Friendship in War

While the Dardanelles War was going on with all its violence, while the young soldiers, who had just sweated, were martyred and fell into the heart of the land, the brazier-hearted commander of the 17th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey, was fighting with his soldiers and advancing valiantly towards the enemy trenches.

During this advance, they approached a fountain. Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey gave his soldiers permission to drink water.

A dog stood by the fountain.

The soldiers were trying to chase him.

It was long, thin. It was skin and bones. His wounds were stained with blood and smelled of pus. He was in a very lifeless, debilitated, depleted state. There was no such thing as feathers on him, and his skin was invisible from the wound. As his pointed nose breathed, the protruding larynx went up and down.

Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey stopped his soldiers, who were chasing the dog that was constantly trembling and trying to crawl, and took that weak, weakened dog that could not stand upright, that could not reach the trough of the fountain and drink water, in his arms. He took water from the fountain with his palm, made it drink, fed his stomach, regardless of the dirt on his head and blood, and continued on his way without leaving the dog on his lap. He never left her again. When that half-dead dog was well taken care of and his wounds were treated, he soon recovered. He became such a beautiful dog that his black and white hairs covered his whole body again, shining like silk. His dark eyes sparkled, he gained weight, he became fleshy. He became a dog like a huge lion. Now he was traveling with the soldiers, entering the trenches and fighting. Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey named him Canberk. Canberk was now a soldier of the Turkish army, a dear friend of the Mehmetçik.

Canberk's life had changed, but nothing had changed in the war. While the war was going on with all its cruelty, Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey, who approached him to help a wounded French soldier, saw himself for the last time falling into a bottomless, blind pit with the dagger of the Frenchman, who had become a monster during the war and was dehumanized and could not see goodness.

At that moment, the wind did not blow, the leaf did not move, the bird did not fly, the waters flowing through the Dardanelles, streams and streams did not fluctuate.

The sun's rays did not flow either.

The rays also stopped.

Darkness came suddenly.

The earth stopped in darkness.

The poplar trees by the side of the strait did not rustle, the bugs stopped where they were, and the hearts of the people did not beat at that moment.

Whatever was on earth, whatever was in the sky, stopped.

Nothing moved.

Only Canberk moved. Realizing from afar that something had happened to his owner, Canberk ran like an arrow and immediately collapsed next to Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey. It was as if he was moaning and lamenting. He was licking his hands and face, barking, trying to encourage her.

Afterwards, almost everyone rushed to him, but his wound was very heavy and unfortunately Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey was martyred there.

The soldiers immediately started digging his grave.

Meanwhile, they covered the Turkish flag on Lieutenant Colonel Hasan. Meanwhile, Canberk was lying at Hasan Bey's feet.

The soldiers raised the flag to bury Lieutenant Colonel Hasan, the red flag was burning as if it was on fire, its fire was growing and its flames were being thrown right into the sky. Canberk, on the other hand, did not move from where he was. They tried to remove it but it wouldn't move.

When they tried a little more, they realized that Canberk was also dead.

All the soldiers were so upset that no one opened their mouths with a knife. In the face of the friendship of Canberk and Lieutenant Colonel Hasan Bey, they bowed respectfully and buried the martyr. They buried Canberk, which he loved very much and never parted with, at his feet…”

As for why I am quoting this tearful story from my dear brother of literature Hasan Baran's novel "Orient Conqueror Kazım Karabekir Pasha"

I met a friend of mine the other day. He also had a dog named "Can" with him. He was such a smart, affectionate animal that he understood all my friend's commands like a human and made surprising moves.

I asked where and how much he bought it. "I didn't," he said. “I found it on the street!..”

According to him, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of people abandoning their dogs due to the economic crisis.

I mean, don't just call it a stray dog,

If you have the opportunity, try to be friendly with one of those souls!..

Your life will change, you will love it very much!..