The Washington times., 1903-08-29
Turkey in Asia Almost as
DemoraliZed as China in
1900 = Missionaries at
Harput Thought to Be in
Hourly Peril.
Vice Consul Attacked But
Not lnjured-Chief Turk
ish Officer Tenders Abject
Apology, Which is Ac-
cepted.

cepted.
The tense situation consequent to
the supposed assassination of Vice Con-
sui Magelssen was changed with the
rapidity of the denouement in a farce
comedy last night when it was aa-
nounced that while the vice consul had
been shot at he had not been killed.
At the same time a general appre-
hension of trouble at Harput and the
actual attempt on the life of the vice
consul in Beirut are taken to indicate
that anti-foreign fanaticism is gaining
dangerous ground in Turkey.
The United States cruisers Brooklyn
and San Francisco left villefranche last
evening for Genoa, where they will join
the gunboat Machias and proceed to
Beirut.
1t is announced from Oyster Bay that
the President VIII not countermand the
order to Rear Admiral Cotton to pro-
ceed with warships to Turkish waters.
Magelssen Not Killed
Minister Leishman's dispatch has not
been published N full 1, has been
synopsized by State department officials,
however. as indicating that in conss-
quence of mistake in the transmission
of code word from Beirut to Constan-
tinople. which led 70 the mistranslatior
of the dispatch from Consul Ravndal, il
was made to appear that Vice Consul
Magelssen had been killed. while in
fact an attempt only had been made on
his life 1t represents further that the
vice consul is alive and we'll
The minister gave few particulars OF
the attempt on Magelssen's life. The
vice consul was riding in his carriage.
and was fired upon twice by some person
unknown to the Turkish authorities. as
they assert Apology was made to Vice
Consul Magelssen by the principal Turk
ish officer at Beirut, and he accepted it.
Minister Leishman added that he had
been assured that the would-be assassin
would be vigorously hunted for by the
Turkish authorities. and punished If ap-
pretended.
It was also reported by Minister Leish-
man that Consul Ravndal advised him
from Beirut that conditions there are
very unsafe for foreigners. and that for
eign consu1s have so advised their re-
spective governments Christians are in
suited in the streets and assaults have
been committed on foreigners, though the
attempt on the life Of Vice Consul Ma
gelssen appears 10 have been the grayest
incident Wide unrest and apprehension
of revolution is reported throughouk
Turkey and Asia Minor.
Alarming Conditions in Syria.
Although the tragedy of the situatios
has now disappeared. the fact remains
that conditions in Syria and, indeed.
throughout all Turkey are alarming. and
that Americans residing there require
the protection afforded by American
Warships cruising in the nearest waters.
1t is this consideration which caused the
Administration TO determine that the err
ror of the operator and its correction
should make no change in the program
and that the orders to the European
squadron should not be recalled.
Every dispatch from Mr.. Leishman and
every communication from missionaries
and other outside sources contribute to
the belief that Turkey today is in a
state which very closely approaches that
of China when horde of bowling pixies
men shut The foreigners I'D in their le-
cation compounds and drove the En-
peror and Empress Dowager from the
Sacred City and out TO the western
hills. Mr.. Leishman's cables are known
to contain much confidential matter. de-
failing the symptoms OF unrest and the
actual disorder which Is now spreading
all through that country and developing
into anarchy beyond the Sultan's power
to control.
Missionaries Imperiled.
While the insurrection as an organ
lied movement IS now confined TO Tur-
key in Europe, IL has caused the With
drawal of government troops in Syria
and offered a temptation 10 ravish and
to riot 10 every fanatic axd malcontent