The Butler weekly times., 1895-11-21
WAR SHIPS GATHERING.


Constantinople, Nov. 14.-The
italian fleet is understood to be on
its way to Solonica bay to join the
British feet of about twenty war
ships already there; the French fleet
is expected there shortly and the
representative of the powers, as a
result of communications exchanged
with their governments, having had
another informal meeting at the
French embassy. When the three
squadrons have united and Sir Phil
ip Currie, the British Ambassador,
returns, some decided steps on the
part of the powers may be anticipat
ed.
News received here to day from
the district of Van records fresh
massacres OF Armenian christians
there. The Kurds of Van are said
to be attacking and pillaging the
Armenian villages, and the Turkish
officials are reported powerless to
preserve order.
A telegram received from Sivas
on Tuesday evening, but only made
public to-day, says that a massacre
of the Armenians has been com.
menced in that city, but according
to the Porte order has been restored
there.
It is rumored here to-day that
Shakir Pasha, the Imperial High
Commissioner for Armenian re-
forms, is about to be recalled in
order that he may be appointed
Grand Vizier in succession to Hall
Rifat Pasha, the present incumbent
of that Office. If the rumor is cor.
rect this. seem to be another
open defiance of the powers, for
Shakir Pasha is regarded as the
chief butcher of the Porte. Since
his appointment at Erzeroum as
High Commissioner the massacres
there have been more bloody and
frequent than ever before, and he
has done nothing to punish the sof-
lenders In fact, he has been
charged with calmly looking on
while the Turkish soldiery fired
upon every helpless christian they
caught sight of.
Abdulla Pasha, formerly presi-
dent OF the Sassoun commission of
inquiry, and Sabedin Pasha have
been sent to Erzeroum and Bitlis
respectively to take command of the
Turkish troops in those places. This
lends color to the report.
I THE ERzERouM MASSACRE.
Constantinople, Nov. 14.-Every
day brings further details of the
massacres at Erzeroum and each
leport-nskes the atory of the crimes
there moro ghastly. Men, women
and children were shot, bayonetted,
burned and assaulted for days, the
killing and mutilation lasting for
weeks, though intervals of rest are
recorded. The orders for these out
Aragm are said to have been sent by
h. Forte, and they wel e carried out
the most cruel mannef ! imaginable.
The number Of killed will probably
ever be known, but they are esti.
led at from 500 to 1000, accord
10 Turkish or Armenian versions
affair: Ceftain!y many hun
(.x we're killed, and it is even said
tb.t some of the victims were skin
rad alive, while others were soaked
With petroleum and set fire to.
NJ The Turks of Erzereum, az usual,
e.sim that the Armenians were the
hggressors; but independent reports
acquit the Armenians Of doing any.
thing more than attempting to de
nd themselves at Erzsroum, and
\ 4 Diarbskir; although At Zsitoun,
Mere they captured a Turkish bat
hisn, and at Narash, tho Armsnians
ars admitted to have taken the
4tiative in attacking the Turks
he latter. aEs not always to blam,
ln6 Outbreaks, but there seem,
E3to be no excuse for the 6endish mas
saeres which follow. When once
the Turk begins killing he never
knows when to stop.
Further troubles are also reported
at Kharput, Malitich and Arabkir