Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-12-31
TBB TURKS STILL DENY
That the Awful Armenian Horrors
Ever Really Took Place.
A VERY SUSPICIOUS DISCLAIMER
The Porte Seems to Be Working a
First Glass Literary Bureau,
and to Be Scanning the Europ-
can Papers With Great Inter
est and Concern-The Latest
Statement Sent to the World.

BosroY, MASS, December 3O.-The
following statement with reference to
the condition Of affairs In those districts
in Armenia where Christian mission
aries are stationed, was to-day issued by
the American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions.
Official letters sent recently from the
rooms Of the American Board OF Com
missioners for Foreign Missions. con-
tanning accounts reatingFo the Euro
uean-Turkey missions, we're opened by
the Turkish officials. The letters were
subsequently, delivered, but the Turkish
word "exauine" was written on the en-
Veope. This indicated that the Turk
ish government is attempting TO assume
all authority over the mails OF for.
eigners.
When the reports OF
TIE MASSACRE OF CHRISTIANS
Ia Sassoun district of Eastern Turkey
became public, after more than two
months OF suppression on the part OF
the Turkish officials, the Ottoman gov
ernment was alarmed at the widespread
publications 10 the American and Eng
lsh press. Under pressure from for
eign powers, the Sultan agreed to send
a commissioner to investigate and re-
port upen the Outrages. In view OF
this promise Of the government the
representatives Of the European pow
ers at Constautinople decided TO walt
for the report before taking any POSI-
tive action.
But after this decision by the powers,
and while they were waiting for the de-
parture Of the Sultan's commission,
which had been appointed, ana which
was to make
FULL AND IMPARTIAL"
Investigations of all the affairs reported
by the English Consul, as well as by many
individuals from the Sassoun district
the Turkish government gave out the
following official statement of the case.
which statement was printed In the
papers of Constantnople. All pa
pers printed in Turkey are under
close censorship, aud no paper could
refuse TO print the statement under
penaltv OF immediate suspension.
Hence, the Christian periodicals were
compelled to print what tkey knew TO
be false.
The statement follows:
"Some OF the recent European papers
have stated, contrary to the truth, that
a few Armenian villages have been de-
stroyed, and In the meantime persons
have been massacred by the Turkish
soldiers In the district OF Sassoun.
Others, In order 70
MAGNIFY THESE REPORTS,
have asserted that the news OF the out
rage was prevented from leaking out by
the obstacles the government put in the
way of travellers from that district,
"The subjects of the empire, In Sas-
SCUM district, are quietly engaged with
their business, and the people travel
wherever they wish in perfect safety,
"Some Armenian bandits, being In
duced by agitetors, began lately la and
about Sassoun TO disturb the peace and
comfort of the people by numbering,
plundering and blocking the highways.
In order to put au end ID such disasters
the government employed the necessary
means anu EOuHtQupuNiI VI ~ - -
sufficient body OF imperial soldiers OF the
Fourth army corps. Thus, the extern
sion Of
THIS REVOLT BEING CHECKED,
the troops were Withdrawn 10 their
headquarters.
There was no interference by the
Kurds, but as stated above, some Ar
msnisn bandits having VeRtured 20 dis
orderly actions, the Fourth Imperial
Army corps dispersed them. The Gov
ernor Of Bltlis undertook to investigate
as to the facts, and subsequently, a
commission of inquiry, composed OF
Abdoollah Pasha, Homer Bey, Medtid
Effendi and Hafez TeV6k Pasha, who
will start this week by steamer 20 the
scene OF the trouble.
"In general the Sublime Porte will
never allow such outrages TO be perpe-
trated as published in foreign papers
upon her subjects