OCR Text |
Show THE TURKISH TROOP. The news that Turkish regular troops are fighting against the Russians in the Riga sector is apt to cause surprise, but the explanation is simple. It is quite likely that the Turkish leader, Enver Bey, offered the services of his soldiers ; without being asked. No matter on ! what field the Turks and Russians meet the Turk is fighting for his country ; he is fighting merely another phase of the great battle in the Caucasus and Persia. Unahle to transport sufficient supplies and ammunition to the Caucasus front for an army capable of driving back the Russian invaders the Turkish government gov-ernment lends its troops for service on other Russian fronts, arguing that if its allies can win on these other fronts or even keep greater and greater numbers of Russians engaged there will be fewer Russians to wage war in the Caucasus. If 100,000 Turks are sent to the Riga sector, where they can be easily supplied sup-plied by Germauy, it is logical to suppose sup-pose that Russia must put in the fighting fight-ing line I00,i)00 men to oppose them. That means lOu.OOO fewer men for the grand duke's invading army in the Caucasus, Cau-casus, or perhaps it would be more correct cor-rect to say .100,000 fewer armed men, for undoubtedly Russia has more than enough men for all purposes, but not enough men with rifles and machine guns. If there is anything surprising about the situation it is that Turkey still has such a surplus of men that she can send considerable forces to Pobrudja, to Galicia and to the Riga front. |