The Washington herald., 1909-04-14

London, April H. - The Constantinople
correspondent Of the Times says that a
catastrophe has overwhelmed the new
regime in Turkey.
he ministry Of the committee Of union
and progress has fallen, and the Jemi-
yeti Mohammedich. or League Of No
hammed, backed by the rank and file
Of The whole first army corps and by a
large majority Of the Moslem popula-
ttion. is master Of the situation.
The minister OF marine has been wound
ed, and the minister of justice killed, by
the soldiery. The life Of Ahmed Ria is
in the utmost danger.
The leaders of the committee Of union
and progress are IN hiding. and the ap-
pointments of Tewfk Pasha as prime
minister. and Edhem Pasha as minister
Of war. appointments which are believed
10 represent the wishes Of the Sultan.
have been received with accIamation by
thousands Of soldiers assembled round
the chamber OF deputies.
The government appears 10 have been
informed Of the movement which was
afoOt, but its measures were purely de-
fensive
There has been sharp firing at tSamboul
since 10 ?. m. which stln continues, and
has now. at 1:SO a. m, spread to Palata
and Pera. 1t IS stated, however, that it
is only Feux De Joie, in honor Of the
sultan.
In spite of various rumOrs, no authentic
accounts Of serious fighting have been
yet received. Aroops are reported to have
demanded the head Of Nahmud Mukhtar.
Although the physical details beyond
the foregoing are lacking, it is possible 10
give a clear explanation Cf this extra
ordinary revolt. It was not the work Of
reactionaries in favor OF the restoration
of the Sultan's Old regime. On the con
trary. it was another uprising against
what had grown to be a new tyranny. and
had for its object the re-estabIishment OF
constitutional liberty
What has happened during the past few
months is this. The leaders OF last sum
mer's revolution have sardualIy been dis
placed. The present committee of Union
iand Progress consists OF some refugees
who returned from abroad after the
young Turks got control. and some mem
bers Of the old regime. who professed con-
version 10 constutiOnalism- Most Of these
,so-called reformerS have fallen victims of
ha sTsr-r,.
Abdul Hamid been that ne succeeded in
establishing a new tyranny. no less real
under the aegis of the constitution than
it was under his absolutism Of old.
New Leaders In Power,
The new leader Of the committee OF
Union and Progress was Ahmed Riza
president Of Parliament. who returned
from his exile in Paris after the Young
Turks got control. The Sultan lavished
gifts upon him and his family. Ahmed
Riza's associates were Bahaeddin B6v.
formerly physician to Prince Yussuf Izze-
din; Sheref Pasha, formerly Turkish min
lister at Stockholm; Ghah Mukhtar
Pasha, formerly commissioner in Fgvpt.
Maj. Ihmael Pakh Bey. Jellal-Ed-Din
Bey, Nazia Bey. Bahmi Bey, and Seal
Bey.
This group OF men substituted a new
system Of favOritism for the system thar
prevailed under the former regime. There
was merely a change Of tyrants. The Sui
tans absolute power had been abolished
but Ahmed Ria and his little circle of
friends reigned supreme. Terrorism char
acterized the new regime, just as IL was q
prominent feature in the order Of things
As showing the uncertain state of az
fairs in Turkey one need only refer to
the cruel murder OF Hassan Tehmi. ed
itor Of the Ser0est, who publicly criti-
cized the policy pursued by some Of the
leaders. The real saviors OF Turkey is
last summers revolution Niazi Rev En-
yer Bey, and the grand old man Kiamel
Pasha had been got rid Of one way or
another. and the last condition Of Turkey
was rapidly becoming worse than the
first
All support Constitution.
This story. so typical in its Orientalism.
seems slmoss incredible. but it is a brief
transcript Of the simple truth. These
amazing developments soon caused split
among the supporters Of the constitution.
and a strong Liberal or Ahrar party was
formed as opposed 70 the Janet or COM
mittee Of Union and Progress as presently
constituted. The Liberals are as sincere
supporters Of the constitution as their
opponents.
To-day's revolting troops were not OF
the Sultan's body guard-but were COM
posed Of soldiers who joined in the rev
0lutionary movement last summer. II
seems fairly clear from the information
st hand that they are doing over again
what they thought they hed accom-
oIished nine months ago.
It is impossible TO foresee, however. the
outcome OF the present. situation. There
is nothing yet TO Indicate who were the
real leaders Of to-day's revolt. or whether
Il is q well organized movement.