Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-02-12
COTTON'S BRAVE STAND
How American Admiral Saved
Beirut From a Massacre.
NO BLANK CARTRIDGES FOB HIN.

NO BLANK CARTRIDGES FOB HIN.
Comma ndcr of American squadron
Told the Wallis Messenger That He
Had mo Plans" hat Pointed 60
Guns and Men Ready TO Land-sul-
tan Saw Pointed Argument Of
Bayonet- and Removed the Turk
ish Governor.
United States Admiral Cotton's mas
terly tactics saved most critical situa-
ton in Beirut. Syria. three days after
his arrival. preventing a general mas
sacre of native Christians and securing
against imminent peril the lives, prop
erty and honor OF American citizens
/ rs well as OF many Europeans, writes
the New York Worlds special cor
respondent.
A great armed mob of Mohammedans
had attacked one of the Christian quar-
ters. shooting. stabbing. hacking, mutt
lating. looting and destroying. The
military were called out. but did not
oppose the mob. their coreligionists.
with much zeal. A general panic en-
sued, and people fed to Lebanon in
large numbers.
The foreign consuls sent q committee
| to Admiral Cotton to ask him to be
ready TO land men to quell the riot.
| This committee was most courteously
received. but the admiral could make
no official statement or promise. He
was there primarily to protect Ameri-
can life and property. His next con
Germ would he British life and prop
/ erty and then the lives OF Europeans
and. il possible. their property.
The committee was invited on deck
to see his preparations for an emcr
gency. They saw 500 marines under
arms. five field guns ready TO be sent
ashore. steam launches all around the
Brooklyn and the San Francisco. with
steam up. ready for instant service
\ strong guard OF marines aud
corps Of signalmen had already been
sent TO protect the United States con
sulate and from the roof OF that build
ing to keep the ships informed of de
velopments. Officers had been sent
ashore TO ascertain the exact state of
affairs and to make all needful plans
and preparations for prompt action.
The Syrian Protestant college. which
stands ON commanding height. was
chosen as the base OF operations
Points were selected for landing the
troops and positions for the guns. All
night the war ships searehIights played
upon the town. while steam launches
patrolled the shore.
On Monday morning. Sept IA. the
vail Turkish GOVERNOR sent n mes
senger to ascertain Admiral Cotton's
plans.
The admiral had no plans"
Well. what might be his intentions?
He had mo intenfions~
But WHIT atr~~s, -rn----- ----,srs' I
ger take TO the governor?
The messenger was asked IL he had
observed anything in particular rs be
crossed the deck Of the Brooklyn. He
had observed
Then said the admiral. tell his
eNcellency exactly what you have seen
ana allow me 10 add that there are no
blank cartridges in this outfit"
Some attempts TO restore order were
made on shore that day. IT was otii
cially admitted that seventeen persons
had been killed in Sundays riot. Pri-
vatc estimates give u higher figure, and
u few more murders occurred OH Mon.
day and the following night. But word
came that Nazim l'asha. vail of Da
mascilS. was on his way To Beirut with
full powers TO supersedc I;ashid Pashu.
Many had been the consular and am
bassadorial representations before as
to the necessity OF removing Rashid
Pasha. but it was remarkable what
point was lent TO these arguments III
the view of the sultan by the vision OF
500 American bayonets and an admiral
who has no use for blank cartridges.