Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-12
Observation-Disclosures
HIS FIRMNEss PREVENTED MAS
sACRE AT BEIRUT.
Told Representative of Turkish Au-
thoritiss There Were No Blank
Cartridges O., His Ships.


special correspondent of the New
YORK World writing from Beirut, Syria,
under date September H. sends the fol-
lowing: United States Admiral Cottons
mastery tactics saved a most critical sit
uat1on In Beirut three days after his ar
rival. preventing a general massacre of
naive Christians and securing against
imminent peril the lives. property and
honor of American citizens as well as OF
many Europeans
great armed mob of Mahometans
had attacked one of the Christian quar-
tiers. shooting, stabbirg. hacking, mutt
lating, lootiEg and destroying.
The military were called out but did
not oppose the mob (their co-religion-
1sts) with much zeal. A general panic
ensued and people fed to Lebanon in
large numbers.
me foreign consuls sent a committee
TO admiral Cotton to ask him to be
ready TO land men to Quell the riot.
rms committee was most cOurteOuSly
received. but the admiral could make
TO of1c1al statement or promise He
can life and property His next con-
Germ would be British life and property;
and then the lives of Europeans and, if
possible. their property.
The committee was invited on deck to
see his preparations for an emergency.
They saw 500 marines under arms five
heid guns ready to be sent ashore.
steam launches all around the Brooklyn
and the San Francisco. with steam up.
ready for instant service.
strong guard of marines and corps
of signalmen had already been sent to
protect the United States consulate, and
from the roof of that building to keep
the ships informed of developments.
Officers had been sent ashore to ascer-
tain the exact state of affairs and to
make all needful plans and preparations
for prompt action.
The Syrian Protestant College. which
stands on commanding height. was
chosen as the base of operations. Points
were selected for landing the troops and
positions for the guns.
All night the warships' searchlights
launches patrolled the shore.
On Monday morning the vail Turkish
governor) sent a messenger to ascertain
Admiral Cotton's plans.
The admiral had no plans"
Well, what might be his intentions?
He had mo Intentions
But what answer shall the messenger
take to the governor?
The messenger was asked If he had OBJ
served anything In particular as he
crossed the deck Of the Brooklyn. He
had observed.
Then" said the admiral, tell his ex-
cellcncy exactly what you have seen;
and allow me to add that there are no
blank cartridges in this outfit"
Some attempts to restore order were
made on shore that day.
1t was officially admitted that seven
teen persons had been killed in Sundays
riot. Private estimates give a higher
figure. and a. few more murders occurred
on Monday and the following night.
But word came that Nazim Pasha, vail
of Damascus was on his way to Beirut
with full powers to SuperSede Rashid
Pasha.
Many had been. the consular and am
bassadorial representations before as to
the necessity. of removing Rashid Pasha,
bllt IT rmarkable what nOint
lent to these argume nts in the view of
the sultan by the vision of 500 American
bayonets and an admiral who has no use
for blank cartridges