The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-28
ARMING MCSSULHiNS
Believed to Cc n Forerunner OF Important
Action by the Turks.


OF the ambassadors calling attention to
the danger that the arming OF the Mus
suImans was certain TO create, and
pointing out generally the critical situa-
ticn OF affairs In the Turkish empire.
As usual. It was an evasive answer
and In substances simply stated that
the money derived from tho additional
taxes was only intended 70 complete the
armament OF the Mustahfuz, or Land
strOm, the third and last class OF the
Turkish army reserves, and 10 strength
en- the armament OF the other land forces
of the Sultan. which consist of the Nj
zam or regular army, and its active
reserve, the Rcdif, on f.andwehr. and the
Mustahfuz. already referred to. Con-
scripts in Turkey serve six years In
the Nizam, four with the colors and
two in the reserve; they then serve
eight years in the Redif, four in the hrst
class and four in the second. Then they
complete their twenty years service
by serving six years in the Mustahfuz.
The action of the Turkish Government
in completing the armament OF the Mus
tahfuz indicates that the empire Is fac
ing a situation which may neccssitate
calling forth all the military forces at
its disposal and it also indicates that
the situation is the gravest since the
RussO-Tlcsish war.
Under these circumstances it Is but
natural that considerable uneasiness pro-
walls. OF course, there IS always in view
the probability at least that the Sui
tan, by these movements. is Simply
seeking to detract the attention Of his
subjects from the actual state Of affairs
brought about by his malddministra-
ticn, and that seeing that the powers are
really in earnest. and that an under
standing between Russia France and
Great Britain means decisive action, .he
is by these ornaments practically threat
cning a wholesale massacre Of the
Christians announcing that Turkey will
resist to the utmost any attempt at arm
cd coercion.
Happily there Is one feature Of the
crisis which has q soothing influence
upon Abdul Hamid. This IS the nnan-
cial situation. 10 is about as bad as II
possibly can be. All NEGOTIATIONS upon
the part Of the Turkish Government for
temporary loan have failed. and the
condition of the treasury is one Of ut
ter helplessncss. On top OF this the
price Of bread has risen 30 per cent. AMI
bids fair 10 rise stll higher as the
price Of wheat goes up. This has de-
cidedly aggravated the prevailing dis
tress. and its consequent discomfort. The
police continue making arrests. and IT
is understood that many more bombs
have been found.
IN Armenia the greatest apprehension
exists The echoes Of tie recent mas
sacre in the city of Eein are just reach
ing mere in spite Of the efforts made hy
the Porte TO suppress anything ba. the
official news
o
Armenans were killed ~ Lein. so Gar
as known: that 10 Turks We're Killed:
that 1909 houses We're burned. LEAVING
only $50 houses standing Ger the Chris
tan population. ana that the women
and children were huddled together i'm
| the schoOl-hOuses. and in some OF the
remaining buildings, bereaved. destitute.
and hinHy 10 such an cyicnt that even
| the COY - nor-Gcnerai tclegraphel that
| they were IN need of food.
The official account II the affair Is that
| the Afmenians remained IN the church
| on Sunday and Monday so long as 10
excite suspicion. and that the Govern
ment representatives. sent officials 20
Investigate. These officials are said to
have found that the Armenans gath
cred IN the church had placed a rope
around the neck OF the representative
Of the Armenian patriararch a-l were
draceinr him around the church and
| shouting: why did you not allow us
80 make a disturbance bofore?"
The Turkish officials further claim thas
| .he shot fired on Tuesday. September
iilh. which precipitated the massacre.
was fred by Kassab Alonvog a promi-
rent Armenian. and that the Armen-
tians issued from their church. armed
v;h 20 rircs and Y TN bombs boring
the name of their deposod patriarch.
| izmirlan. and marched TO the upper
| part Of the town. whore they met the
soldiers. who were returning from driv-
| ing Off the Kurds. sui. according TO the
official version of the affair. the Armon-
ians fired upon the soldiers and killed
several Of them. This. tho Turks say led
TO reprisals.
The Turkish version Of the massacre
| PAS es with the Turkish population. gem
| orally speaking but a prominent Turk
who recently arrived here from Ecin
stated to the correspondent that he
SAW no fluit m the Armeniaus there. and
| he added that some very prominent
Turks Of Kharput have said 10 Christians
the-c:
III the Powers take no notice Of what
has been done I'm Ecn. We shall know
that we can do what we please to the
! Christians. and this will finish you"
Whichever version Of the massacre
Mt Egin is true, there is no doubt that
the effect Of the slaughter plundering
and burning is very serious. IT IS claim
ed In certain quarters that Il shows
settled purpose to eXtermnate the Chris
tians In spite of the clustering of the
Powers and ii is generally admitted that
the orders FOR the massacre came from
the palace of Sultaa Abdul Hamid. as
did the orders for the massacres I'm the
streets of Constantinople. and il is be-
| lieyed that the end is not yet. for when
the heavy SHOWS are on the ground
and the escape Of the unfortunate Ar
monlans Is almost impossible. and when
| the telegraph wires are down and the
roads impossible. there Is the oppor-
| tunity Of the Turk to do his butcherinc
with the knowledge that the news will
| not reach Europe o. America until the
massacres are practically things OF the
| past. to be denied and eventually con-
| doned by lapse of time.
The reports from Eein also say that
n number Of Christians have been muir
| dered in adjacent villages since the mas
| sacrc in the city.
The events OF the past year have SCR
| icusly weakened the authority OF the
| Turkish Government over its Moham-
medan subjects. Very little confidence
! can be placed in the soldiers and gen.
| darmes as the latter have received no
! pay for many months and see no imme-
| date prospect OF getting IT,