The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-09-11
THOSE
BASHI-
BAZOUKS
Turkeys Irregular Sol
dierS are Simply
GuerrillaS
Get no Pay From the Govern
ment But are Employed
Like Pullman Con-
ductOrS

and the same old Eastern question"
confronts the nations with its possi.
bilities for the most widespread dis
aster, the question invariably asked
by the readers OF the reports is,
What is the underlying cause?" In
broad terms it may be said to be the
weakness of the central government,
but the elements OF this weakness are
to be found in the various turbulent
factors which go to make up the body
polite.
The personnel OF these mischievous
elements includes the Circassians and
Kurds OF Asia Minor, the Bedouins of
Syria, the Albanlans OF European
Turkey. all wild-eyed, lawless and ter
rorizing, yet not to be compared in
corruption and virulent mallgnity
with the most disturbing element Of
ALL the sleek, smooth. rotund Turks
officials who have a finger in every
political pie and a grasping hand in
every pocket that is to be rifed.
The Bashi.bazouks, or irregular
soldiery, get no pay from the govern
ment except rations and transporta.
tion, but are expected 10 make their
own living by guerrilla warfare. They
are almost always In connivance with
the higher officials, who remain dis
creetly blind to their misdeeds as long
as their own hands are flied with
backsheesh. Their presence u in
variably the sign OF bloodshed They
scent the scene OF carnage from afar
and no place is too distant, no atroci.
ty too great for them to attempt
In all the great massacres their
services have been utilized. like those
of the Greeks at sclo in 1929. in Syria
in 1861. Bulgaria in 1876. and in the
more recent Armenian massacres.
When the doom OF the fair city Of
Harput was pronounced by a secret
trade from the palace, from every d.
rection swarmed the bashi-bazouks
eager 20 be in at the death. They
brought with them all the necessaries
for the work OF destruction, even TO
the kerosene which they poured upon
the woodwork TO accelerate the work
OF the torch. Then schools and
churches, the work OF patient toll on
the part OF the American missionaries
and native Christians. we're consumed
in a day and darkness fell upon a
city desolate and in ashes.
Today these same thugs and muir
derers have been transported to Mace
donia, as the probable scene OF the
next great massacre. When from time
to time their atrocities become so
fragrant that the European ambassa-
dors feel called upon the protest. the
Sultan virtuously disclaims all respon-
sibility for the lawlessness OF a mob"
over which. alas, he has no control"
Like each OF the various clans OF the
Kurds. the bashi-bazouk can easily be
distinguished by his costume. His
shoes, or 'yemenys" (meaning leath.
err, are red and black. His golf-llke
stockings. which leave the knee ex'
posed. are elaborately embroidered
in black, his short Turkish trousers
are OF homespun. while about his
waist is a short sash OF wool or silk.
surmounted by a leather belt in rich
colors and embossed in red. This is
divided into three or four sections in
which he carries his revolver, his
chibouk or pipe. and his yataghan, al.
ways kept sharp. The bashi-bazouks
never carry daggers as the Circas-
SLAMS do. A cartridge box hangs from
the side. as also a small silver snun-
box. They wear two jackets, the un-
der one with short sleeves and the
outside one with long At the elbow
in an opening In which they carry in
a leather bag written quotations from
the Koran as a talisman to protect
them from the bullets OF the adyer-
sary. About the neck is a chain OF
silver coins from which Is suspended
a powder box. The head is close
shayen except for a tuft Of hair left
on top. 50 that n anything happens
to them on the battlefield the angel
viii have no trouble in catching hold
OF their hair TO snatch them up 10
Paradise. Only the aged are allowed
TO wear boards. The fez Is a stin
high Turkish ahair. burdened with an
heavy tasseI.