The people from the district returned to the Sultan to ask for help again after the new bridge was destroyed. But the Sultan refused to meet them. Instead, he sent a message saying that he had already given them a new bridge and that they should be thankful and stop asking for more. Since then, the people living in that area have had to cross the river using small boats. The government will not build another bridge for them, nor will it allow the people to build one themselves. This story is a good example of how the Turkish government works—showing poor management and unfair treatment that happens in many parts of the country Said Pasha An Honest Man in a Corrupt System.
The Navy Yard on the Golden Horn
Not far from the Sultan’s palace, along the Golden Horn, there is a large navy yard. This yard has many buildings, including a beautiful marble headquarters for the admiralty, a school to train officers, barracks where sailors live, a hospital for sick sailors, and many workshops and sheds for building and repairing ships. The government spends a huge amount of money every year to maintain a navy that is supposed to be ready for battle. However, most of the ships are old and cannot be used. Their engines, boilers, and other machines are broken or missing. Some ships even have no smoke stacks, which means their engines do not work at all.
Ships That Cannot Sail
These broken ships lie quietly at anchor where the Sultan can see them from a special point in the park near his palace. He thinks the ships are ready and prepared for war, but in truth, they are useless. Each year, the Sultan gives the minister of the navy money to buy coal, food, and supplies for crews that do not exist. The money is also supposed to pay for repairs on the ships, but the repair shops are empty and quiet. The Sultan believes the workers are busy, but no real work is being done.
The True State of the Turkish Navy
According to official records, the Turkish navy has eighteen cruisers, twelve coast-defense ships, six gunboats, and twenty-six torpedo boats. But most of these ships are old and unusable. Only a few small torpedo and gunboats are stationed along the coast and can actually sail. The navy’s annual budget is about $3,200,000. However, many people believe that only a small part of this money is spent on the navy’s needs. Much of it is wasted or stolen Coastal Bulgaria Holidays
A Picture of Mismanagement
This situation with the bridge and the navy shows how the Turkish government is poorly managed. The Sultan tries to control everything, but because he trusts no one and often does not get true information, the government wastes money and fails to serve its people properly. The people suffer while the leaders ignore their real needs.
