Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-11-18
THE SULTAN OF TURKEY.
if ordered to dc

1t is now known that there are about
800 victims of the Kharput massacre, and
eight out of ~ buildings belonging to the
American missionaries there were sacked
and burned i'll spite of the assurances of
the porte to the United States ambassa-
dor, Alexander w. Terrell, that the lives
and property Of the Americans would be
protected and although it was announced
that Turkish gendarmes had been de-
tailed to guard the mission. The Ameri-
can missionaries, however, escaped, and
are now in place of safety. Mr. Terrell
has notified the porte that the United
States will hold it responsible for tho lives
of the missionaries
The inhabitants around Kharput are in
state of great distress from hunger, and
if cold weather was to set in suddenly
there would be much more suffering and
considerable loss of life.
From Guran, in the valley of Siyas
where the Kurds have been besieging 1000
Armcnians, it is reported that all the Ar
menians have been massacred
In the district of Mardin, where there is
large Christian population of Chaldeans
and Syrians, "a number of villages have
been burned to the ground, the people are
destitute and suffering from sickness. due
to exposure and hunger.
War On All Christians.
These outbreaks are regarded here as
being very significant and as indicating
a systematic campaign, directed from
Yildiz Kiosh, against all Christians, and
not against the Armenian Christians in
particular, as has generally been believed
to be the case. This puts quite different
and more serious complexion upon the
whole matter and is a feature which will
Immediately attract the attention of the
powers, even if it has not already done so
At Sivas and elsewhere the Turks have
claimed that the Armenians We're the
aggressorS and that the former simply de-
Tended themselves when attacked by tho
latter. The weakness of the plea can be
judged from the fact that during the re-
cent massacre at Sivas 500 Armenians
were killed and only 10 Turks met death
during the rioting. 1t is therefore safe to
presume that it was massacre pure and
simple and not an ordinary disturbance
where such loss of life among the Ar
menians occurred. Tho report tn at four
Jesuit priests. under French protection.
had been murdered Mt Malaties turns out
to be untrue. There was a disturbance
there and for a time the lives of the priests
were in danger, and they were said TO have
been killed, but they escaped and are now
in safety
The police here continue making I'M
explained arrests, and not day passes
without revolutionary posters being pla-
carded on the walls or distributed in the
streets. The real state of affairs cannot
he ascertained by the representatives of
the embassies, much less by representa-
tives of the press, but it is currently stated
that over 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 money which is due
them from the government for their ex-
penses, ETC., in undergoing their course Of
study; but another and more likely yer
sion of the affair is that the students have
been proved to be implicated in posting
the revolutionary placards continually
found in and about the public thorough
fares of this city.
The porte is also said to be very anxious
about the attitude of the military cadets.
hC idttCI dit Shiu W NC stEOllplN IfnDueu
with the revolutionary spirit which pref
walls in the army and navy, and it is re-
ported that the government has decided to
transfer the Pancaldi military school to
the barracks at Scutari.
Attitude of the Powers.
No definite action is known to have been
taken by the ambassadors of the powers;
but it is reported that all will join in
note to the porte informing the govern
ment of the sultan that, in spite of the re-
and recommendations of the
powers, matters have now reached stage
in Asia Minor where it is evident that the
authority is not sufficient to quell
the repeated disturbances which are
breaking out, and it has become necessary
for the powers, in the interests of Chris
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