THE TURKISH DEFEAT.
[To THE EDITOR 01 TIIR "SPECTATOR."] am tempted by the questions asked by Lord Cromer in hia review of Mr. Miller's book, "The Ottoman Empire," as to the causes of the military defeat of the Turks in the late war, to offer the following reasons accounting for such defeat. Now the fact especially commented on by all with reference to the Turkish defeat, and the fact on which, before the war, most people relied as tending to show that the Turks would be victorious, is "that the Turks have ever been noted in history for their martial virility." But is it not obvious that the only quality, martial virility, that counted in those days has ceased to be of prime value in these days, when war, being no longer a purely physical encounter between two armies, is one of the most scientific of pro- fessions ? Though the Turks may be no less "martially virile," they have, by entirely neglecting or failing to assimilate the scientific and higher branches of war, been unable to compete with rivals who have studied these branches. It was obviously apparent to those in a position to study the question that fine though the army was physically, its organ- ization and training rendered it an instrument useless for the purposes of modern warfare. This, then, I take to be the first reason. And the second is also alluded to by Lord Cromer. I have met with no officers in Turkey who do not allow when speaking in truth and in candour that the " Army of the Constitution" cut a very different figure to what "the Army of Hamid" would have cut. The baneful influence of party strife, the deep schisms and rivalries it caused in the higher commands, the manner in which these differences spread throughout the army down to Ahmed and Hassan in the ranks, caused these latter to distrust their officers, sapped their energy, damped their ardour. Thirdly, the class of officer had changed. This will be considered by some the most important reason for defeat Instead of the simple, old-fashioned, and fearless officer, beloved of his men, known by them in their village, was the young "Is in Franca" (as they are called) officer of the schools, between whom and the men there was no bond or sympathy. Absence of organization and science in leading, absence of élan and spirit, the evil disease of "politics," and lack of sympathy between rank and file. To my mind, who may claim to know the Turks, any single one of these reasons is sufficient to account for the disasters that have fallen on the Ottoman arms.-1 am, Sir, &c.,
WYNDHAM DEEDE8
(Captain Imperial Ottoman Gendarmerie). Smyrna: Tune 29th, 1913.
Previous page
