FIGHTING FOR EXISTENCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 617, 1 February 1916, Page 7

FIGHTING FOR EXISTENCE.

V— I BELIEF OF THE TURKS. DOMINANCE OF THE GERMANS. | LONDON, January 30. In the “Weekly Dispatch,” the cor- 1 respondent who dined with the Kaiser at Nish, describes the frantic reception in Constantinople of the | news of the Allies’ evacuation of Gallipoli. He says:—“ Two days after Constantinople had finished ‘Mafficking’ 10,000 of the weariest soldiers 1 have ever seen passed through the streets in a draggled line, and staggering with fatigue. The public knew not where they came from, or they might have given a warmer reception to the defenders of Gallipoli. Numbers of them were utterly spent, and their more stalwart comrades were carrying them. “It was a fine opportunity of witnessing how German ollicers had been incorporated with the Turkish Army. There were two German ollicers to every Turkish officer. If the A,nzac heroes had been with me they would have been comforted to know that however great the hardships, and privations had been, their foes had suffered equally. It will be some time before the latter are fit for active operations again. “It would give the Empire a better idea of the Turkish attitude toward the war if British people realised that all Turks believe they are fighting for their existence. They are convinced that war against the Allies was inevitable because Constantinople had been promised to Russia. “My few days in England have convinced me that you are not taking the threats against Egypt and India seriously enough. M’hat I saw in Constantinople and Asia Minor convinced me that the Turks are serious, and intend invasions under German management. The latter are thoroughly preparing, and have even trained 4(100 Germans to ride camels in Hagenbeck’s menagerie in Hamburg. “Djemal Pasha, the Turkish leader of the Egypt Expedition, is now at Aleppo, which will be the jumpingoff ground. The Turks arc still a formidable factor, despite their great losses. Plenty of soldiers arc available, and they are calling everybody to the colours.”