But Enver replied, ‘There will always be a post for you in the army, but as your retention at Sofia, as military attaché, seems especially indicated, we are leaving you there.’ To this Kemal retorted that a more sacred duty called him to the front, and added, ‘If you consider me unworthy to become an officer of the first rank, please tell me so openly.’ To this Enver did not reply. He wrote to Enver, asking for a post in accord with his rank. He was now a lieutenant-colonel, and thus entitled to a divisional command. ‘You seem to think,’ he added, ‘that this war is going on for years.’Īs the war proceeded Kemal began to fret with impatience. There was, he said, no money available for such a purpose.

But Talat passed him over to Javid who, though he had resigned from the post, still worked behind the scenes, giving influential advice on financial policy. He secured a promise of a large load of flour against cash payment, and sent Shakir Zumre to Constantinople to arrange the deal. Aiding Fethi he worked to this end through all available channels, countering in the process a barrage of propaganda from the side of the Russians.Īnother task of Kemal’s was to obtain arms and supplies from the Bulgarians for the support of the Turkish armies. His first task, here in Sofia, was to help bring pressure on the Bulgarians to enter the war. But now that they had become his military Allies he was ready to make common cause with them so far as his patience allowed. But that it was a fait accompli he threw himself into it with energy and in a patriotic spirit. Lord Kinross’ complete writings may be found here) (NOTE: The following text was mainly borrowed from Lord Kinross’ book “Ataturk The Birth of A Nation” Since book is under Copyright the text intentionally omits many parts of Lord Kinross’ writings on this subject andf the text is only for reference purposes.

Mustafa kamal