The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-12-11
TURKEY HAS YIELDED
Permission Given for Guard
ships to Pass Dardanelles.
BOATS ARE NOT NEEDED NOW.
So the Sultan Can Laugh at the Pow
ers-The Massacres at Bitlis ana
Van Unprovoked.
Copyrighted by the Associated Press.


Constantinople, Dec. 9.--Via Sofia, Bull
garia, Dec. 10-The long-Grawn-out con-
troversy between the ambassadors OF the
powers and the sultan over the question
of the admission of additional guardshlps
for the protection OF the embassies was
settled at $40 O'Clock this evening by the
issuance of an trade granting the neces-
sary firTnans 10 permit the guardsnlps 10
pass the Dardanelles. The demand was
first made upon the sultan on November
H. and scarcely a day mas passed sulce
then without its being renewed in more
or less peremptory manner. Inc hSe-
nuity displayed by the Turkish govern
ment in evading direct answer 10 tAe
demand or when forced TO answer the
effective pleadings put forth for delay had
almost brought the mind OF Europe 10
me conclusion that the demand would
never be complied with. Meantime days
and weeks passed by without any action,
and the condition of things in CONSTANT
nople that brought out the demand mas al
most passed. The final triumph OF the
powers in forcing a compliance with their
demands seems a barren one, and the
long-sought permission TO double the reg
uiar guardships for the embassies, now
that il is obtained. seems hardly worth
taking advantage of.
The following account has just been re-
ceived of the massacre al Bitlis on Octo-
the mosques and several others, dressed
as Armenians, fired pistols in the court
yard OF the mosque at OutoudJami, near
the market place in order TO afford pre-
text for the massacre. The Turks raised
cries of THE GiaOurs are attacking the
mosque" Then they combined in an at
tack upon the market. The Armenian
traders were massacred in their shops, and
the mob pillaged the Armenian quarters,
killing women and children. The rioters
were aided by the Kurdish tribes of Mad
gan and khouti. The disturbances in the
villages exceeded in ferocity those in the
town itself. The villages were completely
demolished"
A report received here from Van states
that forty villages in that vicinity have
been devastated and plundered, and that
the entire population. consisting OF li,eo
persons. have been dispersed TO the hills.
Everywhere, ii is added there is massacre,
pllage, famine and fire at work in eXter-
minating the Armenans. 1t is stated
that fifty villages around Sivas were de-
vastated by the Turkish bazouks, soldiers
and gendarmes. while the population fled
and wandered over the surrounding coun-
try. The village of Andrias, ii is further
stated, was attacked on October Is, num-
Der of the inhabitants slain and number
OF old men, women and children, VINO
sought refuge in the church, burned alive.
bugie of the troops, It is asserted, in this
case was sounded for the attack to begin.
and the soldiers took part in the massacre
which followed.
Rumors which have apparent foundation
in fact are current here of a wholesale
conspiracy which may have for its OBJECT
the deposition of the sultan. 1t is known
that a number of prominent Armen.ans
here, and several military officers of high
rank in the Turkish army and navy, nave
been closely watched for months past. but
in spite of this they have succeeded IN es-
Gaming from the country. That the con-
spiracy was of most important nature
may be judged from the fact that among
the fugitives is the suitan's a'de-de-camp,
Hassan Djemi Pasha. who, it is believed.
was to have led the disaffected of the inn
perial guards into the palace and seized
the sultan. The report was circulated TO-
day that the burning of the palace in winch
the sultan entertained imperial guests was
OF incendiary origin and intended for a
signal for rising Of the Armenians. but
there is absolutely nothing upon which TO
base II.
No news has yet reached this city from
Zeitoun which is still supposed TO be IN
the hands of the Armenians.
The commission sent to estimate the loss
sustained by the American missionaries In
the riots at Marash has fixed the amount
=
the damage TO American missionaries prop
erty at Kharput has not yet reported.
Previous to leaving the British embassy.
where he had taken refuge, Said Pasha,
the eX-grand vizier. requested the sultan
to permit him 10 leave the country with
his family.
Further advices are continually being
received here of undated disorders in the
interior. and especially of the burning OF
Armenian villages. This form or outrage
is particularly prevalent in the villayet or
Van, where the distress existing Is terri
Bile.
The porte has not yet granted the ex-
equateurs Of the new British vice consuis
at Van and Sivas. the invariable policy or
delay having been followed in this as well
as in all other diplomatic dealings of the
Turks But Sir Philip Currie. the British
ambassador, has determined that the new
" appointed vice cOnsuls shall start for
their posts next Wednesday, with or WITH
out their eXequateurs.
Fresh placards s.gned by the Ottoman
committee on progress and union OK reform
nave been posted throughout the capital to-
day. especially in the Kassim Fasha quar-
ter. These p.acards contain " manifesto
Genol1Cing the present regime OF spoIa-
ton and oppression. and calling upon all,
without distinction 10 religion, 10 unite in
demanding Justice liberty and reform. II
The demands are refused. the Manifesto ap-
peals 20 she Osmanu 20 remove in another
manner the stains upon the nation name.
London. Dec. 10.-The Chronicle publish
es a dispatch from Constantinople quoting
letter which was written by an educated
Turk. who ca.not be suspected OF Impair
TALLY toward the Armeniaus. lie says;
ION the way from Hussrie MansuT 10 Ma
latia. in company with gendarmes and an
officer we overlook band Of 90 Arme-
Man refugees. travelling from Adana 10
kharput They begged our protection
against the kurds AS we traversed the
valleys the Kurds appeared by hundreds
on the hills on either side and charged
down into the valley. firing they came.
The Armenian women and children chung
20 our legs for protection. but We were
powerless against the hordes, who cut
them down even while they were ciaging
10 rs. l lost my horse and had several
narrow escapes. When the kur1s de-
csmped with their booty only six Arne-
mans were left alive" The letter then
4 4