BRITISH CORRESPONDENT'S

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13997, 29 January 1916, Page 5

BRITISH CORRESPONDENT'S

[Fsess Association —Copyemht.7

diplomacy of M. Radoslavoff , Bulgarian Premier, hoodwinked the Allies before Bulgaria joined the fray.

EXPLOIT.

VISIT TO CONSTANTINOPLE

INTERVIEW WITH ENVER PASHA

THE SUEZ CANAL PLAN

London, Jan. 27,

The "Daily Mail's" correspondent, who visited Constantinople, travelled from Sofia to Constantinople by the Germany-Balkan express, which he describes as the most handsome train in Europe. Its name is blazoned on the carriages in three-feet letters, in order to impress the Bulgars and Turks. He found an alarming dearth of necessities at Constantinople. Prices were exorbitant. There was no coal, and nearly all the shops were closed. It was not true that there were 50,000 German troops, but there were 10,000, all firstrate troops.

The correspondent attended the celebration of Gallipoli Day. The town was gay with flags and mobs paraded the streets waving banners, but victory was dearly bought. He saw an endless pi'ocession of wounded men filling tramcars, vehicles, and motors.

The correspondent interviewed Halil Bey, Foreign Minister, who. said that Germany would make Turkey wealthy, prosperous,, and enterprising, as she had made Roumania.

The correspondent persuaded Halil Bey to introduce him to Enver Pasha, who was a real dandy. He asked Enver Pasha if it were true that England was prepared to make a separate peace with Turkey and Enver Pasha said it was too late. The Entente may have had that design, and might have succeeded, but he had learned that the Entente design^ ed to give Constantinople to Russia.

He added that if the English had had the courage to rush more ships to the Dardanelles,, they could have reached Constantinople. "The delay enabled us to fortify Gallipoli. We took 200 Austrian guns thither in six weeks, but if the English had reached Constantinople, there would only have been an impasse, because we would have retired to A-sia Minor, and the English would not have destroyed Constantinople."

Enver Pasha concluded: "With Germany's help we can strike the British Empire through the Suez Canal. Our motto is 'To Egypt!' "

The correspondent learnt that the Germans generally admit that they have no chance of reaching Paris, but having walled off the British and French armies they feel they can operate freely in the East: The officers admire the fighting capacity of the British soldiers, and said they wished they had British, Australians, and Canadians to command.

Constantinople's theatres, cafes, and cinemas are closed. The only means of journeying by night are with small electric torches.

The money position is extraordinary. Gold, silver and official Turkish papermoney is very short. The substitute is Turkish notes issued ostensibly with a face value of 17s 6d, but realising only 12s 6d.