Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-04-08
THEY ARE 70 Be EXPELLED.
An Trade Against Missionaries in Asia
tic Turkey.
The Red Cross Included-The I'M
prisonment of Rev. Geo. Q. Knapp
Only a Preliminary Step-TwO
United States Cruisers May En-
phasize a Protest and Demand
Indemnity.

OIllleQ SO6JeS CRUISERS Nhe'J A
phasize a Protest and Demand
Indemnity.
Copyright, 1896, by Associated Press
Constantinople, April 7.-Advices
from Diarbekir indicate that the Rev.
Mr.. George c. Knapp. one Of the Ameri-
can missionaries at Bitlis, is confined in
the Jail at that place and that serious
international complications are more
than likely to follow. The Turkish
government, replying to the represen-
tatives Of the United States charge
d'affairs, Riddle, has announced,
through the grand vizier, and through
the minister for foreign affairs that no
news has been received by the porte re-
| garding the reported expulsion OF Mr..
/ Knapp from Bitlis. and it is minated
that if it was true he had arrived at
Diarbekir it would appear that the local
authorities were DESTROYS of secretly eX-
polling the American missionary. But
the latest news from Diarbekir shows
| that this cannot be the case, as 1t is
announced that the Rev. Mr. Knapp is
| to be sent from Diarbekir to AleXan-
dretta. there to be shipped out OF the
! country or delivered to the representa-
tives of the United States.
At the first intimatiCn Of trouble, the
United States charge daffairs, after
communicating with the porte, cabled
to Washington for instructions and 1t
is said that the United States squadron
in the Mediterranean, consisting OF the
| flag ship Minneapolis. commanded by
Admiral T. o. Selfridge, and the cruiser
| Marblehead will shortly assemble in
| the Gulf of Iskanderun and at the same
time a formal protest against the treat
| ment of the American missionaries will
he made to the porte, coupled with a
| demand for an adequate indemnity for
the damage recently done to the prop
erty of Americans.
The imprisonment and proposed eX-
pulsion from the Turkish dOminiCns of
Mr. Knapp is however, understood to
be a preliminary to the expulsion OF all
the Christian missionaries, mostly
Americans. English and French Catho-
lies. from Asiatic Turkey, and possibly
from European Turkey as well. Be
| sides, it is rumOred that the agents of
the American Red Cross Society, now
! distributing relief funds in Asiatic Tur-
key, in the presence Of the local Turk
ish officials. are also to be expelled
from that part of the empire. In sup
port of this report it is stated that an
imperial trade. providing for the eXpul-
sion from Turkey of ohe Christian mis-
| siOnaries and agents Of the American
Red Cross Society, has already been
signed by the sultan although it has
not yet been issued from the palace.
The claim made by the friends of the
American missionaries is that Rev. Mr..
Knapp is being uniustly prosecuted by
the Turkish authorities. On the other
hand the Turkish officials claim that
Mr.. Knapp has persistently encouraged
sedicius movements among the Armen-
ians, in spite Of several official warn
| ings. A disinterested observer Mr..
HampsOn, the British consul al Bitlis,
has carefully inquired into the charges
brought against Mr.. Knapp and has
| pronounced them to be absurd.
Mr.. Knapp, nevertheless, was inform
ed that it had been decided to try him
before the criminal court on the charge
of conspiring against the Turkish gov
eminent and he was notified to appear
for trial. This was in February. Mr..
Knapp placed the matter before Min
! lister Terrell. Mr.. Terrell telegraphed
him to obey the orders, under protest,
of the Turkish authorities pending ac-
ton upon the part of the United States
minister here. Mr.. Terrell then mott
| fed the porte that he would not con-
sent to having Mr.. Knapp tried in the
manner proposed and suggested that
the case be brought before a mixed
commission. 1t was later decided to try
the missionary here, in the presence
of a representative of the United States
government. But, it appears the roads
were so blocked with snow until the
end of last month that the missionary
was unable to travel to this city.
Hence. it seems, his arrest and impris-
onment at Diarbekir pending his eX-
pulsion from Asiatic Turkey, and also,
it seems the determination of the sui
tan to expel all Christian missionaries
and agents of the American Red Cross
Society from Turkey.
1t is not impossible that the British
government may take steps 10 protest
against the proposed expulsion of the
missionaries, and that the Marquis of
Salisbury, in this instance, will be sup
pported by the French government.
Russia is seemingly the ally of France,
and the supporter of Turkey. 1t is up
on this point that rests the hope that
France. through Russia, may prevail
upon the sultan not to issue the inn
perial trade providing for the EMULSION
of the missionaries and agents of the
American Red Cross Society, and that
this may avert any serious trouble, ex-
cept. possibly, upon the part of the
United States, which may think it
proper to insist upon obtaining COM
plete satisfaction for the alleged perse-
cution of Mr.. Knapp, who, by the way,
is not the only American missionary
who is said to have strong ground for
complaint against the Turkish author
tiles.
UNREST IN MADRID.