BEATEN BY POLITICS.

Grey River Argus, 21 November 1912, Page 8

BEATEN BY POLITICS.

K TURKISH ARMY DEMORALISED

BRITISH OFFICER'S OPINION

. . -.. v , . S&NEY, Nov.' 'ii v> ' A British, officer, who recently^visiited the Balkans , writing-, to a ; frienv* in Sylney, says :— "a'ou ask >me t whai 1 , think of the xank and . file "of \ the Turkish army? "My seventh visit.. to' Turkey leaves me with. the same opinibnof the Turkish.'soldier as a figh\ing man as I formed when I first saw him on active service under Osman Pasha at Plevna in the seventie. No'

troops in the. world could then ■ surpass the tenacity and ..bravery of the

iirkish army ,ahd ithey are just as good to-day, with this exception. Of late the efficiency of /the army li^s been undermined by , the Parliamentary pa^ty; pbliticians have been placing their own .personal interests before the country, ,^nd the equipment and general Organisatipn of the fighting services has suffered, man/ of their weapons, especially small army, have been neglected, and ( the ammunition • reserve, is dangerously low.. It is to, be hoped "that Australia will never a]lo\v her navy and army "io be subject to political influence. In these days no fighting machine which is not thorous"hly efficient in. all details, (and details arc all-important), organisation, arid equipment; and ready for active service, with ample ammunition reserves at a few hours notice, will not; stand much chance ot success, however brave the soldiers may be." „ ' . ' \