The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-11-23
GROWING MORE GRAVE.
The Situation I'm Armenia Reported
to Have Taken a Serious Turn

To Have Taken a Serious Turn
Copyright, 1895, by the Associated Press)
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 22-The gen.
eral situation in this country continues to
inspire the gravest fears. kilograms re-
ceived here from Marash late yesterday, ap-
parently considerably delayed by the Turk
ish officials, say that the American and 9TH
er missionaries there are again in the great
est danger. In view of the repeated assur-
ances which the United States minister,
Alexander W. Terrell, has received from
the Porte on his insisting that they be safe-
ly guarded, this has caused much anxiety.
Advices received here from Sivas assert
that soon as the reirforcements of Turk
ish troops arrive there. the Turkish officials
will notify the Armenans that they must
surrender all the arms and ammunition in
their possession. The Armenians object to
this, as it places them entireiy at the mercy
of the Turks. To this the Turks reply that
no harm will be done them so long as they
do not resist the authorities and that if they
refuse to give up their arms they will be
forced to do so. 1t is asserted that the
Turkish officials added that IL they were
not satisfied tnat all the arms and ammunI-
tion have been surrendered, the troops will
be ordered to attack the Armenians. Men,
hers of the diplomatic corps point to the
fact that, as the Mussulmans of Sivas are
not to be disarmed, the projected measures
against the Armenians create a new danger
which may have the most grave conse-
quences.
The concentration of Turkish troops at
Marash continues as rapidly as possible
While the massing OF soldiers continues, the
Turkish commander at Marash continues
his negotiations with the Armenans of
Zeitoun, holding out all sorts Of promises
for their surrender But the Armenians have
been frequently deceived that they ap-
prehend nothing less than wholesale
massacre IL they lay down their arms The
representatives OF the powers take the same
view Of the case and have notified the
consequences II the Zeitoun Armenans are
massacred. The Armenians of this city who
can be prevailed on to talk on the subject
intimate that surprise for the Turks is
being prepared at Zeitoun and that a battle
which will make history and show that the
Armenians are entitled TO freedom, or. at
least, self-gover1ment. Will be fought there
However, az the Armenians are deficient in
artillery it cannot reasonably be expect ted
that they. can offer an effective resistance
to a regularly organized expedition.
Rumors OF fresh troubles at Samsoon a
seaport of Asia Minor, on the Black sea.
have also reached here. The population OF
Turks, and the few Armenians there are
certain to fare badly IL an uprising has oc-
CURED.
situation at present Is the one resulting
from the demand which the Representatives
of Great Britain, Russia, Italy and Austria
made TO the Sultan for firmans. allowing
the passage through the Dardanelles TO this
city of a second dispatcn boat. or small
gurboat. TO be attached 10 each OF their
respective embassies. BY the treaty of Ber-
lin. the war ships of foreign nations are
not allowed TO pass the Dardanelles with
out the permission of the Sultan. and il has
hitherto been customary to allow one small
dispatch boat, kind of guard ship for
each OF the embassies. The recent rioting In
this city. however: and the precautions
which have been taken TO defend the Brit
ism and other embassies have shown that
the naval force of the powers i'm the Ros-
phorus Is hardly sufficient to cope with a
serious outbreak in or about this city IL
was at first believed that there would be no
difficulty in persuading the Sultan 10 grant
the necessary permission for the passage Of
the Dardanelles OF the four small war
ships. but IL Is now intimated at the palace
that he may decline TO grant these demands
OF the powers. AZ the powers consider that
an increase OF the number OF foreign war