The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-09-17
THE CRISIS IN TURKEY
OTTOMAN EMPIRE is NEAR THE
BRINK OF RUIN.
No Doubt of Organized Mnssacres
Against the Defenseless
Armeninps.

copyrighted. 1896. by Associated Press.)
Constantinople Sept. u, via Sofia,
Bulgaria, Sept. l3.-To those who have
eyes to see there 10 more and more ev-
ident the approach of crisis in the af-
fairs of the ottoman empire.
I2ut 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
patienc of the European powers, with
the process of extermination of the
Armenians that has been steadily ana
relentlessly pursued by the Turks.
There is no diminution in the rancor
displayed by the Mussulmars 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 envoys of the
| powers have received a circular no.e
| from the Hintichak revolutionary COM
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 much
| wider area than was the last, which re-
suited in the apparently ndescriminate
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
tan's 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 VIII
be responsible II 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 or
: account of the feeling of doubt as t(
what secondary and yelled meaning
may be hidden behind the letter of in
structions to the troops. Meantime th'
British relief committee is busy witt
n | the work of helping the distressed Ar
r | menians.
!. The official Turkish estimate of th
$ number of victims OF the massacres IL
/, the city is 100. Other estimates rui
pretty much all the way upwards iron
, this figure. The Official estimate !
:. coupled with the allegation that man,
n of those killed were in reality Turks
= but that they were buried with th
Armenians. and so their numbers wen
Il to swell the supposed number of Al
. menian victims. This is undoubtedly dc
a. signed as an apology and cxplanauo
.e of the assertion con'ained III the not
l. of the powers, that the savage band
J. which. murderously attacked the Al
y menians and pillaged their houses wei
not accidental gatherings of fanatics
people or undirected rnobs, put tn,
n there was every indication of the
especial organization, and of It's bein
~ known IL not directed by the author
ties. In foreign circles here the stat
IS ments that Turks were killed alor
with the Armenians Is denied.
Ia The actual number of victims Of Il
ge disorders was certainly 5000, and w
- probably reach 6000 The military a
~ thorities state that three soldiers we
r. killed and 80 were wounded The por
reports state that ITO Mussulmai
ng were wounded.
en- All Mussulmans who have yet he'
tried by the extraordinary tribune a
&C pointed to pass judgment on those II
vn plicated in the recent mnssacres ha
ld. been acquitted of the charges of COZ
.ly plicity. The evidence against many
those was deemed by foreign resider
as conclusive, and the failure to he
them adds to the conviction that [
n porte has no intention Of complyl
with the demand of the powers th
.o, the culprits shall be brought to pr
ate ishment. In view of this failure
off punish the authors Of outrages up
Mr.. Armenians the state of terror.
eed among the Armenians Is unabated. a
eit IT goes on with no diminution. The 9
ar pearance OF the refugees, many of tn
the in state Of destitution from the has
a nature Of their flight and all labori
the under extreme apprehenslons Of bl
likely to fall at any time, evokes
ad- universal compositions of the foreil
a., ers who see them.
|