The Washington herald., 1908-08-02
Sultan, as Well as Diplo-
mats, Surprised.
YOUNG TURKS IN CONTROL
inside History of Overthrow of Alb
soIutism without Shedding of
tOry-Army Is Now in the Hands of
Enemies of the Government.


II comes 10 The Washington Herald cor
respondent by messenger from source
in which. although it cannot now be dis
closed. implicit reliance can be placed
The writer emphasizes at the outset
that The events OF the past few days. the
Importance Of which cannot be exagger-
ated. came with as complete surprise TO
the acutest members OF the diplomatic
corps as 10 the Sultan himself
Foreign observers are still filed with
a spectacle unparalleled in history. name
y. bIoodless revolution. with enthusias-
tic loyalty to a former tyrant The long
and systematic campaign by the Young
Turkey party IS unequa4ed in modern
times for its skill its secrecy. and its en-
tire success
The country had not the slightest sus-
picion that the whole Of the European
Turkish army had become a unit for re-
beIliou.
II was known that the navy was liberal
in its sympathies- But the navy did not
count Its hundred admirals had never
been a1oat and the propelIers Of its three
battle ships were kept locked al Yildiz-
Army "A Different Matter.
The army was a different matter. II
was the only support and reliance that
AbduTs autocracy possessed The police
and civil authorities were OF little ac-
count
This Is what happened. according 20
The Washington Herald-s correspondents
informant:
The thing began at Monastir a few
days ago, when the garrison mutinied
and killed their general. a palace favor
tie and took their arms and equipment
and the cash that was in headquarters
and went into the mountains. The Sui
tan ordered the troops at SaIonid and
Smyrna 10 crush the rebellion, but they
refused 10 move Several palace officials
who were sent to investigate were shot
down by the soldiers These events We're
not part Of the Young Turks programme
and their hand was forced by them
The Monastir mutiny. however. was
only slightly premature and the revo-
lUtionary party promptly precipitated a
crisis Their leader. Maj. Niazier. teIe-
graphed direct 10 the sultan Proclaim
constitution al once. OF I viii march on
Constaatinople with $4,000 men Il was
the first incimation Abdul had Of the
truth Grand Vizier Farid advised him
70 yield The Sultan replied. 7 cannot
do this thing without consulting the old
viziers. Saaid and KaimiL' They came
and said NO: you viii lose all # you
yield This is only the beginning Of their
demands
Vizfer Ferid Fails.
Ferid fell. and was replaced with the
usual pomp by Said Then came an
other dispatch to the Sultan We de
mand the heads Of Izzat and Tasim
Pashas-' The Sultan remained silent for
a few hours more. and then he received
the astounding news that On that dav
Thursday, July >. the garrison Of Sa-
lonika had proclaimed a constitution and
that his tAbdUTs) name had not been
mentioned in any Of the religious cere-
monies that day In any mosque IN Mace
dOnia
Hot on the heels Of this significant
announcement came another terrible
warning signed by Niaziir: In case vo5I
do not proclaim a constitution immediate
y. viii see that your name IS not men
TONED Friday in any mosque in STAN
boul'
Consideration filed the palace. The
Sultan called a conference OF his most
trusted ministers, which lasted tn into
The morning Some Of the ministers
wanted 70 tenporize but the Sultan
finally said No: I gave this constitr,
uon, and I have published il each wear
IN the Official almanac, and I will order
the elections a. once on the constitu-
tion as II stands
The native press had been ordered IN
delay publishing that CF-fdavl r7o-ri-s-
and the papers appeared several hours
later than usual but with the official
announcement C1nstantinople read It
rubbed ITS eyes and refused 10 believe.
Prisoners Are Released.
That day came another pereuD+o-,- d
nand from the revolutionary leader Pc
lease all political prisoners It was done
and only then the country understood
Then followed such scenes Of JOY and
loyalty as rarely have been witnessed
It VIII be seen that the foregoing 6ff-
fers from the earlier versions OF the
revolution. Il viii be remembered that
the first news Of the granting OF the con-
stitution reached the outside world from
Macedonia some hours before It was con-
hrnaed from Constautinople. It Is now
clear that this was a revolutionary procIs-
nation. which the Sultan himself accepted
aud confirmed later.
This Is confirmed by a letter from Sa-
lonih in to-day's Times. which describes
the placardiug Of the city with a revo-
luionary manifesto by officers in uniform
on "Wednesday night One police Official
who attempted 10 interfere was shot by
an oHlcer- In another case. & policeman
protested TO an officer who was putting
Up the manifesto.
Very vel, said the officer Wait III
give you back sheesh," and he put a
cartridge into the pOliceman's hand. The
policeman took the hint and departed al
once This was done in the most fre-
7ue1ted place at Salonica on THURSDAY
Il noon
Army to Demand Change
As TO the future, only the foolish would
venture 70 prophesy- The Constantinople
writer quoted above says the army win
demand complete change in the Srltan.s
encourage and probably the execution OF
the greatest malefactors. who have rob
bed and oppressed the people. and an
Slnost complete change OF ministers.
Parliament VIII meet according to de-
Sree in November. but certain reforms
must be begun at once. Some express
Nl1e =