The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-11-22
SICK MAN OF THE EAST
MATTERS SPOLIFICALIN TURKEY
ARE DAILY GROWING
DARKER.
BAHRl PaSHA MADE COMMANDER


After Being Removed as Governor ON
Account of his Cruelty 10 the AFmen-
ians he has Been Given Control OF
the Turkish Er0ops--streaC Indigna-
tton Prevails ia Diplomatic Circles
and a Sweeping oat OF the Present
Cabinet is Contemplated.
CONSTANTINOPLE, Nov. 21.-Mat-
ters political do not look as bright to-
day as they did yesterday. The pro-
fessed determination of the Sultan to
act energetically in repressing the dis
orders in Asia Minor had decidedly
great effect here and elsewhere, and
the troubles which threatened to cause
the disruption of the Turkish govern
lnent were looked upon as almost end
ed But a further jarring has occurred
and it is once more Bahri Pasha who
is the disturbing element.
This notorious official made himself
so conspicuous by his cruelty to Arne-
mans and mal-administration OF ms
district when Governor OF Van that
the British ambassador. Sir Philip Cur
rie, insisted upon his removal After
considerable correspondence on the
subject, plain evidence of the Pasha's
unfitness for his position having been
furnished to the Sultan, the latter re-
moved the Pasha Bahri. however,
brought the strongest influence to
bear upon Abdul Hamid. protested his
innocence of the charges brought
l. aIa1 ran
was brought about by the intrigues of
the Armenians, and eventually he was
not only forgiven, but was decorated
with the order Osmanieh and comph-
mented upon his efforts to suppress
disorder.
Soon afterwards it was rumored that
Bahri Pasha was to be appointed to
command the large force of Turkish
troops being concentrated at Marash
for a movement upon Zeitoun, which
is held by the Armenians who had cap
tured the Turkish garrison, consisting
of about 400 men. This report raised
such a storm of indignation ia diplo-
matte and other circles here that the
plan was abandoned, if indeed it had
been formed. Now, however, the
storm has burst again, for Bahri Pasha
has been appointed military com
mander of the Alepho district The
bad impression which this has pro-
duced can hardly be exaggerated, for
the diplomats feel that it Will be al
most impossible TO prevent him from
pursuing the same tactics at Alepho
as he did at Van.
Upon receiving the news of Bahr1
Pasha's appointment to the military
commend of Alepho, the representa-
tiyes of the powers held meeting and
discussed the matter from all its stand
points. The result was that they have
Joined in note to the Turkish govern
ment saying that they cannot answer
for the consequences which might en-
sue should the Armenians of Ieitoun
be massacred after their surrender,
which the Armenian patriarch, at the
instance of the representatives of the
powers, is endeayoring to bring about
In order to prevent further bloodshed.
AIepho is situated about seventy-five
miles distant from Marash, which is
about Is miles from Zeitoun, is the
capital of the Nillayet of Haleb, in
which both Marash and Zeitoun are
situated. 1t will thus be seen that
while the Sultan, alarmed at the dis
approval which the rumor of Bahri's
appointment TO the immediate COM
mand of the Turkish troops at Marash,
refrained from confirming it, he has
made him military commander of the
Alepho district, which will give him
control over the commander of the
Turish troops at Marash.
A dispatch received here from Ale
pho says that the greatest alarm still
prevails there. Frequent councils of
the ministers are being held at the
palaces and some plain language is
said TO have been used by the Sultan.
That sweeping out of the present
cabinet is contemplated nobody
doubts: indeed, people are astonished
that it did not take place when the
Sultan underwent his change of mind
as a result of the assembling of for
eign fleets. The British fleet is still
at Salonica and the British and Italian
fleets are at Smyrna and about 200
miles from Salonica. Smryna and Sa
lonica, however, are about an equal
distance from the entrance TO the Dar-
danelIes.
The United States Minister. Mr..
Alexander w. Terrell. at the request
of the American missionaries at Khar-
put, has prevailed upon the Turkish
government to telegraph orders to the
Turkish commander there 10 furnish
the missionaries with an escort of
troops 10 conduct them TO the nearest
point on the Black seacoast, possibly
Trebizond, in order that they may en-
bark for this city. Terrell has also adj
vised the missionaries in each dis
turbed district TO retire from their
posts FOR a time, so that their presence
may not be made the excuse for fur
ther disorder. 1t is believed that this
suggestion viii be adopted in several
cases at least.