Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-11-29
SLIPPERY SULTAN.
He Plays with the Powers Re.
garding That Firman,
AND THE POWERS PLAY WITH TINE.

No Authority Yet Given by the Porte for
Those Extra Gunboats to Go to the Bos-
phorus-Forcible Entry Of the Dartian-
Giles Again Imminent - Forts the
Straits Ready for War-R Report That
1000 Were Butchcred at Marash.
BOsToN, Nov. 29-Rev Judson Smith,
ID. d., secretary of the foreign department
Of the American Board of Missions, has
received the following cablegram from one
Of the representatives of the board at Con-
Red Cross society to enter relief work as
in war time. Urgency is extreme for &C.
ton by the organization under interna-
tional protection. Four hundred thousand
people are destitute"
CoNsTANTINoPLE, via Sofia, Bulgaria,
Nov. 20-In spite of the assurances which
the Turkish minister for foreign affairs,
Tewfik Pasha, gave tho ambassadors of
Great Britain, Russia, Austria and Italy
Wednesday that the frmans allowing
the passage through the Dardenelles Of
four extra guardships for the use of their
embassies would be Immediately issued by
the porte, the necessary documents have
not been forthcoming. Consequently a
serious condition of affairs which was
looked upon as having been definitely
cleared up is now again perplexing the
ambassadors and threatening to cause the
adoption of strong measures upon The part
of the powers. Frequent conferences be-
tween the ambassadors have taken place
on the subject during the past twenty
four hours and there have been many con-
situations between the Turkish ministers
and the sultan mt the palace regarding the
same matter.
Action by the Powers Is Imminent.
The answer of the powers to the request
of the porte that they refrain from pressing
their demand for the extra guardshipS
was that they could see no reason not to
support the demands of their ambassadors
for more effective means OF protecting the
foreign residents of Constantinoplc in an
emergency, and in the presence Of this
unanimous reply it is considered in foreign
official circles that the sultan has no alter
native but to yield, especially in view Of
the probability that the powers will have
the extra SunDOatS conveyed through the
Dardanelles by battleships if the sultan
persists in his dilatory tactics. Indeed, it
seems highly probable that the ambassa-
doris have already determined not to wait
beyond n certain time for the firmans,
and, therefore, it may soon be announced
that the gunboats are coming.
Guns May Yet Room in the Straits.
That the porte anticipates trouble is
ia . I,o hot oil hn
about the straits are now fully armed and
supplied with ammunition and have been
placed in the highest state of efficiency
compatible with the circumstances.
Scarchiights are kept in good order and
are worked nightly over the waters. For
| over a month past the work of strengthen
ing the fortications in this vicinity and
particularly about the Darlenelles has
! been in progress, and it is understood that
the system of submarine mines and tor
pedocs has been practically completed so
| far as the resources of the government
will allow it.
| Not Worried About TOrpedoes.
AS to the system of mines and torpedoes
about the Dardanelles they do not cause
much apprehension among foreign Off
GERS here They believe that a few torpe-
do-catohers could cut the shorc-connect.
ing wires in short order and that little
countcrnining would do the rest.
| THE MaSSACRE AT HIaRASu