Evening star., 1942-08-17
BY HENRY J. TAYLOR,
War Correspondent Of The Star and Nor

War Correspondent Of The Star and North
American Newspaper Alliance
NEW YORK, Aug. lin the
last nine months this writer has
visited every neutral country in
Europe In the north I saw Sweden
fed through cage" and then
Switzerland trapped in the center
of the Nazi mass. In the south ]
saw Spain and Portugal. Now
have just returned by air from
Turkey.
There In the east, at the gateway
to Asia, I found only good news
for the United Nations, better news
than anywhere in Europe.
First. there is no possibility what
ever of Turkey Joining the Axis y
The war is full of imponderables,
but that is not one of them. Tur-
key will either stay out Of the war,
as she wishes to do, or she Will
fight the Germans.
The reasons are basic. The Turks,
and especially the present govern
ment of the new Turkey, know the
Germans only too we'll. President
Ismet Inonu, Prime Minister Shukru
Saracoglu and Merchal Fevzi ChaK-
max, Turkish chief Of staff. disciples
of the great Kemal Ataturk. all wit
messed the disastrous treatment OF
Turkey by Germany in World War /.
They are stepped in the Ataturk
tradition of distrust and dislike for
their treacherous neighbors OF the
north.
Ataturk's Warning Recalled.
beware these strange Germans, y
Ataturk warned. Everything that
has happened in Europe since he
died in 1885 has indorsed his view.
There is nothing quite or subtle
about this Turkish attitude when
YOU are in Ankara. 1t comes to you
in government offices, in army bar
racks. in embassies and banking
houses and from the man in the
street. The Turks simply do not
trust and do not like the Germans.
A few weeks ago when he was ele-
vated to Prime Minister, Shukru
Saracoglu gave me an interview.
ITO the independence of this coun-
try we have dedicated our lives as
free Turks" he said He was say
ing that Turkey would fight Ger
MANY If she had to. This Is
national conclusion, fixed in the at
titude of the nation. 1t is even
q national by-Word.
Can Turkey fight? Yes, and far
better than we suppose. The Turks
are tough. They have a fine war
spirit. They have 100000 regulars
fully mobolized and in the field,
These are good troops, well trained,
well led. They have 100000 irregu-
lars who are now prepared for. and
would be very effective in guerrilla
warfare.
They need more British and
American artillery. but what they
have is good. They are weak on
tanks. but their terrain helps them,
for Turkey is very mountainous,
lacks roads for motor transport and
discounts all mechanization.
RAF Could Help Quickly.
Turkey today has $50 f1rst-class
operational aircraft, 400 more that
are not good enough to fight the
present German equipment. But
we have a tendency to forget that
Turkey is England's formal military
ally. Under this alliance the British
have been building magnificent air
fields throughout Turkey. The Raj
could move into Turkey tomorrow to
help the Turks in big way. The
Middle East command of the Raj,
under Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur
Tedder, whom I visited in Cairo. is
set to do it-and will do 1t in a
minute, if the call comes.
Next to Germany, the Turks fear
Russia's historic eyeing of the Dar-
danelles. But here again Turkeys
interest favors England and Amer
lea. because Turkey reasons that
close affiliation with the two great
democracies is her best means OF
exerting moderation on Russia and
easing over this delicate situation
In any postwar settlement.
From the Turkish viewpoint. Ger
many's success in the Caucasus