Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-14
TURKS PRESSED TO CORNER
Present Condition Of Affairs Cannot Con-
tinue Much Longer.
WAITING SIR PHILIP CURRIE's RETURN
French md Italian Fleets Join the
English and the beginning Of
the End Looked For
Every Hour.

ish minister for foreign affairs, Tewfk Pasha,
replied today to the notes Of the diplomatic
representatives of Great Britain, Russia and
France. assuring them, as he had previously
assured the ambassadors Of Germany, Aus
tria and Italy, that the Turkish governments
statement as to what measures it intends to
take for the suppression Of the disorders In
Asia Minor will be presented to the ambas-
sailors without delay"
Another complication seems likely to arise
which may give the sultan further excuse for
inaction. The Hall Rifat ministry is said to
be tottering and another cabinet change is
likely to occur at any time.
The rumors concerning the possible dispo-
sltion Of Abdul Hamid are still current, but
the statement that the imperial yacht is
lying off the palace with steam up, intimating
that the sultan is preparing to seek safety
In flight, is a weak fabrication. The imperial
yacht is sadly out of repair and is laid up for
the winter.
The statement published in the United
States that there has been trouble at Angora
and Palu and thai 1000 Armenians there
have been massacred, is also a clumsy inven-
ton, as no news Of a disturbance of any kind
has reached here from Angora or Palu.
In the meanwhile fresh disturbances are
reported from Malatiah, where a number of
persons have bsen killed, including four
priests Of the Society Of Jesus. who were
under French protection. The French am
bassador, M. Cambon, has been appealed to
and liz preparing a very strong representa-
ton on the subject to the Porte.
Al SHIPS GETTING TOGETHER.
A squadron of five French war ships has
sailed from the Piraeus for Turkish waters
and II is stated that an Italian fleet will
rendezvous with the British fleet within a
few days. There has been most serious
trouble at Caesarea, not for from Jerusalem,
but no details OF the rioting there have yet
reached this city.
A great panic prevails at Moosh owing to
the Kurdish movement. All those who can do
so are fleeing from the city and ne!ghbor-
hood. Many people are reported to have
been robbed and murdered while fleeing.
The Kurds are said to be in arms throughout
the district. Trops are, 1t Is claimed by the
authorities, being hurried to the spot.
Replying to the inquiry OF the United States
ambassador, Mr.. Alexander w. Terrell, as to
the safety Of the American missionaries,
Commissioners Darnham has telegraphed from
Harput saying that the missionaries are alive,
but in extreme danger. Mr.. Terrell has in
formed Tewfk Pasha that the government
will be held responsible for the safely of the
Americans. The Turkish minister for foreign
affairs has assured Mr.. Terrell that every
thing possible will be done for their protec-
ton. As Mr.. Terrell has great influence with
the palace authorities, it may be presumed
that Tewhk Pasha will keep his word.
CAPTURED TURKISH TROOPS.
The most serious state Of affairs still pre-
walls at Zitoun, where the Armenlans re-
Gently captured a battalion of Turkish
troops. with their arms, ammunition and sup
plies. and afterward occupied the barracks
and all the strategic positions in and about
that city. The government Is striving very
hard to prevail upon the Armenians there to
Law down their arms, promising that they
shall not be in any way molested II they re-
- - ,l.i. bn,,ac md surrender the InTk-
ish soldiers they hold prisoners, with their
arms. etc. But the Armenians have so fire.
ouently been the victims OF similar promises
that It is not considered likely that they VIII
give up their prisoners or the POSITIONS tney
hold In this case some desperate fghtlng
NAV shortly take place. as a large force of
Turkish regulars and reserves Is moving
rapidly on Zltoun.
The captured soldiers. 1t is known. have
heen well treated by the Armenians, much
to the surprise of the authorities here, who
expected that they would be killed.
The Turkish minister of the interior,
Memduh Pasta, has issued Instructions TO
the provincial officials to carefully watch all
public conyeyances passing in and out or the
boundaries Of their districts for arms, am
munition and seditious literature, quantities
Of which are reported to have been smuggled
into different parts Of the empire recently.
The Turkish officials claim that some
Arnenians recently captured In arms against
the sultan had Russian rifles and ammunition
In their possession. This Is not thought
extraordinary here. as 1t has been known for
a year past that the Armenians have been
obtaining arms from the Russian provinces.
But the Turks are trying to make much Of
this in their usual tactics of playing one
country against another.
The distribution Of evolutionary literature
throughout Asia Minor is being carried on
extensively in spite Of the precautions taken
by the Turkish governors and not a day
passes without incendiary placards being torn
down by the police here and in all the big
cities.
There seems to be no doubt that the spirit
of revolution is spreading even among the old
Turks and the young Turk party is said
to be ripe for a revolt.
TURKEY LACKS FUNDS.
The greatest trouble under which the Porte
seems TO be lqboring is the great difficulty it
is experiencing in carrying out the military
measures decided upon in Asia Minor. The
financial situation here is pretty nearly as bad
as It can be and there seems to be no pos
sibillty of improving 1t. Even supposing a
bip new Turkish loan could be raised, which
Ia unlikely, the money would, as usual, il is
believed. be turned into other than legitimate
channels and in a short time the situation
would be as bad as ever. This condition OF
affairs is particularly aggravating on ac-
count of the spread OF the revolts in certain
provinces. particularly in Syria, where the
Redifs. who were recently called upon to
join the army, stubbornly refused to leave
their houses. IL is claimed IN OMclal Turkish
circles here that the refusal of the Redifs
10 Join the colors is due to their fear OF being
attacked by the Druses, but the real reason
seems to be that they are almost certain to
have to serve without pay and on the short
rations.
The government is undoubtedly in a very
bad position, and, as already intimated, an
other change Of ministry is impending.
The army needs money for pay, equipment
and provisions and the same state Of affairs
prevails In the navy, But the arrears of paw
are not forthcoming and there is much
grl milling in consequence, except among the
palace troops. The latter are kept well fed
well paid and comfortably idle, for upon them
depends the safety Of Abdul Hamid, who. as
Is well known, is I'M hourly dread Of assassina-
ton.
Under these circumstances II is not aston
lshing that army and navy are becoming
disanected and nobody would be astonished
to hear that they have sided with the
rev olutionists should the expected uprising
take place,
II is now believed that the powers will
not take definite action against the Porte
until all the naval squadrons have assembled
in Turkish waters, which will be about the
time that the British ambassador to Turkey.
Sir Philip Currie. returns here after consult
ing with his government as to the future
action Of Great Britain.
In the meanwhile the state Of suspense is