Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1896-10-27
TURKEY ON VERGE OF WAR
Sultan Realizes the Importance Of the Att
tude Of the Powers.
SINGLE SPARK MAY START THE FLAME
Abdul Hnmid IN Aiming the MosIem
Hosts for n Final Struggle to
Hold His Place on
Europe's Soil.
Copyright, 1906 BY the Associated Prcss.)


CoNsTANTINoPLE, Oct. 25.-via Sofia,
Bulgaria Oct 26.)-The report that trouble
of a serious nature is brewing here has e.
often been sent out that any fresh announce
ment to that effect is looked upon as having
little or no foundation in fact. But in spite
OF this 1t is but right to state once more
that everything points to further and very
serious trouble preparing on all sides
throughout the Turkish empire.
The ball was set rolling on Wednesday
last when the sultan signed two trades
which were issued the next day, levying a
poll tax OF five piasters per head on all
Mussulmans and increasing the taxes on
sheep public works and education from /
to 2h per cent, the funds so raised to be
devoted 10 military purposes.
This caused the representatives Of the
powers to send a collective note to the
Porte, couched in the strongest language
calling attention TO the danger that the arm
Ing OF the Mussulman5 was certain to create
and pointing out generally the critical stu
alton OF affairs in the Turkish empire. But
large purchases OF arms have already been
made and the danger Increases hourly. The
Porte today sent a reply to the collective
note OF the ambassadors. AS usual how
ever II was an evasve answer, and in sub.
stance simply stated that the money de-
rived from the additional taxes was only
intended to complete the armament of the
mustahfuZ, or landstrum, the third and last
class Of the Turkish army reserves. and to
strengthen the armament OF the other land
forces OF the sultan, which consist of the
nzan, or regular army, and it's active re-
serve, the redif, or landwehr, and the mus
tahfuz. already referred. Conscripts in Tur-
key serve six years In the nlzam, four with
the colors and two in the reserve; then
thntg oil In hn tphIf fn,.r Il,
the first class and four in the second. They
then complete their twenty years service
by serving six years in the muhtafuZ.
SULTAN SCENTS DANGER
The action OF the Turkish government in
completing the armament OF the mustahfuz
indicates that the emperor Is facing a situa-
ton which may necessitate calling forth all
tho military forces at his disposal, and Il
also indicates that the situation is the grav-
est since the Russo-Turkish war. Under
these circumstances 1t Is but natural that
considerable uneasiness prevails. OF course
there is always in view the probability at
least that the sultan by these movements
is simply seeking to detract attention OF
his subjects from the actual state of affairs
brought about by the maladmlnstration, and
that seeing that the powers are really In
earnest, and that an understanding between
Russia, France and Great Britain means
action, he Is by these ornaments practically
threatening a Wholesale massacre OF the
Christians and announcing that Turkey will
resist to the utmost any attempt at armed
coercion
HappiIy, there is one feature or the crisis
which has a scothing influence upon Abdul
Hamid. This Is the financial situation II
Is about as bad as It can possibly be- All
negotiations upon the part OF the Turkish
government for temporary loan have
failed, and the condition OF the treasury
Is one of utter helpessness. On top OF this
hn nrip ~ hraa haa rig nd
bids fair to rise still higher, as the price
of wheat goes up. This has decidedly aggra-
waited the prevailing distress, and its conse-
quent discomfort. The police continue max
ing arrests and 1t is understood that many
more bombs have been found.
In Armenia the greatest apprehension
exists. The echoes OF the recent massacres
In the city OF Egin are just reaching here,
in spite of the efforts made by the Porte to
suppress anything but the official news.
The Armenian representatives say that
1000 Armenians were killed at Egin, so far
as known. that no Turks were killed. that
nearly 900 houses we're burned, leaving only
$50 standing for the Christian people; and
that the women and children were huddled
together In the school house and some OF the
remaining buildings, bereaved, destitute and
hungry to such an extent that even the gov
ernor general telegraphed that they were In
need OF food.
The official account OF the affair is that
Sunday and Monday so long as to excite
suspicion and the government representa-
tves sent officials to investigate. These
officials are said to have found that the Ar
menians gathered in the church, had placed
a rope around the neck OF the Armenian
patriarch and were dragging him around
the church and shouting: why did you
not allow us to make a disturbance before?''
The Turkish officials further claim that the
shot fired ON Tuesday. September IA.
which procipitated the massacre was
fired by Kassab Manvogl, a prominent
Armenian. and that the Armenians issued
from their church armed with rifles and
with bombs bearing the name OF their de-
posed patriarch, Izmirlian. and marched to
the upper part OF the town, where they met
the soldiers who were returning from driv-
Ing the Kurds, and that the Armenians
thereupon fired upon the soldiers and killed
several of them. This, the Turks say, led
TO reprisals.
WAITING FOR THE WINTER.
whichever version OF the massacre at
Ggin is true. there is no doubt that the
effect of the slaughter, plunderlng and burn
ing Is very serious II is claimed in certain
quarters that when the heavy SHOWS are on
the ground and the escape OF the unfortu-
nate Armenlans is almost impossible. when
the telegraph lines are down and the roads
impassable the Turk will resume his butch
ering with the knowledge that the news
will not reach Europe or America until the
massacres are practically things of the past
10 be denied and eventually condoned by
lapse OF time. The reports from Egin also
say that number OF Christians have been
murdered In adjacent villages since the mas
sacres In the city.
The events of the past year have seriously
weakened the authority of the Turkish gov
eminent over its Mohammcdan subjects.
Very little confidence can be placed in the
soldiers and gendarmes. as the latter have
received no pay for many months, and
there is no Immediate prospect of their get
ting any.
While Mgr. Bartelomeos. the locum
tenens of the Armenian patriarchate was
entering his carriage today four men made
an attempt TO assassnate him: but they
were seized by the prelate's escort One
Armenian and 1t is explained that Mgr. Bar
telomeos is unpopular with n section OF the
Armenians. owing, II Is added, to his sub
serYienee to the palace authorities.
Mgr. Bartelomoos was formerly archbishop
of Drusa and was chosen locum tenens OF the
Armenian patriarch Matthew IZmirlan.
when the latter resigned early In August
last.
Bartelomeos was the Turkish government
candidate for the patriarchate at the election
IN December. 1884, but he only obtained a
few votes on account OF his Mohammedan
Bympathles, and when he was made locum
tenens and was received In audience by the
sultan. he made an address OF the most SER
vile description, which aroused the indigna-
tlon OF tho Armenians and provoked the con-
tempt OF the Turks themselves,
BOSTON, Oct 26.-Advices from Kharput,
Eastern Turkey. received in Boston, con-
hrm dispatches 10 the Associated press In
IN A..1 I.asl .ant H. - Nl,.a