The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-09
half A million VICTIMS
Latest Reports Indicate That Arme.
mia Is Drenched in Blood.
SLAUGHTER STILL CONTINUES
Ten Thousand Circassians and Turks
Engaged In saekine Christian Vii.
lages-A Attack on Embassies at
ConstauiinOple Is Now Feared.

London, Dec. S-The Constantinople
correspondent of 1.-THE Speaker" the
paper which first gave publicity to the
Armenian Outrages. Is now known to
have close relations with the Consul
lates in the Turkish capital, and from
information derived from them he esli-
mates that not less than 100000 Arme-
mans have been killed or arc now dy-
Ing Of starvation. beyond the hope of
timely relief. He says that after the
soldiers had attacked the Armenian
towns and villages the Kurds COM
pleted the plunder. The latter mixed
what grain they could not carry off
with DUNG and set fire to the houses
leaving the people with no food and
their homes heaps of smouldering
ruins.
In the face of these facts the official
Turkish statements, repeatedly COM
municated to the press, that order has
been restored everywhere become
worthless. If the Foreign Office pub
lished all it's information, "The Speak
er" says, Lord Salisbury would not
dare to appear In public. He would be
mObbed in the streets.
What information Is obtainable and
the nature of the Consular reports
which are reaching the Foreign Office
confirm the worst fears OF the destruc-
tlon of the Armenians within the area
from Trebizond. southwest to Van.
thence southwest to Alexandretta, on
the Bay of Iskanderoon. from Alex
andretta slightly northeast 10 Kara
Hissar and from Kara Hissar north
east to Trebizond. Whole Christian
towns and villages have been pillaged
and burned, and their inhabitants mas
sacred. Those who have been lert
alive have been forced to abandon their
faith and turn Mahometans.
Accurate Details Wanted.
Accurate details concerning the con-
dition of affairs in the districts beyond
the immediate spheres of the Consulate
are wanting, but there is no reason to
doubt the reports derived from fugitive
survivors and the better class of Turks
who have not shared in the outrages,
that similar condition of affairs ey-
lists In those places.
The Ambassadors have advised the
Porte to permit the Red Cross societies
to undertake the relief OF the distressed
people, but the presence of hundreds of
Red Cross agents would reveal horrors
that the Porte must conceal. This fact
debars the possibility Of the. govern
ment giving Its assent to the plan.
The representative of the United
Press, who has been for some time in
ConstantinOple In the interests Of that
organization, has received letter from
the Hadjin Mission. which begins with
the words: I'VE are alive, praise the
Lord" The letter refers to the promi-
nent part that Circassians have taken
in the atrocities around HAHN, and
says that 10000 Circassians and Turks
were actively employed in sacking the
Christian villages. ihe governor did
nothing to protect the Christians, and
even refused permission for them to de-
fend themselves. He aid, however
promise the aid of regular Turkish
troops, who, the writer states, We're of
the same sort as those engaged in the
work of murder and pillage.
Alluding to the suppression by the
Foreign Office Of the Consular state
ments concerning the massacres in Ar
menia, 1.-THE Spectator" says 1t hopes
the Foreign Committee Of the American
Senate will procure the publication o.
Minister Terrells dispatches, as it is
quite clear that he has not minced MAJ
ters in reporting to his government.
Attack on Embassies Feared,
BY agreement between the powers.
the official details of the massacres are
meanwhile withheld. as their publica-
ton would endanger the safety of the
consuls and even the ambassadors. It
is held to be possible that the sultan, il
his deposition were imminent, might
permit or incite an attack on the en-
bassies. During the revolution that re-
suited in the dethronement Of Abdul
Aziz, theRussian ambassador filled the
precincts of the embassy with Montene-
grins. The Austrian embassy was
guarded by hundreds Of Croats, and the
French embassy by marines The Brit
ish embassy is by far the strongest
embassy In Constantinople, and is best
adapted for defence against sudden
attack. 1t stands in it's own spacious
grounds overlooking the Golden Horn
Its one entrance Is flanked by mas
sive structures, in which guards are
constantly on duty. A strong and SOL
idly built iron fence ten feet high sur
rounds all the grounds. Report has it
that its internal armament includes
several cannons. Sir Henry Elliot. the
British ambassador. at the time OF the
deposition Of Abdul Aziz. deemed the
security Of the embassy so complete
that he took none Of the extra precau-
ttons adopted by other ambassadors.
The reprot that Sir Philip Currie, the
British ambassador has called in blue
Jackets from the British guardship to
guard the embassy Is doubtful.
Said Pacha has chosen the best refuge
in the city. In the event of the sultan
being deposed and the powers selecting
q successor pledged to reforms, Said