New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-08
WROTE TO VICTORIA.

WROTE TO VICTORIA
London, Feb. IA dispatch TO the United Press
rom Constan,inop.e says the negotiations for the
prrender of Zetoun to the Turkish authorities con-
tnue The foreign consuls at Zeitoun have In
formed the beleaguered Armenians that their prn-
epal purpose in visiting Zeitoun is to watch the
course OF events. and that they unable guar
an,ee the safety of the Ze!tounlis upon any con-
di,ops The Turkish troops besiegng the town are
mainly composed of reserves. They are lifted and
many OF them are deserving. The main body Of the
Turks have re,reatcd 10 Marash The only article
Of provisions lacked by the beleaguered Armenians
The reply Of the Sultan 10 tie letter recently ad-
dressed TO His Majesty by queen Victoria II is
learned expresses the sympathy OF the Sultan with
che humane sentiments conveyed In the Queens
Communication; but declares that the reports Of
massacre Of Armenians by Turks have originated
with il-disPosed persons The Turks the su S
were praying in the mosques. and did nothing more
than defend themselves as best they could. In
every part Of Asia Minor the Sultan asserts every
thing is perfectly tranquil except at Zeitoun
# is quite natural that. IN his rep.y to Queen
v,ctor!a's letter. Abdul Hamid should draw an
up,mistic view of the situation in Asia Minor.
There might be decrease in the number OF re-
xots against Turkish oppression. since the number
of oppressed Armenians has decreased because OF
.he mas.lcres committed by the Turks and the
Kurds: but the country cannot be quiet 50 long
as il is occupied by Ottoman troops, who. being
unpai. unfed ana unclOthed. are competed 10
practisa extortions of all kinds upon the IN
hsbitans The after. Mussumans ana Christians
suffer equally. under those circumstances. Many
OF the Relfs. or reserves who have been called
ont rather than to die from hunger and cold de-
sert their colors ana form bands OF desperate free
hooters who pi.lage right and eft, without caring
whether the villages they attack are Mos'em or
Christian Meanwhile, in severa. localities, the
Mahometan populations of another race than the
Turks, but which were formerly suDJugated ov the
the latter under the pretext of marching to the de-
fence OF the faith. endangered by the G.aours
or Christians. At the recent massacre or ora, IN
the vilayet or district Of Aleppo the Bedouns VINO
invaded the town killed more TURKS imam
Christian
The financial distress Of the Turkish treasury does
not permit provision for the wants OF the reserves
and not always for those of the active army. Inc
especially in order 10 pay the expenses OF the
Rhamazan, the Mussulman Lent, which begins on
February IA. and which ends with the festivities OF
the Baram IL is known that the employees OF the
Turkish Government are seldom PAD regularly. but
the unvarying tradition is that they must receive
one months salary at the Rhamazan ana one al
the Bairam Those are indeed the only TWO pay
ments regularly made at a fixed date. 10 those en-
ployes Moreover. during the fun moon OF the
son receive qualification, or present. represent
ing months pay.
For all these expenses a sum OF about 6Oe.~p TURK
h livres Is necessary. ard the palace intendant or
treasurer, has declared recently to the sultan ina
he could hardly collect 100000 hvrcs Abdul iamlu
fears that, If he cannot make the traditional pay
ments and give the ordinary qualifications OF the
RhamaZan and the Bairam season. the employees anu
the soldiers will be discontinued and Join the con-
sttutonal party of Young Turkey, wnlch mas ior
.s rallyng and war cry: The fish is rotten In It's
head" meaning the Sultan himself