Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1896-09-18
THE CRISIS IN TURKEY
OTTOMAN EMPIRE is NEAR THE
BRINK OF RUIN.
No Doubt of Organized Mnssacres
Against the Defenseless
Armenians.

Copyrighted, 1896, by Associated Press.)
Constantinople, Sept. ~, via Sofia,
Bulgaria, Sept. 13--To those who have
eyes to see there is more and more ev-
ident the approach of crisis In the af-
fairs of the Ottoman empire
But the Turk himself offers no signs
of an appreciation of the fate that is
impending over him, in the limit that
has been apparently reached in the
patience of the European powers, with
the process of determination of the
Armenians that has been steadily and
relentlessly pursued by the Turks.
There is no diminution in the rancor
displayed by the Mussulmans towards
the Armenians, and no sign of the re-
linquishment of the Turks contention
that the Armenians are persistent and
determined revolutionists and agita-
tors against the sovereignty of the sui
tan, and that they invited the stringent
repressive measures that have been
used against them.
Some color has to be admitted TO
this contention of the Turks. from the
fact that some of the ENJOYS of the
powers have received circular note
mittee, declaring that IL the reforms
demanded by the Armenians at the
time of the raid by them upon the OF
toman bank are not granted, there will
be numerous outbreaks against the
Turkish authorities and over a much
wider area than was the last, which re-
suited in the apparently indescriminate
slaughter of Armenians in this city.
Since Friday there has been a large
increase of the patrols of cavalry in the
Rapia, the suburb of Constantinople in
which are situated the French and
English ambassadors residence, and in
Buyukdere and Pera. This is the sui
tans precautionary measure against
future outgages, in compliance with
the warning contained in the note from
the powers. These troops, 1t is un-
derstood, come under the authority of
those who are warned that they will
be responsible If outbreaks involving
| the destruction of property and loss of
| life occur.
But the troops are at the same time
| instructed that they are authorized to
use their arms in self-defense If they
are attacked. These so-called precau-
| tionary measures have not improved
| the situation, and have rather served
| to extend the feeling of terrorism on
account of the feeling of doubt as to
what secondary and yelled meaning
| may be hidden behind the letter of in
structions to the troops. Meantime the
British relief committee is busy with
| the work of helping the distressed Ar
menians.
The official Turkish estimate of the
number of victims of the massacres in
the city Is 100. Other estimates run
pretty much all the way upwards from
this figure. The official estimate Is
coupled with the allegation that many
of those killed were in reality Turks,
but that they were buried with the
Armenians, and so their numbers went
to swell the supposed number of Ar
menian victims. This is undoubtedly de-
signed as an apology and explanation
of the assertion contained In the note
of the powers, that the savage bands
which murderously attacked the Ar
menians and pillaged their houses were
not accidental gatherings of fanatical
people or undirected mobs, but that
there was every indication of their
especial organization, and of Its being
known if not directed by the authori'
ties. In foreign circles here the state
ments that Turks were killed along
with the Armenians is denied.
The actual number of victims of the
disorders was certainly 5000, and will
probably reach 5000. The military au-
thorities state that three soldiers were
killed and 80 were wounded. The porte
reports state that ITO Mussulmans
were wounded.
All Mussulmans who have yet been
tried by the extraordinary tribune APP
pointed to pass judgment on those inn
plicated In the recent massacres have
been acquitted of the charges of COM
plicity. The evidence against many of
those was deemed by foreign residents
as conclusive, and the failure to hold
| them adds to the conviction that the
porte has no intention of complying
with the demand of the powers that
| the culprits shall be brought to pun
| ishment. In view of this failure to
punish the authors of outrages upon
| Armenians, the state of terrorism
among the Armenians is unabated, and
| it goes on with no diminution. The APP
| pearance of the refugees, many of them
| in state of restitution from the hasty
/ nature of their flight, and all laboring
under extreme apprehensions of blow
likely to fall at any time, evokes the
| universal compositions of the foreign
| org who see them