The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-17

I'm world" and as he is
also known, abdul, the
Damned" was born a spy.
- He Inherited all his extra
ordinary qualities in this capacity from
his mother, woman who has left a name
in the history of the royal harem for in
trigues.
Abdul Hamid's mother, who died when
he was eight years Of age, was known
under the name of Hadji Bash Kadyn.
In order to support her own designs AMI
keep the sultan, Abdul Medjid, her mas
ter, under her influence, she organized
system of espionage in the imperial
harm She not only was spy herself,
but was accustomed to send her son. Alb
dull Hamid, about the royal palace for the
purpose of reporting to her whatever he
might see or hear.
Hadji Bash Kadyn held the record as
spy in the harem, and her memory was
invariably invoked when. in later years,
especially during the reign of Sultan 14p-
dull Aziz, the uncle of Sultan Abdul Hamid
II, the present ruler, it happened that
some inmate of the royal harem attempted
20 follow in her steps. Whenever a case
Of such nature was reported to Abdul Aziz
he was accustomed to say with reference
to the one at fault, even though she may
have been one of his favorites:
Tell her not to try to resuscitate Hadji
Bash Kadyn. I had enough of that when
she was alive"
Brought up under such a tutor 1t is but
little wonder that Abdul Hamid has been
able to organize. develop and maintain the,
most complete system of spies the world
has ever known. He has raised his sys-
tenn from a mere professional one to an
institution of art, skill and nobility
Hamidian nobility, Of course
And Sultan Abdul Hamid II is vainly
proud of his work, which he expects to
stand as a monument to his memory
During his early boyhood days Abdul
Hamid's ability as spy began to mani
fest itself. He spied on his brothers and
sisters, as well as on his father, the pop
Ular Sultan Abdul Medjid and on his
fathers wives and surroundings. Until
the death of his mother he was her faith
fuI spy, and after that he began work.
ing his reports to his father
But Abdul Medjid did not like this kind
Of work, and become very much annoyed
over the matter: He grew the more
angry as no means proved effacious to
correct the young prince-spy, who also
showed such a disgust for studying that
1t never became possible for his tutor to
teach him anything. Even at this day he
cannot write his own language without
making the most objectionable bIunders
In the later years of his reign Abdul
Medjid was so wearied of Hamid that he
actually refused to see him, and he often
said Of him:
He is a wretch. I have given I'D all
hope for him. If he should ever come to
the throne it would be the ruin of the
country and plague to the nation"
When Abdul Aziz succeeded his brother
as sultan Abdul Hamid became the regu-
lar spy Of his uncle at the beginning by
inclina ton. and then, by and by, with
the view to serve his own plans and pre-
pare his way to the throne.
Abdul Aziz did not, however, induce his
nephew to act rs a spy for him. He did
not even like that, and, far from stimulat-
ing Hamld's actions, he thoroughly re-
buked them. But the latter would not
give up, and he found a powerful ally in
Sultan Aziz's mother, who was anxious
to surround her son with every precau-
ton. and therefore was only too glad to
secure Abdul Hamid's cooperation So
he was successful.
Abdul Hamid was thus enabled. as a
prince to form a corps of spies in his own
service, and on his accession to the throne
it was a simple matter to enlarge the sys-
tenn. He has now over fifty-flve years
experience, and still he is improving and
extending his system.
The organization Of his spies inside and
outside of Turkey is marvellous one, and
all the threads of this organization are
concentrated into his own hands. He
spends half of his time-twelve hours out
of twenty-four-in reading and consider
ing the reports of his spies, of whom
thousands are communicating directly
x2rith 10 yoefnc
secret service every year tnan he spends
On the whole of the legitimate Turkish
budget. And the spies always get their
salaries, whoever else goes unpaid.
By reason of the Franco Turkish con-
f1ct the attention Of the public was drawn
for the first time to Abdul Hamids spies
in Europe and more especially to their
organization in France. One of the weap-
Ons first used by the French government
against Abdul Hamid was the threat to
disorganize his secret service in Paris,
and this threat was partially carried out
by the expulsion of two of his principal
spies in France, Feridoun Bey and Snap
ian Effendi.
The French government in taking this
course may have obtained a certain mo-
mentary advantage over the sultan, but
it also shows that the French cabinet has
been favoring the establishment of Abdul
Hands secret service n Paris and en-
couTaSlnSs IL not cooperating, In the
work Of spying. 1t is also noteworthy
that the French government did not go
my further and that about half hun
Ered other Turkish spies still remain in
Paris with the knowledge and consent of
the French authorities. But, in fact, these
authorities are all so compromised in the
matter that it would have been ridiculous
if not altogether dangerous for them to
press the question of expulsion. Abdul
Hamid is well aware of this, and he is
therefore not in a particular hurry to set
tie the conflict. 1t is even most probable
that his ambassador, Munir Bey, will re-
turn to his post in the French capital, and
on that occasion be raised to the rank of
vizier. The whole conflict seems to be a
mere comedy, although 1t is difficult to
analyze the purpose of 1t.
The French government is not ignorant
Of the fact that on the very day of the ex-
pulslon from French territory Of Sinapian
Effendi and Feridoun Bey, another promi-
ncnt Turkish spy, whose name Is Djellal
Aarif, went to the Chatham hotel in Paris
to see the sons Of Mohamoud Damad
Pasha, the Princes Loutfoullah Bey and
Sebaheddin Bey, and make propositions to
them in the name of Abdul Hamid. He