The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-25
NO QUARTER AT zErTOUN.
The Turks Under Orders to Massacre
Every Armenian Possible.

COnstantinople, Dec. 24-An official tele-
gram from Zeitoun reports that the Turk
ish forces which have been advancing for
some time upon the latter place. made a
successful ambuscade and were victori-
Gus, but withdrew to Marash which place
offered better facilities for the encamp-
ment OF the troops.
Other reports of the engagement have it
that the Armenians won victory over
the Turkish troops and took about a hun
dred Of them prisoners.
Letters received in Constantinople from
the interior show that orders have been
issued to the Turkish soldier to spare
neither man, woman nor child. A protest.
ant clergyman, pastor Of a church in zei-
toun, has acted in the capacity of envoy
in the parleying that has taken place
between the Turks and the Armenians
at that place, the latter being in possess
sion of the town.
A division of the Turkish army has ad-
Nanced to Geben, two days march from
Aeitoun. Upon the appearance Of the
troops the inhabitants Of the town. about
1900 persons, fed and took refuge in Eel
toun, leaving their cattle and other prop
erty. The soldiers are burning all of the
houses and their contents, provisions, etc,
as they go along Terrific rains have pre-
vailed, causing the roads to be knee deep
with mud. The wood, the only available
fuel, Is green and water-soaked and the
men are eating food that is half-cooked,
from which a large number of them are
sick. The sick ones were returned to
Adana and others who were unit TO
march further were left at Geben. When
the soldiers arrived at Geben they order
ed 5000 loaves of bread TO be supplied by
the Christians. The bread was furnished
and the raVenous soldiers ate every loaf
before the last animal bearing the food
was unloaded.
Another division of Turkish troops is ad-
vancing upon Zeitoun from Marash, but
the prevailing floods make the fording of
streams difficult. A third division is ad-
Vancing from Coekoun. This division
must travers a difficult pass which 100
men can defend. The general opinion Is
that the Armenians in possession of Zei-
toun have nothing to fear except hunger.
1t Is reported that the United States
cruiser Marblehead has fired number of
blank shots at the town of Mersina, in
Asia Minor. If the report is true the
shots were probably fired with the object
of frightening the Turks, as a means OF Sc
curing the protection Of American prop
erty at Tarsus and Adana.
An official telegram dated Dec. "a, says
that the Armenians at Zeitoun have made
an attack upon the village of Mehel, kill
ing two men. five women and three chill
dren, and carrying away all of the cattle
and the goods in the shops and houses.
The Inhabitants of the village fed to
Vienna, Dec. 24.-The most recent ad-
vices received here from Asia Minor say
that the Armenians at Zeitoun are still
besieged. The official report of the attack
on Mehel is probably intended to discount
a fresh or impending slaughter Of Ar
menians.
Paris, Dec. 24.-The GauIois publishes a
| report of an interview with Costa Kieffen-
| di, the newly appointed Turkish ambas-
sador to Great Britain, in which. that
| diplomat declares that there Is no Arme-
nian question, except the question of re-
| forms, which are difficult 10 apply in
| such a composite country as Asia Minor
| The sultan alone, he says, Is the judge
| of what is useful, but time and patience
win be required
1t is officially announced that the sui
| tan has appointed Christians as assistant
| governors in Sivas, Bitlas and Erezoum.
London, Dec. 24.-The Telegraph will to-
morrow publish dispatch from Vienna
| saying a telegram received in that city
| from Constantinople declares that the re-
| port that the insurgent Armenians al
| Zeitoun had killed their Turkish prison
| ers is absolutely untrue.
The Times Constantinople correspond
ent telegraphs that the impression pre-
walls in the porte that Sadyk Pasha, tbs
| great finance minister of the reign of Alb
| dul Aziz, who has been in exile in the
| archipelago for sixteen years, will be re-
| called by the sultan. This means the end
| ing of the present ministry. The sultaT
| has not one honest and capable adviser
| in his government.
The dispatch adds that Zeia Pasha, who
was recently named as Turkish ambassa
| dor to Germany will succeed Tewfik Pashf
as minister of foreign affairs. The latter
is said to be unpleasing to the sultan.