Page 160 - Mastermind: The Truth of the British Deep State Revealed

Ottoman Battleships Hijacked by the British and
the Payment that Was Never Returned

In the early stages of WWI, the Ottoman Empire hadn't yet joined the
war and commissioned three big dreadnoughts from Britain and paid for

them in advance. These dreadnoughts, named 'Sultan Osman', 'Sultan
th
Reşadiye', and 'Fatih', had revolutionary technology for the early 20 centu-
ry. They could move quickly, and were almost like fleets on their own. They
were crucial for the improvement of the Ottoman navy and to keep it from

suffering defeats on the seas. In early 1900s, land transportation wasn't as ad-
vanced and military prowess was determined by power at sea.

The Ottoman Empire was having financial difficulties and the adminis-

tration started large-scale donation campaigns to fund the battleships.
Fundraising stands were erected in public places and even schoolchildren

contributed with their pocket money. Large donations would be rewarded
with a 'Donanma İane Madalyası' (Navy Donation Medal). Similarly, the 'Do-

Mastermind: The Truth of the British Deep State Revealed