Deutschland Über AllahBenson, E. F. (Edward Frederic)
History
Deutschland Über Allah
Benson, E. F. (Edward Frederic)
Germany -- Foreign relations -- Turkey; Turkey -- Foreign relations -- Germany; World War, 1914-1918 -- Turkey
it have to go on with their fun all the same, for, needless to say, the
Izji is compulsory on all boys. Of course they wear a uniform which is
made in Germany and is of a "semi-military" character.
The provision of soldiers and sailors, then, trained from the early
age of eight was the first object of Germany's peaceful and benign
penetration. As from the Pisgah height of the Pan-Turkish ideal she saw
the promised land, but she had no idea of seeing it only, like Moses,
and expiring without entering it, and her faith that she would enter
it and possess it has been wonderfully justified. She has not only
penetrated but has dominated; a year ago towns like Aleppo were crammed
with German officers, while at Islahie there were separate wooden
barracks for the exclusive use of German troops. There is a military
mission at Mamoura, where all the buildings are permanent erections
solidly built of stone, for no merely temporary occupation is intended,
and thousands of freight-cars with Belgian marks upon them throng the
railways, and on some is the significant German title of "Military
Headquarters of the Imperial Staff." There are troops in the Turkish
army to which is given the title of "Pasha formation," in compliment
to Turkey, but the Pasha formations are under the command of Baron
Kress von Kressenstein, and are salted with German officers, N.C.O.s,
and privates, who, although in the Turkish army, retain their German
uniforms.
This German leaven forms an instructional class for the remainder
of the troops in these formations, who are Turkish. The Germans are
urged to respect Moslem customs and to show particular consideration
for their religious observances. Every German contingent arriving at
Constantinople to join the Pasha formations finds quarters prepared
on a ship, and when the troops leave for their "destination" they
take supplies from depôts at the railway station which will last them
two or three months. They are enjoined to write war diaries, and are
provided with handbooks on the military and geographical conditions in
Mesopotamia, with maps, and with notes on the training and management
of camels. This looks as if they were intended for use against the
English troops in Mesopotamia, but I cannot find that they have been
identified there. The greatest secrecy is observed with regard to
these Pasha formations, and their constitution and movements are kept
extremely veiled.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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