A Marine Graveyard
The navy yard on the Golden Horn is like a marine graveyard. Long rows of old ships lie side by side, many of them in very bad condition. These ships are from a time long ago, with some types of vessels that have not been used for over a hundred years. The ships are stripped of their machines and equipment and are only good to be broken up for scrap metal. Even though these ships are useless, the Sultan still spends money to keep them Customized Tour Bulgaria.
Ships Stripped by Unpaid Crews
Even the newer ships, built during the recent war with Greece, have been stripped of everything valuable. This was done by officers and sailors who have not been paid for a long time. They took all portable equipment to sell or keep for themselves. The Sultan, however, does not know about this theft. He depends on his minister of marine to give him information, but the minister only tells him what he wants him to know. It is believed that the minister takes much of the money for himself.
Hassan Pasha The Rich and Corrupt Official
One of the most powerful men in the Turkish government is Hassan Pasha. He has the reputation of being the richest and most corrupt official. People say he is worth between four and five million dollars, all made while working for the government. Hassan Pasha is very close to the Sultan. The Sultan trusts him completely and sees him as a loyal and efficient officer The People’s Plea and the Sultan’s Refusal.
Why Hassan Pasha Cannot Retire
Though Hassan Pasha is very rich, he is afraid to leave his job. He would like to retire and enjoy his wealth in cities like London or Paris. But if he tried to resign, the Sultan would become suspicious. Also, if Hassan left, the new minister would discover the corruption in the navy department. That would be very dangerous for Hassan. He might lose all his money, and even his life could be at risk.
The Fate of Wealthy Officials in Turkey
Many other officials, called pashas, are also very rich. But they are careful and send their money out of Turkey. They do this because they never know when the Sultan will stop liking them. Losing the Sultan’s favor usually means their money will be taken, and they might be imprisoned or even executed. In Turkey, when a powerful man disappears, no one asks questions. It is dangerous to be curious.
Corruption and Fear in the Government
This story shows how much corruption and fear exist in the Turkish government. The navy is badly managed, and powerful men steal from the country. The Sultan tries to trust his officers but is often deceived. Officials live in fear of losing their power, money, and even their lives. This creates a government that is weak, dishonest, and harmful to the people.
