Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-16
FAITH WAS BROKEN
Attack on the American Mission at
Kharput.
MISSlONARIESESCAPE With qHERIVES
Report of Another Massacre Re-
ceived.
]NARIEOESCAPE RHEIRLLVES
ATTITUDE OF THE POWERS

Copyrighted, 1895, by the Associated PreDl
CONSTANTINOPLE, November 10, via
Sofia, Bulgaria, November 16.-It IS now
known that there are about 800 victims OF
the Kharput massacre. and that eight OF
the twelve buildings belonging to the Amer
lean missionaries there were sacked and
burned, In spite of the assurances OF the
porte to the United States minister, Mr.
Terrell, that the lives and property of the
Americans would be protected. and although
It was announced that Turkish gendarmes
had been detailed to guard the mission.
The American missionaries. however. es-
capped, and are now In a place Of safety.
Mr.. Terrell has notified the porte that the
United States will hold it responsible for the
lives of the missionaries.
The inhabitants around Kharput are in a
state Of great distress from hunger. and II
the cold weather was to set in suddenly
there would be much more suffering and
considerable loss of life.
The news from the different provinces Of
Asia Minor continues to be grave, confirming
beyond doubt the impression which has pre-
vailed here for a long time past that the
movement has now assumed proportions
which have placed 1t beyond control of the
Turkish authorities, even If the latter were
eally desirous of Furnishing the MuSsul-
mans for massacring Armenians. In fact,
1t Is considered very doubtful whether the
Turkish troops would fire on Mussulmans II
they should be ordered to do so.
Another Massacre.
From Guran. in the villayet of Sivas, where
the Kurds have been besieging 1900 Ar
menians, it is reported that all the Armen-
ians have been massacred.
In the district of Mardin. where there Is a
large Christian population of Chaldeans and
af vii ha
burned to the ground, the people are desti-
tute and suffering from sickness due to ex-
pcsure and hunger.
This outbreak is regarded here as being
very significant and as indicating that a sys-
tematic campaign, directed from Yildiz XII
osk, against all Christians. and not against
the Armenian Christians ins particular, as
has generally been believed to be the case
This puts quite different and more serious
complexion upon the whole matter, and Is
feature which will Immediately attract the
attention Of the powers, even II 1t has not
already done so.
Turkish Charges Denied.
= At Sivas aud elsewhere the Turks have
claimed that the Armenians were the ag-
sressors, and that the former simply de-
Tended themselves when attacked by the
latter.
The weakness Of this plea can be judged
from the fact that during the recent mas
sacre at Sivas 800 Armenians were kill ed
and only ten Turks met death during the
rioting. 1t is therefore safe to presume
that II was a massacre pure and simple,
and not an ordinary disturbance, which re-
suited In such great loss Of life among the
Armenians.
The report that four Jesuit priests. urder
French protection, had been murdered at
Malatcs turns out to be untrue. There was
a disturbance there for time. The lives
Of the priests were In danger and they
were said to have been killed. but they es-
capped and are now In safety.
Many Arrests I'm Constnntinople.
The police here continue making unex-
planned arrests, and not day passes with
out revolutionary posters being placarded
on the walls or distributed In the streets.
The real state of affairs cannot be ascer-
tained by the representatives of the en-
basses. much less by representatives of the
press. But 1t is currently stated that 400
softas Turkish theological students) have
recently been arrested. The cause Of their
imprisonment is said to be their refusal to
return to their homes without receiving the
money which is due them from the govern
ment for their expenses, etc., in undergoing
their course Of study. but another and more
likely version Of the affair is that the stu
dents have been proved to be implicated in
posting the revolutionary placards ;ontinu-
ally found in and about the public thor
oughfares of this city.
The porto is also said to be very anxious
about the attitude Of the military cadets
The latter are said to be strongly imbued
with the revolutionary spirit which pre-
wallis In the army and navy. and 1t is re-
ported that the government has decided to
transfer the Pancaldi Military School to
the barracks at Scutari.
No Action by the Powers.
No definite action Is known to have been
hken by the ambassadors of the powers,
but 1t is reported that they will join in a
note to the porte informing the govern
ment Of the sultan that. In spite of the
remonstrances and recommendations of the
powers matters have now reached a stage
in Asia Minor where it Is evident that
the sultan's authority is not sufficient to
Queli the repeated disturbances which are
breaking out, and II has become necessary
for the powers, in the interests of Chris
tianity and humanity to put an end to these
disorders by occupying jointly various por-
tions of the Turkish empire until order
Is fully restored and better system of
government is inaugurated.
In order to carry out the policy of the
powers. the most powerful fleet ever gath
cred together Is being assembled at SALON.
lea bay. 1t will consist of about thirty
British warships. including a dozen battle
ships Of the first class; dozen or so French
ships including half q dozen battle ships
twelve Russian warships, of which four
will be battle ships; eight Italian warships,
OF which number four at least will be first
class battle ships, and several Austrian and
German warshps. The British fleet in
cludes the flower of the British navy, and
Is constantly being reinforced.
SENDING ARMENIANs AWAY.