Author Description

The appearance of this little book in the inauspicious year of 1915 is no coincidence. To British ears, 'Turkey' and '1915' mean one thing: the disaster of Gallipoli, when this book was rushed out so that British officers could know their enemy. It notes that the Ottoman army was in chaos after its defeat by the Christian Balkan states and the Young Turk revolution. However, it recognises that the Young Turks have carried out a thorough reform with the aid of their special German advisor, General Liman von Sanders. A tone of healthy respect is therefore maintained, fully justified by the Turks' resistance in the Gallipoli campaign. The whole organisation of the Turkish army is described, with sections on infantry, cavalry, artillery, uniforms, machine guns, Transport and engineering; reserves, ranks and titles, rationing, foraging and decorations. There are also notes on religion, police, the civil population, money, distance and time, and a glossary of Turkish words.