The herald., 1895-11-17
AFFAIRS IN ASIA MINOR
Massacres Continue and Dis.
turbances Spread
MISSIONARIES ARE ALIVE
But the Kharput Buildings We're Sacked
and Burned
Instant Help Is Asked That Turkey May
Know the Intentions Of the United
States Government
MISSIONARIES ARE ALIVE

Nov. 16.-The news from different prov
inces in Asia Minor continues grave, con-
frming beyond doubt the opinion which
has prevailed hero for long time that
the movement has now assumed proper
tions which has placed it beyond the
control OF the Turkish authorities, even
if the latter were really DESTROYS OF pun
,shing Mnssulmans for massacreipg Ar.
menians. In fact, 1t is considered very
doubtful whether the Turkish troops
would fire on Mussulmans If ordered to
do so.
1t is now known there we're about SOD
victims of the Knarput massacre, and
eight Of twelve buildings belonging to the
American missionaries were sacked and
burned. in spite of assurances of the
Porte to the United States ambassador.
Terrill, that the lives and property of
Americans would oe protected and al
though it announced that Turkish gend'
armes had been detailed to guard the
missions. Tho American missionaries
escaped and are in places OF safety. Ter
rill has notified the Porte that the
United States will hold it responsible for
the lives Of the missionaries. The inhab.
itants around Kbarput are in state OF
great distress from hunger. and II cold
weather was to set in suddenly, there will
be more suffering and considerable loss
OF life.
II the district of Mardin, where there
is a large Christian population OF Chal-
deans and Syrians a mum Der of villages
have BEEN burned to the ground. and the
people are destitute and suffering from
sickness due to exposure and hunger.
This outbreak is regarded hare as indi-
ating a sytematic campaign directed from
Y,ldiz Kiosk, against all Christians and
not against Armenian Christians in par
ticular, as has generally been believed to
be the case. This puts quite serious
complexion upon the whole matter. and
is a matter which will Immediately at.
tract the attention Of powers, even ii it
has not already done so. At Sivas and
elsewhere the Turks have claimed the
Armenians we're the aggressors and the
former simply defended themselves
when attacked. The Weakness Of this plea
can be judged from the fact that during
| tho recent Massacre at Sivas 800 Armen-
| ians we're killed and only ten Turks met
death. IT 10 therefore safe to presume
| that it Was massacre pure ami simple,
and not an ordinary disturbance which
| the Armcnians.
| il The report that four Jesuit priests IN
der French protection had been murdered
| at Malaties turns out to be untrue. The
real state of affairs cannot be sscertained
by the representatives OF the on bassies,
much less by the representatives of the
press, but it is currently stated that 400
softas (furkish theological students)
have recently been arrested. The cause
of the students imprisonment is said TO
be their refusal to return to their homes
without recsiving the money due them
from the government for their expenses
in undergoing their course of study, but
q more likely version of the affair is that
the students have been proved to be i'm
plicated in posting Tho revolutionary
plaoards continually found in and about
the public thorough fares OF the city. The
porto is also said to be very anxious
apout the attitude of the military cadets.
The latter are said to be strongly imbued
with the revolutionary spirit WI ich pre-
walls in the army and navy, and it is re-
ported that the government has decided
to transfer the Panaldie military school
to the barracks at Scutari.
No definite action ID known to have
been taken by the am bassadors of the
powers, but it 10 reported that they will
JOIN in note 20 the porte, informing the
government of the sultan that in spite of
the remonstranoes 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 sutti-
cient to queIl the repeated disturbances
which are breaking ont. and 1t has be-
come necessary for the powers, in the in
terests OF Christianity and humanity, to
put an end to these disorders py occupy
ing jointly various portions of the Turk
ish empire until order is fully restored
and better system of government is in.
augurated.
In order to carry out tho policy of the
powers the most powerful fleet ever gath.
,red together is being assembled at
Salonica bay. 1t will consist OF about
thirty British warships, including
dozen battleshipn OF the first class; q
dozen or so French ships, including half
dozen battleships; twelve Russian war
ships, of which four will be battleships;
eight italian warships, OF which number
four at least will br first class battleships,
and several Austrian and German war
ships. The British feet includes the
flower OF the British navy. and 10 con.
stantly being reinforced.