DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4752#0162
152 PAST AND PRESENT
supplied the guns, and Germans calculated the
range, did all the more scientific part of artillery-
practice, and taught the soldiers to do the simpler
work. The Sultan wanted an effective army to
defend his life and to crush disaffection ; and the
Germans gave it to him. So long as German
officers are there to guide the operations, and so
long as they succeed in keeping the supreme
command out of the hands of some incapable Turk
(like the " hero of Plevna," 1 who sat behind his
lines, smoked, and ate, until the Russians overcame
his stubborn soldiers) and in the hands of some
good Mohammedan officer, the Sultan can do as he
will in the East. German railways radiate from
the Bosphorus over Asia Minor. German enter-
prises get every facility they require. People
may blame the selfish policy of Germany; but her
policy has been no more selfish than that of every
other European power interested in the East, our
own included.
The history of the " Eastern Question " is always
the same. It is always to the interest of one or
two of the European Powers to support Turkey
against the rest ; and thus the Porte subsists on the
divisions among the Christians. For a long time it
was thought conducive to "British interests" to
support Turkey, and we did so consistently and
1 Known as the greatest " eater " (i.e., of bribes) in Turkey.
supplied the guns, and Germans calculated the
range, did all the more scientific part of artillery-
practice, and taught the soldiers to do the simpler
work. The Sultan wanted an effective army to
defend his life and to crush disaffection ; and the
Germans gave it to him. So long as German
officers are there to guide the operations, and so
long as they succeed in keeping the supreme
command out of the hands of some incapable Turk
(like the " hero of Plevna," 1 who sat behind his
lines, smoked, and ate, until the Russians overcame
his stubborn soldiers) and in the hands of some
good Mohammedan officer, the Sultan can do as he
will in the East. German railways radiate from
the Bosphorus over Asia Minor. German enter-
prises get every facility they require. People
may blame the selfish policy of Germany; but her
policy has been no more selfish than that of every
other European power interested in the East, our
own included.
The history of the " Eastern Question " is always
the same. It is always to the interest of one or
two of the European Powers to support Turkey
against the rest ; and thus the Porte subsists on the
divisions among the Christians. For a long time it
was thought conducive to "British interests" to
support Turkey, and we did so consistently and
1 Known as the greatest " eater " (i.e., of bribes) in Turkey.