The Star. WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1918. TURKEY AND GERMANY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 31 July 1918, Page 4

The Star.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1918. TURKEY AND GERMANY.

Delivered every evening by 6 o'clock in -Hawera, Manaia, Normanby,' Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, • Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea. Waverley.

So little news of happenings in Turkey has been received during recent months! that ifc is difficult to estimate the extent of the disappointment and opposi- , tion towards Germany of the Turks, ' whose sever, defeats in Palestine and Mesopotamia have greatly weakened | their moral, while it is known that the failure bf Gei-niany to send substantial aid to resist the Allies in Asia has been I the cause of much bitterness at Con- ; stantinoplc. Turkey entered the war in November, 1914, believing that Germany would triumph, and that it would be advisable to-be on the winning side. I In the fa. c of the kindly treatment which Britain had so often shown to the ■ Ottoman Empire, the decision to join the Central Powers showed the ingratitude- of the untrustworthy Turk. Shortly before Turkey made her decision, Sir Edward Grey stated plainly that if she did join the enemy she would be sighing her own "death warrant," and would, later be expelled from Europe. However, by glittering promises of the German war lords and by the machinations of agents, the Young Turks, in defiance of Britain's threat and in the face of not a little opposition from the Old Turkish party, threw in their lot with the Germans. Turkey's aid to Germany was invaluable, for it detached considerable Allied power sorely needed on the AVest front. The failure of the.' *Ga.l(Vpoli expedition and the loss of Kut, with its gallant defenders, made the Allies' position in the Near East one of great difficulty. Germany also ' benefited by the supplies of cotton and other raw material which she drew from Turkey. But Germany's increasing difficulties in the .West, her great losses of men. and the need for all her strength to resist tho pressure in France and Belgium, have caused her to neglect her partners, . though she made several. promises to send strong reinforcements. General Falkenhayn was said to be in Asia Minor reorganising the Turks and preparing a great drive against the British in Mesopotamia. Germany's-promises did not materialise, and Turkish discontent became more marked. The Secretary of State's summary, published yesterday, stated: "Bulgaria and Turkey begin to realise the dangers of tbe alliance with the Central Powers. Tho German promises to Bulgaria are irreconcilable with German promises to Turkey, and now that Bulgaria and Turkey are both claiming the fulfilment of their respective promises, both are necessarily on the worst terms .with each other and with Germany." It is reasonable, in face of the known facts and' the general attitude of Germany towards her allies, to accept as true the report that relations between Turkey tfiaid Germany have been severed, though it is probably unlikely that Turkey will become an active opponent, of Germany. She may, however, become openly hostile to Bulgaria, and this would cause a very complicated position. The Allies, in their Note to President Wilson, at the end of 1916, stated, regarding.Turkey, that the Allies' aims were: "The liberation of the peoples who now lie beneath the murderous tyranny of the Turks,'' and "the expulsion from Europe of the Ottoman Empire which has proved itself so radically alien to western civilisation." If Turkey becomes an open enemy of the Central Alliance, what will be her position from the Allies' point of view? The great principles for which they are fighting preclude all possibility of receiving her as a friend. The frightful savagery shown by the Turks in Armenia and against the Jews has made the Allies determined that they will end for ever such practices, and it is unthinkable that Turkey should be pardoned or let off lightly because she has fallen out with the arch-enemy of humanity. But though the Allies cannot alter the principles regarding Turkey, her severance of relations with G .rmany is very important and may be regarded as the beginning of tbe end. Bulgaria may be expected to drop out of the Alliance Hue at any time, leaving Germany and Austria to continue as best they can. The news is most encouraging for the Allies, and it is hoped that Germany has lost a partner who has played an important role in the war and has proved n source of much anxiety especially to Britain.