Evening journal., 1896-09-14
THE CRISIS IN TURKEY.
The Fate of the Ottoman EN-
pire Hangs or a Thread.
MAssAcBEs GO ON UNCHECKED.

Turiss Claim That the Armenians Are
Agitaters suitan's Measures Against
Future Outrage FaiIure-Over Five
Thousand Have Been Slaughtered.
CoNsTANTINoPLE, Sept Ito those
who have eyes to see there Is more and
more evidence Of the approach of a crisis In
the affairs of the decrepit Ottoman en-
pire. But the Turk himself offers no signs
of an appreciation Of the fate that Is i'm
pending over him in the limit that has ap-
parently been reached in the patience of
the European powers with the process Of
| determination of the Armenians that has
| been steadily and reentlossly pursued 10y
the Turks. There Is no diminution in tho
rancor displayed by the Mussulmans to-
ward the Armenians and no sign of the
relinquishment OF the Turks contention
/ that the Armonians are persistent and de-
termined rovolutionists and agitators
ngainst the sovereignty OF the sultan, and
as such invite the stringent repressivo
measures that have been used against
them.
Some color has 20 be admitted TO this
contention of the Turks from tho fact that
some of the ENJOYS of the powers have re-
| ceived a circular note from the Hintchak
revolutionary committee, declaring that
If the reforms demanded by the Armenians
at the time Of the raid by them upon the
/ Ottoman bank are not granted thero will
bo moro serious outbreak against the
I Turkish authorities and over much
wider area than was the last, which re-
suited in the apparently indiscrimlnatc
| slaughter Of Armonians in this city.
Since Friday thoro has been a largo in
crease Of the patrols Of cavalry in The
| rapia, the suburb Of Constautinople in
which are situated the French and Eng
lish ambassadors residences, and in Blu
yukdere and pera This Is tho sultan's
precautionary measure against future out
| RACES, i'm compliance with the warning
contained in the note from the powers.
These troops, It IS understand, come un-
der the authority OF those who are warned
that they will be held responsible If out
breaks involving the destruction Of prop
orty and loss Of life occur. But the troops
are at the same time instructed that they
are authorized to use their arms In self
defonse If they are attacked. These so
called precautionary measures have not
improved the situation and have rather
served TO extend the feeling Of terrorism
on account Of the feeling of doubt as 60
what secondary and voiled meaning may
be hidden behind tho letter of instruc-
tions to the troops. Meantime the British
relief committee Is busy with the work OF
helping the distressed Armenians.
Thousands Have Been Slaughtered.
The official Turkish estimate Of the
number of victims Of the massaores in this
city is l., 100. Other estimates ruu pretty
much all the way upward from this figure.
The official estimate Is coupled with the
allegation that many of those killed were
80 reality Turks, but that they were
buried by mistake with the Armonians
and that so their numbers went to swell
the supposed number of Armenian vic
: Tins This is undoubtedly designed as an
apology and explanation of the assertion
T | contained IN the note of tho powers that
d ! the savage bands which murderously al
@ / tackled the Armenians and pillagcd thoii
g houses were not accidental gatherings OF
D | fanatlcal people or undirectod mobs,' but
that there was every Indication Of thoii
r special organization and Of its being
5 known TO If not directed by the authori.
ties. In foreign circles here the statements
that Turks were killed along with the
Armenians is denied.
The actual number Of the victims of the
disorders was certainly 1000 and will
probably reach 5000. The military au-
thoEities state that 3 soldiers were killel
and 80 were wounded The porte states
that 17O Mussulmans were wounded.
All Mussulmans who have yet been
tried by the extraordinary tribunal ap-
pointed TO pass Judgment on those impli-
Gated I'm the recent massacre have been
acquitted Of the charges Of completely.
The evidence against many OF these was
deemed by foreign residents here conclu-
sive, and the failure TO hold them adds 10
, the conviction that the porte has no IN
tention Of complying with the demand OF
the powers that the oulprits shall Do
brought to punishment. In view Of this
failure TO punish the authors of outragos
} upon Armenians, the state of Terrorism
among the Armenians continues unabatod,
and the exodus of these people goes on
with no diminution. Tho appearance of
the refugees, many OF them IN a state ui
destitution from the hasty nature OF their
flight and all laborng under extreme ap-
prehension of a blow likely to fall at any
time, evokes the universal compassion OF
the foreigners who see them.
The Thunderer Warns England, of War.
LONDON, sept. 1A-The Times in al
editorial, discussing the uttorances Of
Lord Rosobery and Mt Henry Asquith ON
tho Armenian question says. Lord
Rosebery and Mr.. Asquith have assumed
q very grave responsibility. IL Is easy %
conjuro a whirlwind Of national wrath,
, but it would bailio the strongest will and
most sagacious Judgment TO direct the
storm when it Is raised Are the agitators
4 70 II r.F