ing German patriotic songs. Many OF
them were skilled mechanics. who inn
mediately got to work repairing the de-
stroyers and other ships and putting them
In shape for war. The British firms of
Armstrong and Vickers had q splendid
dock in Constantinople. which the Ger
mans appropriated. All day and night we
could hear this work going on, and we
could hardly sleep because Of the hubbub
OF riveting and hammering. Wangenheim'
now. found another opportunity for In
sitting more poison into the minds of
Enver and .Talaat. The German workers,
ships were in q desperate state of disre-
pair. and for this he naturally blamed
the English naval mission. He said that
England had deliberately let the Turkish
navy go to decay; this was all part Of
England's plot to ruin Turkey! "Look!'',
he would exclaim. SEQ what we Germans
have done for the Turkish army. and sec
what the English have done for your
ships!" AS q matter Of fact, all this WA
untrue; Admiral Limpus had worked hard
and .conscientiously to improve the navy
and had accomplished excellent results.
On September a. Sir Louis Mallet, the
British Ambassador. entered my office in
q considerably disturbed state of mind.
The khedive Of Egypt had just left and I
began to talk to Sir Louis about Egyptian
matters.
Lets discuss thai some other time"
he said. 81 ave something far more Inn
portant to tell you. They have closed
the D~ardanelles."
BY they" he meant. of course, not the
Turkish government. the only power
which had the legal right to take this
drastic step. but the actual ruling powers
in Turkey. the 0efmAns.