The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-06-21
FROM CONSTANTINOPLE,
The "IIoly War" Ruies--PiIinacs Author
tHed-ROmancc of the Polish Legion.

hoiy Nur' Rules--PillpRcs Author
Hed-tomancc of the Polish Legion.
A correspondent, writing from Con-
stahtlnoplc, says: The proclamation of
tne sheik-ul-islam has fred the enthu.
slasm of the Turks in manner never be.
fore heard of in the annals of Ottoman
history. BY lie lower classes this decla-
ration that "holy war" is inaugu-
rated is only regarded as another justi-
he'd pretext for committing all sorts of
outrages and brutalities. The obliga-
tions which the "holy war" lays upon
the Turks have just been declared as
follows:
First. The sultan must place him
self at the head of the faithful. Second.
ALI faithful Mohammedans who have at
tained the age of thirteen years must
grid the sword and join the army. Third.
All non-combatants, such as the aged,
women, children and invalids, must do
the work of those who have gone to meet
the enemy, AMI endeavor to support
them. Fourth The commander-in
chief of the faithful is permitted to con-
hscate for the public veal all the nation
al treasures and domains. even those of
the mosques. Fifth. In order the bet
ter to undergo the requirements of mill
tary warfare, all commandments of the
Koran interfering with the proper carry
ing out of the war measures are tempo
rarily suspended.
AS a reward for their exertions, all
faithful Turks fighting in the enemy's
country may retain anything and every
thing that con es in their way, such
as money, houses, etc. Those, how
ever, who fall in this csmpaign, even if
during their entire lifetime they were
the vilest of sinners, enter Paradise at
once. The most important injunction
is this, that the "holy war" once de-
clared is never to be terminated until
the enemy has either been subiugated
or converted to the faith of islam.
The Polish legion, organized here
under command of an Austrian, General
Arthur Zimmerman, is gaining q large
number of recruits. An agitation COM
mittee, for the purpose of calling upon
all exiled Poles, no matter where resid-
ing now, to arraign themselves under
the banner of the legion, there to fight
their old enemy, is also doing remarka-
bic work. This committee is in con-
stant correspondence with the central
Polish committee, at Geneva, whence it
receives its instructions. A most unto
ward event has, however, befallen the
unlucky Poles. The general committee,
desiring to furnish the legion with an
able commander, commissioned Count
Raczynski to proceed at once to Con-
stantinople, and place himself there in
communication with the minister of war
preparatory to his assuming command
OF the legion. Instead of proceeding at
once to Constantinople, he tarried some
what at Warsaw, where be became ac-
quainted with most fascinating young
woman, Miss Krasmeka, who so charmed
him that instead of proceeding to the
legion on the Bosphorus, he married her
aud took long honeymoon with her to
Spain-some say for the purpose of
visiting NIidhat Pasha and having an
understanding with him how to act
should he succeed in getting the COM
mGnd Of the legion. He is now once
more endeavoring to obtain the posi-
tion but if he does, the government
cannot be too careful in watching his
movements, since his recent long and Sc
cret conference with Midhat Pasha, who
continues to be hated in a most unmerci-
ful manner by the present sultan and
his staff. Two eminent Poles have also
been sent to London and Paris to solicit
men and means for the Turkish cause. 1t
is believed that the commander-in- chief
of the Polish legion will finally be con-
feTed upon General Wrobleuski, who
used to be prominent member of the
Paris commune, but resides now in
London.