YOUNG ARTILLERY OFFICER SELAHATTIN ADIL IN DAMASCUS (1906)

THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN WHILE HE WAS SERVING IN THE FIFTH IMPERIAL ARMY, IN DAMASCUS. HIS ASSIGNMENT WAS RELATED TO THE ISTANBUL-HEDJAZ RAILWAY CONTRUCTION. THIS RAILROAD LINE WAS CROSSING TODAY'S TURKEY, SYRIA, JORDAN, SAUDI ARABIA. THIS CONSTRUCTION WAS IMPORTANT FOR THE EMPIRE BECAUSE THE SULTAN WAS AIMING TO INCREASE HIS CONTROL OVER THE MIDDLE EASTERN TERRITORIES OF THE EMPIRE BY BUILDING RAILWAYS AND TELEGRAPH LINES. APART FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE FUNCTIONS THIS RAILWAY HAD ALSO MILITARY AND RELIGIOUS FUNCTIONS.

IN FACT, THIS WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE POLICIES OF THE RUSSIAN TSAR WHO BUILT THE TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY FROM PETROGRAD TILL THE PACIFIC PORT OF VLADIVOSTOK, AND WANTED TO UNITE AND CONTROL HIS REALM BY THESE INNOVATIONS IN TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION.