Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-12-11
TURKS ASSAULT
American consul
American Representative at Alexan-
dretta, Mr.. Davis, Insulted
by Sultan's Police.

by Sultdn'S Police.
FLAG Is HAULED DOWN
And RELATIONS SEVERED
American Citizen, II Former ArlNe-
ninn, Taken from United states OFF,
cial and Thrown Into Prison
Strong Action by Washington Off
cials Expected Because of Outrage.
States flag over the consulate at Alex
andretta, Asiatic Turkey, has been
hauled down and Consul Davis has left
his post for Beirut in consequence of a
serious diplomatic incident during
which Mr.. Davis was insuited and as
saulted by the local police.
Cause of the Trouble.
The affair grew out of the arrest of an
Armenian-Channes Attarian, natur-
allied American citizen.
Attarian had been in prison at Aleppo
during the last two months and had just
been liberated through the Intervention
of the American consular agent, on con-
dition of his leaving the country forth
with. Mr.. Davis was accompanying
Attarian on board departing steamer
when the police intercs pied the party,
assaulted and insulted Mr.. Davis, and,
he toto Of ha nv n
his attendant guards, rearrested Altar
ian and took him back to prison. Mr..
Davis Immediately lowered the flag over
the consulate and formally broke off
relations with the Turkish authorities
by quitting AleXandretta, leaving the
consulate in charge OF the vice consul.
A mob of Moslems seized on the occa-
sion to make a hostile demonstration
against the consulate and against the
Christians generally.
The local authorities assert that Mr..
Davis struck the police with cane and
that after the rearrest of Attarian the
consular cavasses military couriers)
attempted to rescue him, and that in the
fracas which ensued the cavasses broke
the windows of the prison.
i The Turkish authorities further claim
that Attarian, who is a native of Diar-
bekir, Asiatic Turkey, has been travel.
ing about the country with an illegal
passport. They also point out that the
question of Armenians naturalized in
America returning to Turkey has al
. ways been source of trouble, since the
! porte invariably refuses to recognize
naturalization.
| Suspected of Being RevolutiOnist.
| When Attarian was arrested $3.50
was found in his pocket. This, it is be-
lieved, may have contributed to his ar
rest, the Turks suspecting him of being
a revolutionist.
4 The matter is engaging the energeti,
attention of the United States Legation
here. Minister Leishman has mad
urgent representations to the porte an
is now awaiting fuller report befor
taking further steps.
The outrage, it is anticipated here
will lead to strong action on the par
of the United States to obtain full rep
aration, especially as full satisfaction
for-the- beirut affair has not yet bce1
given.
II To Investigate Affair.
Washington, Dec. 9.-The state de
partment has received brief cablegrar
from Consul Davis at Alexandretts
Asiatic Turkey, saying that he had ha
trouble with the local police at Alex
andretta and had left for Beirut in cor
sequence The state departmer
promptly cabled Minister Leishman q
Constantinople to institute a thoroug
investigation of the whole affair. 1t
|. expected that Minister Leishman wi
call at the foreign Office Tuesday to in
: quire of the Turkish officials regardin
{ the matter.
The navy department has so far take
no steps toward sending any warshii
to Alexandretta, though the state d.
partment officials informed the navy d.
! partment of what happened at that plac
The San Francisco and the Brooklyn al
at Beirut, which is distant 140 miles frol
Alexandretta. The state departmer
| does not anticipate any serious difficult
: as result Of this incident, as it does nj
doubt that the Turkish government wi
make proper amends for any miscondut
OF it's officials at AleXandretta.
The state department has endles
trouble with naturalized Armenians VIII
insist on returning to Turkey, notwitf
standing the fact that the Turkish go,
eminent has steadfastly refused to recot
nize the right of Turkish subject
expatriate himself, and the most the
our ministers and consuls have bee
able to do in such cases is to secure til
release of the naturalized Armenian {
Turk upon promise to quit Turkey.
Editor and Author Dead.
Philadelphia, Dec. 9.-Rey. Henri
Clay Trumbull, editor of the Sunda
School Times, and known throughor
the world as an author, died Tuesda
at his home In this city, aged 70 year.
DR.. Trumbull was stricken with ape
plexy Monday and remained uncon
scious until the hour of his death.
Epidemic of Smallpox.
Dover, Del, Dec. 9.-An epidemic c
smallpox prevails at Woodland, a sma