Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1895-11-20
Situation is Not Improved.
Cnnuri ohtod hu thu Aocnnin+od Drnnn

W Al6AlCo " IAC L
Constantinople, Nov. Is, via Sofia,
Bulgaria, Nov. 16.-The news from diff
ferent provinces Of Asia Minor continues
to ne grave, confirming beyond doubt
the impression which has prevailed here
for a long time past that the movement
has now assumed proportions which have
placed it beyond the control of the Turk
ish authorities, even if the latter were
really DESTROYS of Furnishing the Mussul-
mans for massacreing Armenians. In
fact, it is considered very doubtful
whether the Turkish troops would fire
on MussulmanS if they should be ordered
to do so.
1t is now known that there are about
300 victims of the Kharput massacre,
and that eight of the twelve buildings
belonging to the American missionaries
there were sacked and burned in spite
Of the assurances of the Porte to the
United States ambassador, Alexander w.
Terrell, that the lives and property of
the Americans would be protected and
although it was announced that Turkish
gendarmes had been detailed to guard
the mission. The American missionaries,
however, escaped and are now in a place
of safety. MI. Terrell has notified the
Porte that the United States will hold
it responsible for the lives of the mis-
sionaries.
The inhabitants around Kharput are in
a state of great distress from hunger,
and if the cold weather were to set in
suddenly there would be much suffering
and considerable loss of life. From
Guran in the villayet of Sivas, where the
Kurds have been besieging 1000 Ar
menians, it is reported that all the Ar
menians have been massacred. In the
District of Mardin, where there is a
large Christian population of Chaldeans
and Syrlans, a number of villages have
been burned to the ground and the peO-
pie are destitute and suffering from sick
ness due to exposure and hunger.
A Significant Outbreak.
This outbreak is considered here as
being very significant, and as indicating
that a systematic campaign is directed
from Yildiz Kiosk against all Christians
and not against the Armenian Christians
in particular, as has generally been be-
lieved to be the case. This puts quite
a different and more serious complexion
upon the whole matter and is a feature
which will Immediately attract the at
tention of the powers even If it has not
already lone so.
At Sivas and elsewhere the Turks have
claimed that the Armenians were the
aggressors and that the former simply
defended themselves when attacked by
the latter. The weakness of this plea
can be judged from the fact that during
the recent massacre at Sivas 0 Ar
menians were killed and only 10 Turks
met death during the riOting. 1t is there
fore safe to presume that it was a mas
sacre pure and simple and not an or
binary disturbance which resulted in
such great loss of life among the Ar
menians.
The report that four Jesuit priests I'M
der French protection had been muir
dered at Malaties turns out to be I'M
true. There was a disturbance there for
a time and the lives of the priests were
in danger, but they escaped and are now
in safety.
The police continued making unex-
planned arrests and not q day passes
without revolutionary posters being pla-
carded on the walls or distributed On the
streets. The real state of affairs cannot
be ascertained by the representatives of
the press, but it is currently stated that
400 Softas turkish theological students)
have recently been arrested. The cause
of their imprisonment is said to be their
refusal to return to their homes without
receiving the money which is due them
from the government for their expenses,
etc, in undergoing their course of study;
but another and more likely version of
the affair is that the students have been
proved to be implicated in posting the
Evolutionary placards continually found
in and about the public thoroughfares of
this city.
Il VI lC 10 d1GO Sdl0 " NC NSlN ALA
ious about the attitude of the military
cadets. The latter are said to be strong
~ imbued with the revolutionary spirit
which prevails in the army and navy,
and it is reported that the government
has decided to transfer the Panaldie
military school to the barracks at Scu-
tart.
No definite action is known to have
been taken by the ambassadors of the
powers. but it is reported that thew will
join in a note to he Porte informing the
government that in spite of the remon-
strances and recommendations of the
powers, matters have now reached q
stage IN Asia Minor where it is evident
that the Sultan's authority is not sufi-
Gent to quell the repeated disturbances
which are breaking out and it has be-
come necessary for the powers, in the
interests of Christianity and humanity,
to put an end to these disorders by occu-
plying jointly various portions of the
Turkish empire until order is fully re-
stored and a better system of govern
ment is inaugurated.
Big Fleet Assembling.
In order to carry out the policy of the
powers, the most powerful feet ever
gathered together is being assembled at
Salonica bay. It will consist of about
thirty British warships, including a doz-
ell battleships of the first-class; a dozen
or SO French ships, including half a doz-
en- ba%ttleships; twelve Russian warships,
of which four will be battleships; eight
Italian warships, of which four at least
will be battleships and several Austrian
includes the flower of the British navy
and is constantly being reinforced.
MT &c man