The Yale expositor., 1895-11-22
CHRISTIANS KILLED BY TURKS.
Situation In Turkey and Armenia Grows
Worse-The Powers Defied.

The cable dispatches from London,
Berlin, Constantinople and other Euro
pean centers show that the situation
between Turkey and the powers grows
more warllke every day. Since the
appointment of a new ministry by the
sultan the powers have been openly
snubbed and defied; in fact in making
his new cabinet the sultan gave prom
inent positions to men who were
known to be opposed TO the proposed
reforms in Armenia and also placed
officers at the head of commands, sent
TO quell interior disturbances, who
were known TO have lead in recent
bloody massacres of Armenians and
against which the powers protested.
The new ministry is VIGOROUSLY
weak and unpopular, and revolutionary
movements are spreading throughout
the empire. The Armenians have
armed themselves as best they could
and are preparing to fight for their
lives against future attacks. At lei
toun they captured battalion of
Turkish troops and obtained posses
sion of the city. They then attacked
the village of Tchaukourhissas, killed
80 Mussulmans, pillaged house ut
Dunghel and carried off the arms and
cattle OF the iuha of that neigh
borhood There are few localities
however in which the Armenians are
strong enough or sufficiently armed TO
protect themselves. 1t is believed
now that estimate of 10, 900 Armenians
killed during the recent massacres is
far under the real total and that the
number may come nearer $4,000 Re-
ports are reaching the embassies of
the powers at Constantinople from all
directions of wholesale massacres.
The report is gaining ground, even in
diplomatic circles, that the sultan has
ordered the determination of the Ar
menian race. The excitement is
Speeding to Syria, Bagdad and Mosul.
Murder and rapine are rampant and re-
ports from Syria declare that the Ar
menians have been massacred under
direct orders from the government. Re-
ports continue to arrive of troubles at
Malitich, Arabkir, lIarput, Moosh, Bitlis,
Marash and Sivas. 1t is reported that
innocent persons are being slain with
the sword and their buildings de-
stroyed by fire in all these towns.
The Joint action of the foreign min
listers, and their individual and per-
emptory demands upon the porte is
regarded as the most grave and signih-
can't demonstration of recent years.
They informed the porte that force
would be used unless the Turkish gov
eminent took adequate action to pro-
tect the Armenians. AS each day
passes however, the situation becomes
more and more alarming The porte
in replying to these demands simply
said that information regarding the
scheme for reform in Armenia would
be forwarded to the representatives of
the powers without delay" There is
no satisfaction in this and it is regarded
as a mere subterfuge. The action of
the sultan in expressing thanks to his
officers for the energetic measures
taken in 'suppressing' the disturb
ances in Asia Minor and adding that
precautions have been taken to insure
the maintenance of order" is looked
on as an actual mocking of the am
| bassadors.
The distribution of revolutionary lit
erature throughout Asia Minor is being
carried on extensively. The spirit of
revolution is spreading even among the
old Turks and the Young Turk party is
ripe for a revolt. In Syria the Redifs,
who were called upon To- join the army,
refuse to leave their homes. There
would be no great surprise if the most
of the army and navy should side with
the revolutionists when an uprising
|
ceiving support from unexpected
sources, probably Russian, and it is
daily growing more apparent that the
Turkish government is about to face
an open and widespread revolt. Many
arrests have been made in CONSTANT
nople and other measures adopted to
insure the safety of the sultan.
Now Let the Lion Roar.
Constantinople: The English mission
near Jerusalem has been attacked by
riotous mob. The missionaries es-
capped, but some of the servants of the
mission were killed.
Christian Teachers Murdered.
Berlin: dispatch to the Cologne
Gazette from Constantinople says that
all the Armenian Christian teachers
in the Trebizond and Erzeroum dis
tricts have been killed.
American Missionaries in Danger.
Washington: Considerable anxiety
has been felt on account of the absence
of news from the districts where the
American missionaries are stationed,
and u. 5. Ambassador Terrell, has
telegraphed to Commissioner Darnham
at Harput, asking him If the American
mission is safe. According to adviceS
from Hadiin, several villages in that
vicinity have been attacked by rioters
who massacred the people end plum
dered their property. Commissioner
Darnham autographed from Harput
that the American missionaries are
alive, but in extreme danger. The
most serious state of affairs still pre-
walls at Zeitoun, and desperate fight
ing may shortly take place, as large
force of Turkish regulars and reserves
is moving rapidly in that direction.
Several American missionaries en-
route for Asiatic Turkey will remain
at Constantinople.
The Powers are Waiting.
1t is now believed that the powers
will not take definite action against
the porte until all the naval squadrons
have assembled in Turkish waters,
which will be about the time that the
British ambassador to Turkey, Sir
Philip Currie, returns after consulting
with his government as TO the future
action of Great Britain. In the mean
while the state of suspense is decidedly
wearying aud the ambassadors them