File 705/1916 Pt 2 'Arab revolt: Arab reports; Sir M Sykes' reports' [‎55v] (108/450)

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with Italy. It is further worth considering that if the Yemen Arabs dispose of the
Turks in Yemen, the Turks in the Aden Hinterland will not be able to last out for
long. The Turks are unable to communicate with Yemen owing to the action of the
Sheri f.
Tee Situation in Turkey.
In the body of the report (on p. ), will be found an account of rumours of
Enver Pasha’s visits to Abdul Hamid. It is possible the military pressure which has
enforced the calling up of the Turkish intellectuals has brought about a considerable
change in the political situation in Turkey, and that a split may result between
Enver and Tala’at, and that Enver is looking about for political assets. Enver may,
indeed, have designs upon the throne himself, having married a niece of Abdul
Hamid.
The extracts from the article by Dr. Wilhelm Feldman in the issue of the
2 nd November “Berliner Tageblatt ” is an interesting contribution. It is probably a
mixture of fact and fiction, intended to support the great bluff regarding Turkish
resources which the Germans have endeavoured to work on the Allies lately.
As regards roads the account is probably true, and also as regards munition and
other factories. The irrigation schemes are obviously reports of paper projects. As far
as the scholastic and educational establishments are concerned, these statements are
disposed of by the fact that all schools and universities are being closed to obtain men
for service from the staffs. The remarks about women doing the men’s work amount
to very little ; in many parts of Anatolia Peninsula that forms most of modern-day Turkey. , notably Oastamuni, Angora, and Konia
provinces, the women had to work before the present war, owing to the dearth
of men.
The reported friction between the Turks and Persians in Azerbaijan is all to the
good, and the statement that the Turks fear to retreat is probably founded on fact ;
the tribesmen are ready to attach themselves to an invader, but nevertheless turn and
rend him if he retires. In 1906 Daghistani Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. was forced to invade Persia from
Kowanduz because the tribes had joined him, nor was he able to retire until a full
division had reinforced him.
M. S.