In June 1916, Czar Nicholas II issued a decree, essentially conscripting
all Moslem Turks in Russia into the Russian army. 'Northern Turks'
(Kazan Tatars) were already obliged to serve in the army, but right
away the decree sparked unrest among the other Moslem Turks in
Central Asia:
here for background.
Nevertheless, many of these Russian Moslem Turks entered the army
but some were soon taken prisoner on the front lines, ending up in
German camps. However, a German-Ottoman plan to transform these
POWs into soldiers in Enver Paşa's Ottoman Army had already begun
and the 'Asya Taburu' (Asia Battalion) made up of these POWs went to
Ottoman Mesopotamia to fight the British.
Asya Taburu click here for a TNT translation
of related background.
The following article was published in the Istanbul journal 'Türk
Yurdu' in August 1916 and reflects the matter as seen with concern
by Turks in Istanbul:
According to news coming from St. Petersburg, the Russian Czar has
issued an order mandating that all Russian citizen nomads between
the ages of 19 and 43 living in Russian Europe and Asia, must join
the army. Most of the nomads are Turks. Up until now, all Turkish
Moslems living in Russia, other than the 'Northern Turks' (Kazan
Tatars) of the İdil (Volga) basin, who deal in trade and crafts in various
cities, have been exempt from military service.
Previously, not just Türkmens, Uzbeks and Kyrgyz nomads, but Turks
living in Siberia and the 'Buharist' Tatars had been exempt, as well.
Although an irregular cavalry militia of Türkmens was established,
this was not considered to be compulsory service. If the telegram we
have received is true, then this means that henceforth our brothers must
serve in the Russian army.
Anti-Russian 'Basmachi' fighters of Central Asia
There are six million Central Asia Turkish tribesmen, six million
Kyrgyz and Kazakhs who are Russian citizens, and at least one million
'Buharist', amounting to about 13 million. Add to these the non-Moslem
Turks living in Siberia and the pool of the Russian army's prospective
conscripts becomes even larger.
The matter of military duty for Central Asian and Siberian Turks has
been a subject of discussion among 'Northern Turks' for a few years.
Some say that the nomads' serving in the military would be beneficial
for Turkism, while others assert the opposite. The pro-service group
thinks that extending compulsory military service to our co-religionists
and blood-brothers would enhace the demands for more rights, like
election to the assembly.
Conversely, the anti-service group asserts that compulsory service in
war would bring with it unacceptable levels of loss of life and the
current great and awful war underscores the righteousness of their
point of view. It may very well be that the Czar's order is aimed at
filling vacancies in the army's ranks to spare 'real' Russians' lives.
Currently, the Czar's urgent need for soldiers requires that their
training and conditioning be conducted hastily, meaning that our
brothers will be thrown to the front lines without proper preparation.
Consequently, the loss of lives will be proportionately much greater.
This decree of the Russian Czar has been implemented to cause harm
to the Turkish race, as with so many other Russian government actions.
The most recent telegram we have received relates that resistance to
the decree in Central Asia has blossomed and, in response, the famous
General (Aleksy) Kuropatkin has been appointed as governor-general
of the region.
//END of PART ONE//
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