and gets ready to resume his narration of the Ottoman
Army's retreat from Palestine.//
But it was strange that at this same time in Palestine, it was accepted
that provisions would be distributed to officers according to rank. This
was nice for the families of these officers. Would that it hadn't been
abused! My God! Memories of such malfeasance makes one's hair
stand on end. However much the related squandering of both money
and provisions amounted to, it created untold difficulties for the army
at the front!
Actually, most of the officers' families with them at the front did not
get an unfair share of this distribution and, doubtless, most of the
provisions in the depots weren't diverted. But it cannot be considered
just and equitable that while other members of the public and soldiers,
who were on the front line fighting the enemy, got next to nothing,
some officers' families got an amount of olive oil, that could also be
used in lamps, and 5-10 kilograms of dried beans each month. And
this abuse didn't remain only in the rear with the officers' families,
it gradually made its way to the front itself.
The amount of provisions at the front lines was not sufficient for the
army. Nevertheless, there was plenty of money! So the value of the
provisions was based on the money you had in your pocket. Of course,
those troops without any money were out of luck.
As I mentioned, the army got the worst of provisions distribution
because the common provisions were shared with thousands of workers
and the contents of the depots, particularly "rare provisions", were
shared with out-of-the-way places that had trouble procuring provisions
otherwise. So, gradually, the army was left with nothing other than
grains and corn for food.
Supposedly, train wagons with provisions sent from Istanbul or other
centers for the army included sweets like sugar! But most of the time,
these items did not reach their intended destinations. The most
dangerous spot along the supply line was the pass where the 'dekovil'
(narrow gauge railroad) crossed the Taurus Mountains in Anatolia.
There was no end to what the Germans did here! Using ropes with
hooks on the end, they would drag sacks off the tops of uncovered
wagons in the dark, and drill holes in the bottom of the wagons
waiting at Pozantı and Kelebek stations, stealing the goods and
suitcases of Turkish officers. Sacks filled with soap were emptied
and refilled with rocks, while gas cans were emptied and refilled
with water!
Pozantı station, northwest of Adana, in the Taurus Mountains.
//Ed. note: The portion of the Baghdad Railway in Anatolia
was built by the Germans and, evidently, they controlled the
stations along the way, as well.//
After paying these 'custom duties', the wagons were futher ransacked
at Aleppo, Rayak and Damascus until whatever was left over reached
the army at the front lines. I recall a couple of train wagons that were
filled with sugar reaching the front with just 500-600 kilograms of
sugar left. In fact, I remember when I was with a one army corps
and each officer got just 17 grams of sugar apiece.
Commanders used their influence to their advantage and in those
circumstances their words were above any laws or regulations. Those
who were in good with the top commander or the chief of the provision
depot were especially lucky. In addition, getting along well with the
Germans was yet another advantage. Whether the Germans wanted
money or provisions, they would get them right away with just a note.
In this environment, effort and service were insufficient for promotion
and advancement.
In any case, I think I've shared enough anecdotes so I'll stop here and
resume my story.
//END of PART VIII//
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