Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-09-05
Minister Leishman Notified of Ac.
ton Taken by Turkish Off,
~ Gals at Beirut.
FIVE SUSPECTS Are Held IN
CONNECTION With SHOOTING
CAaim still Made That No Attempt WI.
Made on Life of Vice Consul-Other
matters Being Pressed for Settle
ment-First Direct Omcial News Of
Affair Received.

9~eAIAAOP1e, Dept. Zine porte
mas notified Minister Leishman that
I'VE arrests have been made at Beirut
IN connection with the shooting which
LED to the report that William C..
Magelssen, the United States vice and
deputy consul there, had been assas-
s1nated. The Turkish officials con-
tinue to insist that no attempt was
made on the vice consuls life, and
they reassert that the whole story
originated in feu-de-joie fired on
the occasion of a native marriage and
In accordance with custom. Mr.
Le1shman, however, refuses to accept
such an explanation without conclu-
sive proof that the judicial investiga-
ton continues.
The attempt to burn the American
college at Kharput occurred five weeks
ago and, apparently, was the work of
an individual who considered he had
a grievance against the college au-
thorities. When Mr.. Leishman was
Informed of the attempt he demanded
that the porte protect the American
institution, and in consequence of his
representations instructions were sent
to the authorities at Kharput to try
in the regular courts the charges
against so Armenians accused of traf-
ticking in arms and engaging in other
seditious acts. Among the accused is
Prof. Tenekedjian, of the American
college, whose treatment in prison
pending his trial was also ordered to
be improved.
Other Matters to BE Settled.
Mr.. Leishman is pressing for a def
mite settlement of number of mat
tiers on which agreements were
reached with the Turkish authorities
last year, but which in spite of fire.
quent promises on the part of the
porte have never been executed. For
instance, naturalized American is
still in prison at Tripoli, Syria, al
\ though the porte has frequently in
formed Mr.. Leishman that the au-
thorities at Beirut, who have jurisdic-
ton over Tripoli, had been ordered to
liberate him.
Monday Mr.. Leishman received a
telegram from Rear Admiral Cotton,
dated from Genoa, Italy, Sunday even
ing, announcing that the United States
warships Brooklyn and San Francisco
would arrive off Beirut at the end of
this week.
The American officials here attrib-
ute the dispatch of the wafships to
I" Turkish waters not solely to the Ma
gelssen affair, but to the general dis
satisfaction - of the authorities at
Washington at the non-fulfllment OF
the porte's promises in regard to pend
ing questions and to the determination
of President Roosevelt to show Tur-
key that she cannot trif1e with Amer
lean representations. Diplomatic cir
cles here generally approve of the en-
ergetic action of the United States,
which, it is pointed out, is amply justi
fed by the bad faith of Turkey, and
= it is felt here that the appearance of
the United States warships in Turkish
waters will lead to the immediate set
Element of the pending disputes.
Nothing so ifnpresses the porte as a
naval demonstration, and the diplo-
mats claim that this will he specially
noticeable in the present case, as the
Americans are not fettered like other
powers by agreements regulating the
international political affairs of Tur-
key.
Hundreds of Insurgents Killed.
Official reports say that 300 insurgents
were killed or wounded during the fight
ing which occurred last week in the vii
ayet of Monastir.
The porte has sent a memorandum
to the Austrian and Russian ambas-
.xsadors here pointing out that at the
\ recent mass meeting of Macedonians
in Sofia, Bulgaria, it was decided to
send fresh bands into Macedonia, and
also calling attention to the fact that
committees in Bulgaria were supply
ing the insurgents with arms and am
munition by, means of ships which
land theiS cargoes on the coast In the
vicinity Of Iniada.
Consular dispatches from Prishtina.
near the Servian frontier, confirm the
reports that nearly all the Christian
villages in the districts of Dibra, 81
miles from Monastir, and Gicevo have
been piilaged and burned and that the
s INHABITANTS have ned. It is not stated
whether Albanians or Bulgarians were
/ the perpetrators Of the outrages.
IN spite Of the apparent gravity OF
the general situation optimism pre-
walls in Turkish Official circles. In the
h course Of the audiences which the Ger
man ambassador. Baron Marshal Won
Bieberstein, and the Russian ambas-
sador. III. Zinovien. have had with
the sultan for the purpose Of recon-
mending moro energetic action and
intrusting to the Turkish commander
. A chief full direction Of the military
{ operations. the sultan replied that he
preferred to retain control at Con-
Stantin0ple.
The government has imposed per-
4 sonal or land tax on the entire popu-
1ation Of tho empire over the ago q
ri The tax II On djKerent GLASSES ana