The herald., 1896-10-27
DANGER INCREASES HOURLY
And the Next Step Msy b Z WbsleseIe
Massacre
The Situation Msde Worss " Isegsoelug
Cost Of Coed
Reports Of the Massacre 1t Hgin- -
Bloody Turk Only waiting Tor
Winter Shows to Hide
His Crimes.

~
brewing here hasso often been sent otlt
that any fresh announcement to thok
effect is looked upon as having httleor
no foundation, but IN spite OF this u y
but right to state once more that evefS-
thing points to further very sers6ns
trouble preparing on ali.stdes tllrou6n-
out the Turkish empire. The ball waS6st
rolling Wednesday, last; when the sulthn
signed two trades leyxlng poll tax 6f
five piastres on all MussuImans and f.
creasing taxes on sheep, public works
and education to Is percent. the fundn
so raised to be devoted to military pilf-
poses. This caused representatives. cf
the powers to send collective note To
the porte, couched in the strongest Lam
guage, calling its attention to the dan
ger the arming of the Mussulmans was
certain to create, and pointing out gen
orally the critical situation. Of the A.
fairs of the Turkish empire.
Large purchases of arms have aIready
been made and danger is increasing
hourly. The porte today sent Z replyto
the collective note Of the ambassador
AS usual 1t was evasive. and in sub
stance simply stated that money deriv-
ed from additional taxes was only m
tended to complete the armament Of the
third and last class of Turkish army re-
serves. and strengthen the armament Of
other land forces
The action of the Turkish government
indicates that the empire Is feigning
situation which may necessitate calling
forth all the military forces at its dis
posal, and also indicates that the situa-
ton is the gravest since the Russo
Turkish war. OF course there is always
in view probability. at least, that the
sultan by these movements, is simply
seeking to distract the attention Of his
subjects from the actual state Of affairs.
brought about by his mal-aAministra-
ton, and that seeing the powers really
in earnest and that an understanding
between Russia, France and Crest
Britain means decinive action, he Is by
armaments practically threatening Z
wholesale massacre OF Christians and
announcing that Turkey will resist to
the utmost any attack from outside.
There is one feature OF the crisis which
has soothing influence upon Abdul
u,
ton. This is about as bad as it.possibly
can be. All negotiations upon the part
of the Turkish government for tempo
rary loans have failed, and the condi-
ton of the treasury is one Of utter help
lessness. On top of this the price OF
bread has risen 40 per cent and bids fair
to rise still higher as the price of whe4t
goes up. This has decidedly aggravated
the prevailing distress and consequent
discomfort.
In Armenia the greatest apprehension
exists. Rumors of the recent massacre
at Egin are just reaching here in spite
of efforts made by the porte to suppress
anything but official news.
The American reports say that 1000
Armenians were killed at Egin. that
SO far as known no Turks were killed,
that nearly 1000 houses were burned.
leaving only $50 houses standing for
the Christian population. and that wo-
men and children were huddled To-
gether in the school houses and some
of the remaining buildings hereaved,
destitute and hungry to such an extent
that he governor general telegraphe4
that they were IN need Of food. The
official account of the affair Is that tn
Aremnians remained in the church a.
Sunday and Monday so long asFto e.
cite suspicion, and that the govern-
ment representatives sent oflcials ~
investigate These officials are said -
have found Armenians gathered In the
church, and that they had placed =
rope around the neck OF the reprcssntn-
tive of the Armenian patrtarch. an
were dragging him around theichuron
and shouting. why did you Allow =
to make disturbance before -
The Turkish officials claim thAt ~
shot fired on Tuesday, Septembsr X
which precipitated the massacre 49,
fired by Kessib Manvog, promin&-e
Armenian, and that the Armen&ans -
sued from their church armed With
rifles, and with bombs beariHG H&Q
name Of their deposed patriA<ch Ixunl
lain, and marched to the upper rofe1
the town, where they met the s1l4l@ "
who were returning from dei2joG
the Kurds, and that the At14eu
fired upon the soldiers and kills1 texc
Of them. This, the TURKS ~ ~ y.
prisals. whichever verpinn ~. NJ
sacre at Egin II true. therp T. n
that the effect Of the 'nleu1 & 4X IS
deging and buFaing y xe<> s| a