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A PKO-GERMAN TURK 381
came the German opportunity, seized as a matter
of policy.
" Korkahna," his Excellency repeated several times,
also patting the child's head, and placing coppers
in her hand ; and these, too, in their way, I saw
as an investment of the German Empire.
A glimpse of another branch of influence was given
the last evening I spent in his Excellency's cottage,
when a well - set - up Turkish officer in dark - blue
uniform arrived, who clicked his heels together in
the German manner on introduction. He was in
the service of the Bagdad Railway, lent to it by
the Ottoman Government, as one who had spent
several years in Berlin attached to the German army.
He presented an admirable example of the effect
which foreign training and removal from his native
surroundings may produce upon a Turk. Not many
Turkish officers give the instant impression of efficiency
—very few indeed pass the rough personal test of
whether in emergency you would care to be led by
them yourself— but this man impressed by his obvious
promptness and capacity ;
in everything but blood he
seemed a good German. He was to be recognised
as an excellent German agent,—a Turk extending
German influence in his own country.
Much more of long - continued subtle persistent
efibrt than people are willing to believe has been
given to bring the Ottoman Empire under German
control. One hears that nearly all Turkish officers
who serve in the German army return thoroughly
Germanised. Their stay has been made exceedingly
pleasant ; they have been adroitly sought after,
flattered, honoured ; they come back no longer
Moslems, but apostles of Germany, the German army,
and the German future.
But in spite of all this calculated and well-directed
efibrt, no progress has been made in securing the
sympathies of the people at large. Influences not
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recognised or perhaps ignored by those directing J^'r^-;^^..
German policy in the Ottoman Empire have
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