IZZET PASHA FLEES.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 267, 4 August 1908, Page 7

IZZET PASHA FLEES.

MIS SHIP STOPPED. NEW CONSTITUTION AND CABINET. ATTITUDE OF THE Alt MY. - (bt telegraph—press association—copyright.) (Roc. August 3, 11.13 p.m.) Constantinople, August 3. In tho rearranged Cabinet the following former Ministers retain their positions:— Minister for War, ltiza Pasha. , I Minister for Marino, Hassan Rami Pasha. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ahmed Tewfik Pasha. " Minister for Public Instruction, Hashim Pasha. Minister for Finance, Zia Pasha. Said Pasha, the new Grand Vizier, "has appointed several new Ministers, but-there is an impression that tho Cabinet is only transitory. The Constitution declares that all Ottomans are equal, regardless of race and religion. The . Sultan's , deposed favourite, Izzet Pasha, who is denounced as Turkey's evil genius, escaped from Constantinople aboard the British ship Maria, which was stopped at the Dardanelles, pending communication with the British Embassy respecting his surrender. Tho Sultan's recent actions and language, combined with the fall of the hated Palace officials, liavo favourably impressed tho Liberals, who arc trying to persuade 20,000 troops in Macedonia to support the Sultan as a constitutional monarch. Nino thousand troops nt Constantinople and the' fleet support a constitutionals regime. One thousand time-expired soldiers at Adrianoplc mutinied,. desiring to proceed to Constantinople to rescue the Sultan. TURKEY'S MILITARY STRENGTH. The Army, if not disunited, can dominate the situation. Tho peace effectives of the active .Turkish Army are under 300,000 men. There is an excellent organisation on paper, but large deductions must be made on account of indolence, inertia, and corruption. Still, in 1897, Turkey-; rapidly concentrated against Greeoe two amies of a total strength of 185,000 men, qnd orushed her opponent after a short campaign. German .officers reorganised the Army in the 'eighties. The fleet is not formidable. In the Naval Annual, Turkey is credited with'having only throe armoured ships, the Messoudieh (9120 tons), tho Hauiidieh (6700 tons), and the Assar-i-Tewfik (4613 tons). .Tlie Messoudieh is credited with ability to steam 17.5 knots an hour) the others are 13-knot boats. They have ten 10.2 in. guns, two 9.2 in., twelvo Gin., and somo smajler weapons. There are about ten cruising craft, ranging from 3800 tons t0'775 tons. Two other cruisers have just been completed for Turkey at German shipyards. , Tho word Ottomans, in tho sense in which it is generally used, is applied to that branch of the Turks v'hich founded and rule the Turkish Empire. The Ottoman Turks lived originally in Central' Asia. Under their first Sultan,, Otliman (reigned 1288-1326), they founded a realm in Asia Minor,, which was soon ; extended into Europe. : With the capture of. Constantinople in 1153 they succeeded to the Byzantine empire, and their rule, at its height' in the sixteenth century, extended over the greater part of south-eastern Europe and much of western Asia and northern Africa. Thev have since lost Hungary, Rumania, Servia,- Greece, etc.; and practically Bulgaria, Egypt; etc. The Ottoman Turks are Sunnito Mohammedans, and regard the Sultans as .representatives of the forinei" klmlifs. ;<