The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-18
Germany Still FRIENDLY
No Desire to Take Part 10 the
Reformation Of the Turk.
DEFINITE POLICY IS OBSCURE
The Kaiser and the Sultan Exchange
Friendly Grcetings-WOrk Of Bntchcry
Goes Mcrriiy On-NarrOw Escape
of Christian Missionaries.


Of foreign affairs, that Germany vii
consent to discuss the question of unit
ed action on the part of the European
powers toward Turkey, so far as pro-
viding protection to Christians and
maintaining order are concerned.
Although this assent does not COM
nit Germany to any definite policy be-
yond participating in negotiations, II
still marks a considerable change in the
attitude of the government, which has
hitherto been reluctant to admit that
anything like coercion of the Sultan
is likely to be necessary. The expecta-
tion which is entertained in official
quarters, that this decision Of the gov
ernment will influence the Sultan Is
based upon the belief that the kaiser
retains the friendship and confidence OF
the Turkish emperor. Since he and the
empress visited Constantinople in 1889
the German emperor Is the only Euro
pean monarch the Sultan has person
ally met and the two sovereigns have
every year since the visit exchanged
friendly greetings.
Bpt the most potent factor in cons
vincing the Sultan of the desire Of Ger
many for q policy Of moderate inter-
vention in Turkey is the information
which has been conveyed through
Prince Radolin, the German ambassa-
dor at ST. Petersburg, that the over
lures made by Italy and Great Britain
looking to the adoption of extreme
measures have been rejected as being
inopportune.
Armsnians Massncrcd.
The United Press reporter at Con-
stantinople reports that at p. m. on
last Thursday NJ. A. Jewett, United
States consul at Sivas, sent telegra"
to Minister Terrell, informing him that
800 Armenians and ten Turks had been
killed at Sivas, and that a large body
of Kurds was said to be then approach
ing the town. This seems to show that
the Turkish allegations that that Ar
menians were the aggressors are abso-
lutely untrue, and that the Armenians
were deliberately massacred.
Minister Terrell has also received n
despatch from Harput, in the Pasha!ill
of Diarbekir, dated Nov. 13, which says
that in the fighting there 500 people
were killed. Eight Of the twelve mis-
sionary buildings within the mission
ary compound were burned. The mis-
sionaries themselves were spared, but
many of the occupants of the burned
buildings were killed. In the mission
ary quarters We're twelve Armenians
with their families and 800 theological
ed within the compound a ladies' sem
mary. The houses remaining In the
place were stripped Of everything of
value, and the country in the vicinity
laid waste. Stores Of provisions and
clothing were destroyed or carried
away, and the utmost destitution pre-
vails Thousands of men, women
and children who were already
dependent for food upon the stores
in the missionary buildings, are
homeless, naked, and starving,
nothing been saved either from the
burned buildings or those that were not
burned. The Mussulmans destroyed
everything they could not carry away.
A despatch from Mardin, in the Pas
halik Of Diarbekir dated Nov. 13, says
the inhabitants of the villages burned
in that neighbOrhood are in the direst
need of food and clothing, and many
are dying from starvation and expo
sure.
1t is said In dispatches from per-
fectly reliable authority that in the
Syrian district of Guronden 1000 men,
women, and children have been killed,
and many Others are suffering from
wounds and lack of medicines, food,
and clothing.
Missionaries In Peril.
New York, Nov 17-Dr. Charles G.
Creegan, the New York secretary of the
American board Of foreign missions,
said yesterday that no news of the re-
ported attack on the mission at Harput
other than that conveyed in the press
dispatches had been received either
here or at the general headquarters In
Boston. He was not disposed to dis
credit the report, however, as the most
recent private advices from that point,
dated three or four days before the
massacre, stated that the missionaries
were In imminent peril
II cannot disguise the fact" he said.
that we feel the gravest anxiety for
the safety of our missionaries, not only
at Harput. but at Bitlis and Van as
we'll They are east of Harput four and
ten days respectively. Communica-
tion with Bitlis was cut off about a
fortnight ago. The missionaries were
then In great danger, and the expecta-
tion was that II trouble was to come II
would probably break out at Bitlis be-
fore 1t did at Harput. We are conse-
uuently very apprehensive as to the sit
uation in which the Bitlis missionaries
may find themselves now that an out
break has occurred at Harput.
"Harput Is in the Eastern Turkey
mission. which embraces Armenia and
Koordistan, and is 800 miles east of
Constantinople in direct line. It Is
about $50 miles south Of Trebizond. Il
takes our missionaries one day longer
to get from Constantlnoplc. They
journey by the Black Sea to SAMSON,
which is about 250 miles northwest Of
Harput. The remaining distance is
through mountainous region, travers-
ed by no roads worthy Of the name.
THE city Is in fine valley at the
foot of the Koordish mountains and a
short distance east Of the Euphratcs
river. Its population Is between 30, 900
and 10000. There are 800 villages and
small cities within radius Of 100 miles.
The Harput mission is one of our
strongest and most successful ones. In
the station, which includes the sur
rounding villages, there are 1900 church
members, and at the Euphrates college
in Harput are 900 students. The mis-
sionaries there are Orsen p. Allen, Car
oline r. Allen, Herman N. Barnum.
Caroline E. Bush, Mary L. Daniels
Egbert s. Ellis, G. Frank Gates, Mary
e. Gates. Hattie Seymour, Crosby H.
Wheeler, d. D., Susan A. Wheeler and
Emily c. Wheeler. Including children
the number of Americans there is
twenty-four There is like number at
Van and about twenty at Bitlis.
II do not know where the missionaries
at Harput could take refuge from an
attack on the mission, as they are six
teen days from the sea. On the whole
I should think the least dangerous
course open to them would be to re.
main in Harput. where they are
known"
shaken By Earthquake.
4 Ramapo, N. r., Nov. lion Thurs
dav evening, the 1th inst, violent
- ~, - ;, in lro mo- . Sat< Co., !. .1tr