The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-08-19

is in progress. eyes naturally turn in
her direction. With the Allies striking
strong blows at the soft undersidc Of
the continent, the question naturally
arises: What part will Turkey play /?
Whatever she does, whatever decision
she takes, will have a profound effect
upon the military developments in the
southeast and upon the duration of
the war. Hence the Importance of the
following article showing what the
trend is in that country.
~ GEOGRAPHICALLY, Turkey
Ystretching from the borders of
Iran and Iraq to Eastern Thrace
in EWope-has an excellent opportu-
nifty to play an important role against
the AXis-in the West, on the Medi-
terranean and Aegean Sea, as well as
i'll the Northwest. on the Thracian
border, as q rallying point for attacks
aimed at Bulgaria, Rumania, Hun
gary, and Germany itself As guardian
Of the Dardanelles, since the treaty
Of MontreuX in 1886, and strength
ened by formidable Notifications, Tur-
key can at viii close the Straits to all
Axis shipping and open passage into
the Black Sea to Allied merchantmen
and warships. thus shortening the
supply route to Russia and threaten
ing the rear Of Axis troops in South
ern Russia.
The short distance between the out
let Of the Bospcrus into the Black
Sea and Constantza, on the Bumanian
coast, would make possible swift mil
italy moves against Rumania and
Bessarabia without being endangered
by Axis warships and submarines in
the Black Sea. Such moves could be
supported by the Russian Navy now
stationed in the ports Of Poti and
Batum. In the West, Turkey might
grant the use Of Anatolian ports. es-
pecially the vast halbor Of Smyrna, to
the United Nations, and on the flank
cover the attack of land and air
borne troops operating on the Aegean
Islands and against the Greek main
land. Allied air bases already pre7
pared in Anatolia, furthermore, might
give the Allied air foces an excellent
basis for smashing at the coastal for
tifications Of the Germans and Ital-
ians on the Aegean Islands, and for
capturing such important strongholds
as Crete in the inner, and Leros, Chi
Os and Mytilene, in the outer circle.
In the South, the formerly so-called
Bagdad Balm, running from the Syr-
ian border to Istanbul and Adrianople,
with sidetrack to Smyrna, and the
railway system linking the South
with Ankara and Bagdad, would en-
able the Allies to put the Ninth and
Tenth British Armies, now poised in
Syria, Iraq and Palestine, into action
at all strategic points in Asia Minor
and in Eastern Thrace. Turkey there
fore, is an immense reservoir for
troop concentrations able to strike in
every direction, especially to the
north, crossing the Martha line and
imperiling the Axis armies in the Bal
kans. There is no doubt such an in
vasion would coincide with open re-
volts Of the Balkan peoples already
set to shake off the yoke of Nazi rule
and their puppet governments.
Politically, the trend of Turkish
policy is showing a closer leaning to-
ward the Allied cause.
President Ismet Inonu, as an ardent
fighter for the rights of small ma
IONS, had already advocated in the
league of Nations mutual security
81 all Balkan States, MANAGED by
aggressive ambitions of Germany. and
Italy, but he failed. due to Bulgarian
resistance. Up to 1888, Turkey had
adapted her policy to the role Of me-
diator between Europe and Asia; i. e.,
she had fostered peaceful develop
ment of her economy and he west
ernization Of the peoples in the Near
East without joining one Of the great
European power groups struggling
for performance in that part Of the
world. After the Nazis had devoured
Austria and Czechoslovakia and Ger
many had penetrated the political life
Of the lower Danube countries, Turkey
was compelled to look after her own
security by joining the British and
concluding the Alliance of May and
September, 1889 That decision stimuli
taneously led to loosening Of the
strong economic tie with Germany
S S
Immediately after HitIers rise to
power the normal Turko-German vol
ume of trade increased considerably,
1t grew through Gcrmany's ruthless
dumping-sugges by the former
President of the German Reichsbank,
DR.. Hjalmar Schacht, and continued
by the Minister Of Economics, Dr..
Walther Funk, in order to discourage
and exclude other nations from Turk
ish trade. With Great Britain and
France, as colonial powers, being UNI
able to purchase the agricultural sur