The Secrets of a Kuttite: An Authentic Story of Kut, Adventures in Captivity and Stamboul IntrigueMousley, Edward O. (Edward Opotiki)
History
The Secrets of a Kuttite: An Authentic Story of Kut, Adventures in Captivity and Stamboul Intrigue
Mousley, Edward O. (Edward Opotiki)
Al Kut (Iraq) -- History -- Siege, 1915-1916; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, Turkish
The Armenian I would describe as the Jew of Turkey,
hence his unpopularity. He hoards money, is indifferent to
the military needs or other aspect of the development of the
country, except the financial one, and is not without treachery.
The Greek is also more able and better educated than the
Turk. With the Armenian he does the penmanship of
Turkey. He supplies surveyors, artisans, architects; but
he, too, cannot go straight. In fact, I would rather trust a
Turkish soldier than any Greek or Armenian. Hundreds of
years of oppression have dried up their springs of independent
action, and the Armenian goes about in constant fear of
massacre; the Greek just escapes it. They have no thought
whatever of throwing off their yoke or leaving the country,
although they have nothing in common with their oppressors,
and their religious divergence is as wide as it can well be.
They hate the Turk, yet choose to suffer. Even among the
children we see the tyranny of the Turk. A diversion of ours
is to watch the children playing near here. Tiny Turkish
boys maltreat and bully big Greek boys and girls, who dare
not retaliate.
The explanation of the sorry state of Greece and of the
Greeks and Armenians here I believe to be the utter selfishness
of the people and their want of public-spirited men. But, if
only because they are less unenlightened than their oppressors,
reform should be possible to them, and although on looking
at the Greeks of the land from Aleppo to Kastamuni, they
seem an indifferent lot, still they have in them the seeds of
culture and the ardent wish for civilization. On this, then,
I believe we can build. The Turk is an interesting study.
He is half child and half savage. His predilection and habits
are like those of a child. He takes offence at small things,
like a child. Like a child, he responds to small favours.
And Germany is the last country to take the Turk successfully
under her wing. England, I believe, alone could do it. We
could utilize the Turkish talent for soldiering and practical
affairs, removing from their midst these over-corrupt officials
and Government, whom they detest. We should win their
confidence by applying rigid and accessible justice between
them and the Greek and Armenian, who would find unswerving
adherence to law and order unavoidable. Religious toleration
we could grant, and I believe that within a few years, Turkey
would settle comfortably under our influence, and learn to
trust us. But as it is, the country is rotten, the habits rotten,
and so many wretched corrupt Turks are in authority, that
one feels inclined to sweep them all away.
_October 1st._--Loud shouting and cheering and wild stampede
towards the restaurant dining-room announced that another
mail had come. We all go quite mad on these occasions, and
charge past postas, knocking over chairs or each other, and
crowd around the table while the letters are given out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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