The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-29
OUR LONDON CABLE letter.
SURPRISE CAUSED BY THE PORTE's
SUDDEN REMOVAL OF
EDHEM PAsHA.
FEELING AGAINST RUSSIA IN ATHENS
Runs High-DiscOntent Because King
George Has Not Gone to the
FrOnt-Reception Accorded
Col. Hay In London.

London, April 24.-(Copyrighted, 1897,
by the Associated Press THE last few
days have developed surprising situa-
ton. The sudden removal of Edhem
Pasha, the Turkish commander-in-chief,
and the fact that he has been replaced
by Osman Pasha, the hero of Plevna,
has caused great surprise, in view of the
glowing accounts which the correspond
ents in the field sent Of Edhem Pasha' S
brilliantly conceived plan Of campaign,
which was represented as working like
machine, and which gave the world the
impression that Turkey had found in him
second Won Moltke. 1t is stated now
that Edhem Pasha Is In disgrace, that he
has had little previous experience in
warfare: that he Is creature of Izzet
Bey, and that he fell when that favorite
of the sultan went down. 1t is also
stated that the sultan has hitherto been
afraid to send his best generals, such as
Achment, Faud and Rescid Pasha to
the front, they being instead kept in the
most remote provinces. No remarkable
development, however, is expected from
the appointment of Osman Pasha to
command the Turkish forces operating
against the Greeks in Thessaly, as, apart
from the dangers of swapping horses at
Pasba will be hamDered by the sultan's
jealous determination to direct the mill
tary operations from the Yildiz Kiosk
The great value of Osman Pasha's pres
ence ut the front is his popularity with
the army.
Osman Pasha has virtually been
prisoner in the Yildiz Kiosk. The sui
tan dreaded his popularity, although he
used it as protection by always having
Osman Pasha accompany him on his
weekly drives until the occasion of the
Selamlik, when the sultan himself, n
sallow, scared, miserable looking figure.
sat facing the horses. with his grizzled,
resolute looking old marshal opposite
him. In his position of palace marshal
'Osman Pasha had to seal every dispatch
reserved TO the sultan, and never left the
grounds of the palace without imperial
permission.
Said Eddin Pasha, who is to succeed
Ahmed Hifiz Pasha in command of the |
Turkish army at Gamma, is the general |
the sultan sent to Crete in December last |
to carry out the reforms there, in accord |
ance with the sultan's ideas. The am
bassadors,, however, demanded said Ed
din's recall. and. after threat from the |
powers of serious measures if the de- |
mand was refused, the sultan yielded,
and Said Eddin was recalled.
Advices received here from CONSTANT |
nople say that the war news in Turkish |
newspapers is very meagre and alto |
gether fails to give an idea of the Greeks |
stubborn resistance or of the Turkish
loss, which must be considerable. The
Turkish authorities are equally reticent
and the foreign embassies are destitute
of impartial news and will be so until
The military attaches arrive at the seat
of operation.
The cabinet council at the Yildiz Kiosk
yesterday discussed the enrolment of
volunteers and decided as the treaty of |
Berlin forbids the use of irregulars, that
Al the volunteers must wear the Turk
sh uniform and serve under regular Off
GERS. appointed by the government Out
IF 2O,OO0 Albanian volunteers, one-half |
have accepted these conditions and the |
others, who refused, have been sent
lone. .r I1sl9yI
An official report gives the entire num-
Der of Turkish troops under arms as
leing 357 900, of which 217,000 are in
European Turkey.
Reports from Athens say that dis
content exists there at the fact that King |
ieorge has not yet started for the front. |
lis reserve is considered excessive.
The feeling at Athens against Russia
IT'LL runs high. The Greek government |
las rejected Russia's offer to protect the |
ireek orthodoXs in Turkey. Russia's |
agerness TO do so having caused doubts
$ to her motives, and the government of |
freeze has now begged Great Britain to
'rotcct the orthodoxs.
II is understood that in message
which the king is preparing he will in
lite all Greeks throughout the world to
make sacrifices of money as well us
Hood.
The rumor in Athens today that the
ireek warships We're preparing to make
dash through the Dardanelles caused |
much interest in military and naval cir
les. 1t was pointed out that the bonn
'ardment of small ports on the Albanian |
nd Macedonian coasts does not require
powerful ironcads such as the Psara.
hydra and Spetza, and these may try to |
un the gauntlet of the Turkish ships
md forts in the straits. If only two of
hem succeed in getting through. the eff
ect of their appearance in the Bos-
'horus would be incalculable. 1t is
quite certain that with their present
the Turkish warships would
No poweress against them.
The Greek army at present is suffering
rom lack Of medical supplies. The chic
'oform is already exhausted and nurses,
clinical thermometers, lint and
surgical appliances are needed.
The attitude of the various Balkan states