Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-10-16
THE SITUATION AT BEIRUT.
Explained by an American Resident
The Facts About Last Months Out
break--American Warships a Wei.
49, Glib

resident from an American now living in
Beirut, gives the ,clearest statements we
have seen about the trouble at Beirut,
the causes for them. and the reasons for
sending American warships there.l
We have wondered during the past week
how much you know of the situation in
Beirut and how much you were alarmed
for us. We concluded that you probably
knew more than we did, and that you
were probably we'll aware that there was
no risk for Europeans or Americans. The
trouble has been brewing here for a long
time. In 1910, when the Libanon was set
apart as a separate province under
European protection. Beirut was formed
into a separate Wilayet under direct
Turkish rule. Since that time the Chris
tian population of the city has grown
steadily until now it considerably exceeds
that of the Moslems. All the trade and
all the wealth are in the hands of the
Christians and the Moslems are naturally
irritatcd and jealous.
For the last ten years 1t has been the
pola,y of the Sultan to hang and kill the
Christians wherever they are strong. and
in accord with this policy he sent out a
Waly who for a long time has been SOW
ing the seeds of fanaticism and strife. He
has been a consummate scoundrel who
has been in open league with %smugglers,
countcrieiters and desperadoes and who
Las Slplfl IL lDIluIlt OIL ilOU,OOU iSJll VD1
but as he has contributed large sums to
the Sultan and worried the Christians. he
has been a favorite. He has renewed the
fanatical orders of Dervishes that had
entirely died out and has encouraged and
abettcd the assassination of Christians on
suspicion, and would release them only
upon payment of large sums by their
friends.
Finding that they could get no justice,
the Christians took matters into their
own hands and killed a Moslem in return
for every Christian slain. This has been
going on for months and the result has
been a deadly feud between Moslems and
Christians who formerly dwelt in peace
together. Whenever there has been an
uprising the Moslems have been defended
by the Turkish soldiers and the Christians
have been arrested. The Moslems have
carried arms openly while the Christians
have not been permitted to arm and mat
tiers have been getting more and more in
tolerable for months. Many of the rich
Christian families have been emigrated
to Egypt and the poorer people to Amer
lea. No Christian has dared to go out at
night and there has been a BILE
reign of terror. a week ago. two I'M
offending Moslems were murdered under
peculiarly atrocious circumstances by So
called Christian desperadoes in return for
similar murders of Christians and the
Moslem population was thoroughly arous-
ed. Attacks were made upon the Chris
tians in various places and Mr.. Maggall-
sen, the American vice consul. was fired
upon, probably on the supposition that
he was "A native Christian. The dragoman
of the German Consulate was attacked,
the Italian Consul was robbed and the
foreigners then saw it was time to take
a hand in the matter. Mr.. RaVendul, the
American Consul, ~telegraphed to the
minister at Washington and the cypher
despatch was misread in some way so as
to say that Maggallsen was shot. instead
of shot at. This led to the immediate
dispatch of two warships which arrived
Sunday. Sept. 16. The ~promptness of the
government and Of the commanders of
the vessels is most praiseworthy. for it
is all that saved the city from anarchy.
Not another war vessel of any other for
eiCn power has Yet come and We feel
proud that our country, though the most
distant, has been able to appear first upon
the scene.
The day the ships arrived the Moslems
attempted to carry out a plan. probabl
with the coniVance of the Valley. for the
slaughter Of the Christians in two of the
native quarters. but the Christians got
wind of the matter and defended them
selEes so well that the Moslems We're
compelled to retreat, although about IS
Christians were killed. Admiral Cotton
then informed the Valley that unless he
restored order at once he would land
marines with the new rapid-fire guns that
shoot 1000 bullets a minute and would
take matters into his own hands. Under
the influence of this threat the Moslems
quoted down and there has been a lull
in the storm. The Christians. however,
did not feel safe and all who could get
away fled into the Libanon where, under
the Christians governor, they would be
safe. Three thousand people nave come
to Alieh alone and the hotel is uncomfort-
ably crowded. CAlieh is a summer resort
- tho I f1.l - - ,rtg H. H.,
ropeans and Americans, about % miles
from Beirut on the Beirut and Damascus
road The poorer people have left every
thing and have camped over the line in
the Lebanon district and they are fed by
provisions sent by their richer co-relig-
ionists from the mountains. All business
has been suspended by the Christians
and the city wears the appearance of an
American Sunday. None of the Euro
peans left town. in fact, most of them
that were away returned to look after
their interests, but they went armed to
the teeth and many black looks were
cast upon them by the Moslems. No one
was attacked, however, and they seem
10 have been in 10 danger at any time
Meanwhile the Consuls nave united il
the effort to have the Valley removed
and on Friday the 18th inst, their efforts
We're crowned with success, for an order
came from Constantinople ordering hin
To come there and appointing the VALLEY
of Damascus, an excellent man. in his
place, This act restored tranquility a
once and there seems no prospect at pres
ent of the return of disorder. Our wal
vessels will remain for some time II
these waters and American interests viii
be looked after.
Admiral Cotton is a fine man and is de
termined to go to the bottom of the mat
ter. Every day, for hours he takes evi
dence from all sources and the mission
aries and college professors have been OF
friendly terms and have been of grea
service to him. Good Mr.. Ravendal, GU
consul, has worked like a dog and hai
managed our affairs splendidly. The re
moVal of the VALLEY for which ~everybod,
has been praying, has been a distinc
American triumph which has raised GU
national prestige enormously. Up in tn
Lihanon, the people tumble over one an
other i'm their effort to treat us American.
well, and stories are already current tina
We intend to occupy Syria and delive,
them from the yoke of the Turk. Every
body seems to feel that we are the onl,
people who are free to listen to the die
tates of humanity and if help is to com
ii must come from us. President Roose
welt seems determined to pursue
vigorous policy and | think he will max
the Turk stand around as he has neVe
been made to do before. At the hote
last night we dined with President How
ard Bliss of the College and Mr.. Richards
the British consul and his wife. After
wards we sat on the balcony and late
Mr., Ravendal and Flag Leuit, Hussey o
the Brooklyn Joined us. We heard a yer,
thorough ditcussion of the situation