The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-16
THE BIRMINGHAM AGEHERAID TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1e 1919

and they were driven back to the west
bank of the Jordan.
Unfortunately General Won Biman.
who had in the meantime taken over
in Palestine from General Won Falken-
hayn. had not enough troops to follow
up. At the end of April the English
repeated their attack, with the same
result. At the end of the hot weather,
which was now beginning, its continue
tion was to be expected. but by that
time I hoped that the reinforcement of
the Palestine front. promised by Enver,
would have been effected.
In Armenia the Turks had begun
their advance at the end of February.
BY the end of March they had cleared
the Russians out of their territory,
and by the end of April they had oc-
cupied the territory of Kars and Batum
allotted to them in the peace of Brest.
But this was not the limit of their
ambition; they contemplated extending
their influence in the Caucasus. For
this purpose they developed active
propa ganda among the Mohammedan
population of Aserbijan, where Enver's
brother Nouri also appeared, in order
to raise new formations. At the same
time Turkey opened negotiations with
the Russian republics of Georgia, Aver
bijan and Armenia, which were in pro-
cess of formation on the south side of
the Caucasus BY order of the German
imperial government General Won Los
SOW went from Coustantinople to at
tend these negotiations.
QUARREL OVER SPOILS
In themselves, | was able to assent
to Turkish measures, which were of
service to the general scheme of the
Ty,,t hay ha oil 70
divert Turkey from its proper military
role. nor impede our supply of raw ma =
terials from the Caucasus. from which
we anticipated very considerable allevi-
alton.
Enver's task WINS to fight England
In the first place on the Palestine front
ms 1 pointed out to him repeatedly I'm
clear-worded kilograms. And now there
there was no opportunity of striking the
English in North Persia. This was made
more favorable by the railway line from
Batum via Tiflis to Tabriz. In North
Persia it was possible for the Turks
to oppose the English with superior
mum bers. 1t would have been a real
service to have raised the inhabitants
of Aver bijan against them; and should
gladly have supported every effort di-
rected to that end.
But Envcr and the Turkish govern
ment thought less of fighting England
than of their Pan-Islnmic aims in the
Caucasus. And with these they COM
bined a very material object, namely
the lucrative exploitation of the raw
materials to he obtained there. That
this would not suit Germany's war In
dustry everyone knew who WINS ac-
quatnted with Turkish business meth
DDS In this way VIC came In conflict
with Turkish policy.
During the negotiations at Batum the
representatives of the Georgian repub-
lie had approached General Won Los
SOW with request for the protection
of the German empire. In 1915 and 1915
we had employed Georgian irregulars in
Armenia though without success. or
military questions, and in so doing had
come in contact with influential Geor-
gians. could only welcome this con-
nection, as l did also Georgia's request
for the protection of the German en-
pre
MOVE TO BALK TURKEY
We thus acquired a means of getting
at the raw materials of the Caucasus
independently of Turkey, and of getting
a hold on the working of the Tiflis
railway. The latter was of decisive
Importance in any fighting In North
Persia, and would give better results
under management influenced by us
than under one in which the Turk,
shared.
Finally, we must endeavor to strength
en- ourselves by raising Georgian troop.
who might be used against England
Besides, we could never tell what diff
ficulties we might have to meet from
the volunteer army commanded by Gen,
| eral Alexieff on the north of the eau
casus. |. therefore, requested that tn,
| imperial chancellor would IKE Geor
gia's application into consideration.
For other reasons also the govern
ment was inclined to policy of en-
couraging Georgia. 1t was afraid Of
difficulties that might arise out OF
Turkeys attitude toward bolshevih
Russia. The imperial chancellor strong.
ly condemned the violent measures
adopted by the Turks against the Chris
tian Armenians- They were indeed q
grave blunder, and nothing could justify
them. So when the Georgian represent
atives came to Berlin with General vor
Lossow in June. the government did
not give them an sing re
fusal
published by special arrangement
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the Scandinavian countries).
In the next instalment General Luz
dendorff tells of the crown princes at
tack ON the Chemin des Danes and
blames one of his army commander
for failure to achieve full success in
the drive toward Paris.
TTIT NAM