The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1915. TURKEY'S BAD BARGAIN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1915. TURKEY'S BAD BARGAIN.

When she foolishly fell to German J blandishments and entered upon the present war as ally to the Kaiser, Turkey was exceedingly ill-provided with war material. As a result of the Balkan war the stocks of guns, rifles, ammunition, uniforms, and such necessities are very light, and it is precisely an abundance of stores of this description that makes for efficiency in an army. During recent months some supplies were received by way of Bulgaria and Roumania from Germany, but it is generally recognised that the hulk of the large army Turkey has called to the colors is insufficiently provided with the veriest necessities. One authority es. timates that perhaps a maximum of some 300,000 men of all arms may he considered as properly armed and equipped, and these are probably better trained than formeily owing to the presence of numerous German officers. It may also be reckoned that German administration of all supply departments is reducing in some measure the hopeless confusion that normally exists in the Turkish army service, and wliich, in times of war, gains in intensity till paralysis ensues. But even with the most perfect organisation the Turkish Army's efficiency must be limited in many directions, and in every engagement so far reported the Turco-German combination has been routed. A writer in the "Far East" remarks that one of the most vivid memories that remains to those who saw anything of the last war in which Turkey was engaged, is that of the masses of starving men and beasts of the broken KirkKilisse army that fell back upon Cha. talja. On all hands one heard the remark: "We were starving. How could wo fight?" And the campaign in this case was near the capital, with a railway fully provided with coal to aid in the distribution of food. What, then, is likely to be the fate of the eastern army opposed to the Russians from across the Caucasus? 111-clothed, under-fed, poorly armed, they have little prospect of successfully resisting the troops of the Czar, who have proved themselves more than the equal of Germany's muchvaunted legions of highly-trained and perfectly equipped mechanical soldiers. As regards the Turks and Islam, and the rights or wrongs of the present war, the "Far East'.' says: "Is it necessary to say that a grave injustice would be done to the Islamic faith if it were judged by what the Turks have made of it? Islam is a living faith, broad in its conceptions; profound in its ethics, based essen-

tially on the omnipotence of God. It' acknowledges our prophets and honors our Master more reverently than do many of our quasi-Christians. We may consider that it Ims limitations, hut Christianity, too, literally inter-. preted or misinterpreted; produced t evils enough in the past. Perhaps the most important of these limita-J tions is that the non-Moslem may be considered the equal of a True Believer. Justice towards the Christian is commanded, but only as an act,

of grace—the justice a kind master extended to his slaves in the Southern States: rather to satisfy and honor himself than as an obligation. The Mohammedan prefers not to be beholden to, or to serve, the Christian; but the law says that if such service be your fate, disloyalty to the bread you eat will entail punishment in the next world, if not in this. The Mohammedans who recognise the British Raj come within this law; having accepted our protection, their loyalty is towards us. Generations have grown up to strengthen this bond, and to-day the world bears witness to Indian loyalty, and our Mohammedans have earned, our Empire's gratitude. The Turk hopes, withYhe help of German gold and ceaseless intrigue, to convert this latest war into a Jehad, but the necessary elements are lacking. Turkey is not assailed, but is the aggressor. She fights to help an infidel State, not to defend an Islamic one. This the law does not allow. What appeal can the Turks make to induce others to follow their wild fortunes? Our Mohammedans have enjoyed half a century of progress, during which they have developed not only materially, but morally. Islam in India is much nearer the true teaching of the Prophet than anything Turkey can show. Islam is a spiritual faith with our Mohammedans, while it is hardly more than a political weapon with the Turk 1 . Our Mohammedan fellow subjects might well say to the Turk: 'lt is not you who can teach us the Faith. It is we who have upheld it and raised it to honor, while yon have lowered it to the level of a party cry.' Does the Turk imagine that our people are ignorant of the effect the Salonika Judaeo-Mohanimedans have had upon Turkey? Are they blind to the recent conduct of the Turkish women of Constantinople, which horrifies even the decent villagers, let alone an aristocratic and self-respecting people such as our Indians? What distinguished man, what teacher can the Young Turk produce from the Committee ranks with any pretensions to being a close conformer to the Law ? None; no, not one! All such-and there are many—are driven into seclu-, sion ; they dare not move nor speak. Engineered fanaticism we may see, but no true rising for the Faith. For the Faithful are to be found beyond the scope of Turkey's crushing, decadent, and hopeless rule." j