The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1904-01-01
DELIGHT IN BLooDsHED.
Turkish Mercenaries Withoat Pay
Take Great Pleasure In Muir.
dering Christians.


When with periodical regularity the
Ottoman government is shaAen up, and
he same old eastern question" con-
fronts the nations with its possibilities
for the most widespreading disaster. the
question Invariably ashed by the read
srs of the reports is: What is the un-
Terrifying cause?" In broad terms it may
se said TO be the weakness of the central
government, but the elements of this
weakness are to be found in the various
turbulent factors which go to make up
The body polite, states the Brooklyn
Eagle
The personnel of these mischievous
elements includes the Circassians and
kurds Of Asia Minor, the Bedoins Of
syria, the Albanians of European Td..
icy. all wild-eyed. lawless and terroriz-
ing, yet not to be compared in corruption
Ind yirulent malignity with the most dis
urbing element of all, the sleek, smooth,
:otund Turkish officials who have fin
ger in every political pie and grasping
land in every pocket that is to be rifled.
The bashi-bazouks, or irregular sol
iiery. get no pay from the government
except rations and transportation, but
ire expected to make their own living
| oy guerrilla warfare. They are almost
always in connivance with the higher Of
dcials, who remain discreetly blind to
their misdeeds as long as their own
hands are filed with backsheesh. Their
presence is invariably the sign of blood
shed. They scent the scene of carnage
rom afar, and no place is too distant, no
ttrocity too great for them to attempt.
In all the great massacres their serv.
Ices have been utilized, like that of the
Creeks at Scio IN 1922, in Syria in 1861,
Bulgaria in 1876 and in the more recent
| Armenian massacres. When the doom
If the fair city of Harput was pronounced
by scored trade from the palace, from
every direction swarmed the bashi-ba-
zouks, eager to be in at the death. They
| brought with them all the necessaries
for the work of destruction, even to the
kerosene which they poured upon the
woodwork to accelerate the work Of the
torch. Then schools and churches, the
| work of patient toll on the Part of the
| American missionaries and native
q
darkness fell upon city desolate and In
ashes
To-day these same thugs and murder
srs have been transported to Macedonia,
IS the probable scene of the next great
massacre. When from time to time
their atrocities become so fragrant that
the European ambassadors feel called
upon to protest the sultan virtuously
disclaims all responsibility for the law
essness of mob over which, alas. he
has no control" Like each of the vari-
GUS clans Of the Kurds, the bashi-bazouk
can easily be distinguished by his cos
tune. His shoes, or "yemenys" (mean-
ing leather) are red or black. His golf
like stockings, which leave the knee ex-
posed, are deliberately embroidered in
black, his short Turkish trousers are Of
homespun, while about his waist is q
short sash of wool or silk, surmounted
by a leather belt in rich colors and en-
bossed in red. This is divided into three
or four sections in. which he keeps his
revolver. his chibouk, or pipe, and his
yataghan, always kept sharp. The
bashi-bazoul1s never carry daggers as
the Circassians do. A cartridge box
hangs from the side, as also a small sill
yer snuff box. They wear two jackets.
the under one with short sleeves and the
outside one with long. At the elbow in
an opening in which they carry in a
leather bag written quotations from the
koran as talisman to protect them from
the bullets of the adversary. About the
neck is a chain of silver coins from
which is suspended a powder box. The
head is close shaver except for tuft Of
hair left on top. so that if anything hap
pens to them on the battlefield the angel
will have no trouble in catching hold of
their hair to snatch them up to Para
disc. Only the aged are allowed to wear
boards. The fez is stiff, high Turkish
affair, burdened with an abnormally
heavy tassel.
Historical Note.
Adelaide enjoys the distinction of be.