The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-13
MOCKING THE POWERS
THE SULTAN AGAIN POSTPoNES 8
HIS ANSWER TO THEIR
DEMASHS.
TROOPS ARE BEING Modified

the Scheme for Reform in Armenia
Would be Forwarded TO the ssepre-
sentatives OF the Powers s"Without
DeIay"-Talk OF Deposing the Sultan.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 12.--Each
day shows the situation of affairs here
to be more threatening.
The reply of the Porte to the com
munications sent to it after the meet
ing of the ambassadors yesterday has
been awaited with interest as i'll the
note the representatives of the powers
used much stronger language than
heretofore, and positively insisted up
on being Immediately informed as to
what steps the Turkish government
intended to take for the restoration
of order.
The Porte to-day, replying to the
indentical notes of the ambassadors of
Germany, Austria and Italy, simply
said that information regarding the
scheme for reform in Armenia would
be forwarded to the representatives
of the powers without delay
In other words, these three ambas-
sadors, at least, have obtained no sat
isfaction at all. 1t is not yet known
if the notes of the ambassadors of
Great Britain, Russia and France have
been replied to, but it is presumed
that they were also assured that their
requests for information regarding
the proposed reforms would be COM
piled to without delay"
Surprise is expressed even by the
diplomats of this city, who expect al
most anything from the Porte at the
action of the Sultan in sanctioning
the official note issued yesterday, as
cabled exclusively to the Associated
Press, expressing Abdul Hamid's
thanks for the energetic measures
taken by the imperial authorities"
in ''suppressing" the disturbances in
Asia Minor, asserting that order has
now been restored in all the districts
recently the scene of riots and con-
ficts," and adding that precautions
have been taken to insure the mainte-
nance of order.''
This really looks like mocking the
ambassadors, and as second in impor-
tance only to the snub administered
by the Sultan to Great Britain in de-
corating Bahri Pasha and giving him.
the command of the troops going to
Zeitoun. after he had been removed
from a goyernorship at the instance of
the British Ambassador, Sir Philip
Currie-for his ill-treatment of Ar
menians.
As to order being restored in the dis
turbed districts, it need only be said
that the mobilization OF about 150,0
troops to be sent to these districts is
progressing as actively as the Turkish
government can push such an under
taking, hampered as it is by lack OF
funds and the incompetency of its
officials.
Advices received here to-day an
nounce fresh disturbances at Marash,
Bitlis and Sivas, with their attendant
massacres.
1t is also announced that battalion
of Turkish troops which was in garri-
son at Zeitoun and which recently dis
tinguished itself by surrounding and
shooting down a number of Armen-
ian insurgents, was later beseiged in
its barracks by the Armenians, to
whom the soldiers eventually capitu-
lated with arms and ammunition, bag
and baggage. 1t is added that the Ar
meniahs now occupy the quarters at
zeitoun previously occupied by the
Turkish soldiery.
The Armenians, it is further stated,
have garrisoned all the important po-
ations in and about Zeitoun and are
gathering ammunition and provisions,
throwing up Notifications and in ev-
cry way preparing to hold the place.
Considerable anxiety is felt in Amer
lean circles here on account of the alb
sence OF the news from the districts
where the American missionaries are
stationed and the United States Am
bassador, Mr.. Alexander w. Terrell
has telegraphed to Commissioner
Darnham, at Harpul, asking him if
the commission is safe.
According to advices to-day from
HadJin, several villages in that region
have been attacked by rioters who
massacred the inhabitants and plum
dered their property. 1t is feared that
the disturbances will spread to Had
jim.
IT is stated this afternoon in Euro
pean official circles here that as a re-
suit Of an additional exchange ofyiews
between the powers, through the rep
resentatiyes here and at the different
capitols it is believed that joint
course Of action, involving a display
of naval and possibly military force
has already been decided upon Re
cent events having clearly demon
stated that the Sultan has no inten-
tion Of really carrying out the scheme
for reform agreed upon some time ago
after so much delay and annoyance.
The rumors so persistentIy circula-
ted for many weeks past as to the
probability that the Sultan will be
be deposed were repeated on all sides
to-day and it would seem that they
may have been revived by some de
finite statement on the subject having
been overheard at one of the embas-
sizes
No further details have been re-
ceiyed here of the recent massacres at
Diabeldr; but from all accounts the
bloodshed must have been terrible in
the extreme. A large part of the town
was burned.
More Rioting in Armenia.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.-The