Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-28
GRAVITY OF SITUATION.
France Questions as to Whether Shoot
ing Was Done by Soldier.

PARIS, August 2S-The assassination of
the American vice consul at Beirut at
tracts much attention here, but no infor-
nation has been received in official or other
quarters concerning the details.
The last Beirut report received at the
foreign office was dated July Z.
AS Beirut heretofore has been considered
quite outside the range of Turkish disor-
ders the French officials say the gravity OF
the situation depends on whether the shoot
ing was done by Turkish soldier, which
would make the case similar to the assas-
sination of NJ Rostkovski the Russian con-
sui at Monastir, which, the officials add.
would warrant demand on Turkey similar
to that made by Russia.
No Political Significance.
1t is officially stated that if an American
squadron goes to Turkish waters the action
of the United States will not be regards ed
by France or the other European powers
as having any political significance in con-
nection with the near eastern situation.
1t is pointed out that the United States
has always refrained from taking part IN
the near eastern complica tions, the Euro
pean powers assuming the burden of that
question.
A leading official likened the presence of
an American squadron in Turkish waters
to the demonstration made by the British
and German warshfps In Venezuela n
waters. the purpose in each case being to
command respect and enforce the collection
of demands not having any connection with
the general political condition.
Russian Squadron at Sebastopol.
The latest official advices received here
show that the Russian squadron, which
was at Iniada off the east coast of Turkey,
was withdrawn to Sebastopol, where i. is
awaiting further orders.
Italy has one warship. Austria has one
and France has one in Turkish waters. but
in each case large Squadrons held in
reserve for action if the situation becomes
acute
The increasing gravity Of the conditions
in Turkey is further shown by an official
report just received from Phlippopolis Civ
ing details of the revolutionary plot to
blow up the Oriental Express. One OF the
plotters had been designated to sacrifice
his life by boarding the train and throwing
the bombs.
To Impress the World
This plot, probably, was connected with
the dynamiting of the omnibus train at
Kuleli Burgas but the Philippopolis report
establishes the fact that the original plan
aimed against the leading trans
European express for the purpose of i'm
pressing the world with the magnitude of
the disorder.
The reports received here from the
French consuls at Salonica and Monastir
are more reassuring. They say they have
no further fear for their lives. unless the
Turkish soldiery become more lawless. The
reports add that forty-nine Turkish bat
talions have been Withdrawn from Albania
and concentrated around Salonica, as the
Albanian disorders have been crushed.
Loss Of $4,000 Troops.
The most remarkable feature of the re-
ports discloses the fact that the Turkish
force, which totaled $1,000 men when the
troops entered Albania six months ago. has
now been reduced to $1,000 men, showing
a loss of 1900 troops. Few of the sol.
diers died of disease. The loss was chiefly
in men killed while crushing the Albanian
uprising.