ملف ٧٠٥/١٩١٦ الجزء ٢ "انتفاضة عربية: التقارير العربية؛ تقارير السير م. سايكس" [ظ‎‎٢‎٢‎٦] (٤٥٠/٤٥٠)

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deleo-ates to tlie camp at Zossen where the Moslem prisoners of war are interned
bv MustafaNedin Bev, Turkish M.P. and President of the National Defence Society
^ are o-lad to "have been invited here by the exalted German Government. \v e
brino- you th^greetings of our Ruler and Caliph, since you are our brothers in faith.
For a soldier it is a great misfortune to be taken prisoner. But you have net fought
for vour rio-hts, for your faith and for your home; you have been dragged into the
conflict by*force. Thanks to the extraordinary goodness of the exalted German
Government respect is shown for your religion, your customs and usages, nay more,
that in which you Lave been hindered at home, the acquisition of leading and wilting,
is provided for you here. Special instructors have been summoned hither to instruct
vou in your religion and language. We hope that you are showing yourselves
grateful," and that you will spread farther among your brolhers_ at home what you
have learnt here. Remember always that you are sons of the Turkish people, a people
of nearly 70 million souls, a people occupying a territory that extends from the
Balkans"to Mongolia. If you have that in mind you will progress, and a day_ will
come when it is to be hoped that me shall all be united, welded together into a single
people. In conclusion I beg you in gratitude to remember in prayer our exalted
ruler the Caliph, his illustrious ally the Emperor Wilhelm IF, our allied and victorious
armies, and the great German and" Turkish peoples. Hurrah. ^ Tchok Yashasyn.”
Those present joined enthusiastically in the cheers. The speech was then
translated by the priest of the prisoners’ camp into Tatar.
It alien in the original.
Fighting at Medina.
The Central News published a telegram from Cairo saying that on Friday last
(21st July) severe fighting was going on at Medina ; that the Turkish garrison had
attempted a sortie but had beeimlriven back ; and that in this sortie the Turks had
suffered 2,500 casualties, and those of the Sherif 500. (Times, 24th July.)
Commercial relations with Hejaz.
Reuter published a telegram from Cairo announcing that commercial relations
had been restored between Egypt and Hejaz, and that for some time past the
Government had authorised sambuks carrying foodstuffs to proceed from Fort Sudan
to Jidda. (Du% Telegraph, 24th July.)
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Closing in on Erzinjan.
It is stated in the Times of 25th July that the Russian army is rapidly closing on
Erzinjan, a military depot 100 miles west of Erzrum. A communique from Petrograd
says that the Russian cavalry has reached a point 11 miles from Erzinjan.
Turkish aircraft in Egypt.
Reuter published in Amsterdam a Turkish communique saying that they had
chased a hostile squadron which was seen near Ivatia, and that one of their air
squadrons had successfully bombarded a hostile army encampment, and a petroleum
depot in the harbour of Suez, and had returned safely to its base. (Times,
24th July.)
Revolt of Smyrna Garrison
The Tribune de Geneve in its issue of 20th July publishes a telegram from its
correspondent in Paris saying that news had been received from Salonika to the effect
that the Smyrna garrison had revolted and demanded the dismissal of the Young
Turk Cabinet. Also that German troops had been sent to stifle the revolt.
v