The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-05-30
WATCHING ARMENIANS
TURKS ENDEAvORING TO PREVENT
THE PROMISED REVOLUTION.
kurds and Persian Moslems Also
Active. and Preparing, Ii Is Said,
to ScOurge the Christians.

Copyright, 1895, by the Associated Press.)
DJULFA, Russia. May 29.-The special
correspondent of the Associated Press, who
is investigating the situation in Armenia.
has furnished the following correspondence:
The Turkish government is taking strong
measures to prevent the uprising of the
Armenian revolutionists next month. All
roads leading from Persia to Van have
been closed by order of the Turkish gov
eminent, the intention being TO shut off
communication between the revolutionary
leaders in Persia and their agents in Ar
menia. The last caravan that tried to get
through to Van was seized by Turkish off,
Gals. The seizure of the caravan to Van
has caused no end of CONSERVATION to the
Armenian revolutionists in Persia, as this
action seriously interferes with some Of
their most important arrangements. How
ever, they assure me that other roads
through the mountains will be found, and
that the work will go steadily forward.
Within the past week the Turkish consul
at Sautch-Bulak, in Persia, tried to cross
over into Turkey with an armed escort of
twelve men, but he was turned back by
the Kurds, who held possession of all the
roads. At the same time the Turks Off
Gals in the towns near the border were
ioo OQt VI IA I'LL ~ nv
Kurds. They took refuge in ~Ravenduz.
where they are now. The Kurds have
warned them not to return. The Armenians
hope that kurds and Turks will get into a
fight and exterminate each other. A rea-
sonable explanation for this activity of the
Kurds may be found in a letter from Sheik
Abdel Kadr, recently written to his brother
in the mountains of Kurdistan. Abdel
Kadr announces that the Sultan has ap-
pointed him to command the Hamidieh
regiment of a regular Kurdish cavalry,
together with a force of regular Turkish
troops, and that there was to be a great
war, during which he and his troops were
to capture the Russian city of kars.
Many well-informed persons in western
Persia believe that Asia Minor is on the
verge of a great religious war, which the
Sultan of Turkey is fostering in order TO
retain his prestige among the Mohamme-
dams, many OF whom have been for some
ness in the cause of their religion and
threatening TO deprive him of his caliphate.
As eight months have passed since the
Sassoun and Moosh massacres, and moth
ing has been done in consequence by the
Turkish government. the Moslems of Persia
are beginning TO believe that nothing VIII
be done and that Europe's protests count
for nothing. AS a result the Persians are
beginning 10 talk of having a massacre of
been frankly told in Persia that if nothing
is done to punish the Turks for the Sassoun
affair, the Jealous Moslems of Persia will
seek TO win the favor of their God by
scourging and driving out the Christians.
Were it not for the strong hand of the
Persian government and the good will and
protection of the Shah, the Christian pop
ulation of Persia would be murdered within
a week.
My information : to the effect that Bltlis
Is on the brink C a massacre, and that
trouble may be lot led for at any moment.
This news, from 4 different source, is of
the same character as the news which /
received last week announcing that the
Christians at Van were within an inch OF
a massacre.
The situation in Armenia has grown nc
better for the presence of the commission
of inquiry. AS a matter of fact, II has
grown worse, and the Christian population
OF eastern Turkey is at the present mo-
ment in greater peril than ii was the week
before the Sassoun massacre. Not only that,
but the peril to Christian people has spread
eastward into Persia. Near Ouroumia, a
few days ago, the village of Baloolan
was attacked by -four HUNDRED Kurds and
several men were killed. The village of
Baloolan is now deserted by all its inhabi-
tantss except a few armed men who are
guarding the empty houses. Another at
tack is looked for daily, as the kurds have
sent word that they mean to remove Baioo-
Ian from the face of nature in revenge Tor
the death OF one of their men. There Is
no doubt whatever that they will carry out
their threats.