Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-04-09
MISSIONARY KNAPP IN JAIL
SuppoSition That He is Imprisoned in
Turkish Armenia.
SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS LIKELY
United States Squadron Pre-
pairing for Action.
DEMAND FOR INDEMNITY TO Be MADE

Agents OF the American Rod Gross Society
to DO Expelled From Asiatic Turkey
Armenians in the District of SuedIeh
Frightened by Turkish Troops.
Constantinople, April 6--yia Sofia,
Bulgaria, April I-Advices received
here to-day from Diarbekr Indicate
beyond any reasonable doubt that the
Rev. George O, Knapp, one OF the
American missionaries at Bitis. is con
fined in the Jail at Diarbekir capital
OF the yilayet Of that name in Turkish
Armenia, and that serious international
complications are more than lilIley TO
follow. The Turkish government, reply
ing to the representations OF the United
States charge d'atfaires, Mr.. John W.
Riddle, has announced through the
Grand Vizier and through the Minister
for Foreign Affairs that no news has
been received by the Porte regarding
the reported expulsion of the Rev. Mr..
Knapp from Bitlis and it was init
mated that If it was true he had arrived
at Diarbekir it would appear that the
local authorities were desiroua of so.
cretly expelling tho American mis-
sionary.
But the latest news from Diarbekir
show that this cannot possibly be the
case, as it is further announced that
tho Rev. Mr.. Knapp is to be sent from
Diarbekir to Alexandretta, seaport on
the Bay of Iskanderum, opening into
tho eastern portion of tho Mediterran-
can, there to be either shipped out of
the country or delivered to the repre-
sentatives of the United States.
At the first intimation Of trouble the
charge d'atiaires, after communicating
Nut Ia In ns.I .t.g.s,
satisfactory reply cited, cabled to WASH
ington for further instructions and it
IN now said that tho United States
squadron in the M Mediterranean consist
ing of the flagship Minneapolis. COM
manded by Admiral r. o. Selfridge,
and the cruiser Marblehead, will shortly
assemble in tho Gulf of lskanderum
and at tho same time a formal protest
against the treatment of tho American
missionaries may be made to the Porte
coupled with the demand for an ado
quate indemnity for the damage re-
Gently done to tho property OF Ameri-
cans.
The imprisonment and proposed ex.
pulsion from the Turkish dominions OF
the Rev. Mr.. Knapp is, however, un-
derstood to be but preliminary to the
expulsion OF all the Christian mission
aries, mostly Americans and English
and French Catholics, from Asiatic
Turkey and possibly from European
Turkey as we'll Besides, it is rumored
that the agents of the American Red
Cross Society, now distributing relief
funds in Asiatic Turkey, in the pres.
ence of the local Turkish officials, are
also TO be expelled from that part of
the empire, In support of this report
it is stated that an imperial trade, pro-
viding for the expulsion from Turkey of
the Christian missionaries and agents
Of the American Red Cross Society,
has already been signed by tho Sultan
although 1t has not yet been issued
froll the Palace
1t is also known that panic exists
among the Armenians of the district of
Suedich owing, it is explained to the
presence there, for some unknown rea-
con, OF strong force of Turkish troops.
In spite Of the assurances of tho
Turkish government, in view of past
experiences, it is considered quite
important that the Porte should
promptly be made aware that tho
United States, acting independently if
necessary, is determined to protect the
rights and property of its citizens in
the Sultan's dominions.
OF course, in the matter of tho arrest,
imprisonment and proposed expulsion
of the Rev. Mr.. Knapp, as in all other
cases Of a similar nature, there are two
sides TO the question. The claim made
by the friends of tho American mis-
sionaries is that he is being unjustly
prosecuted by the Turkish authorities.
On the otner hand the Turkish officials
assert that tho Rev. Mr.. Knapp has
persistently encouraged seditious move
ments among the Armenians in spit of
several official warnings.