Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-24
THE SuLTAN'S STRONG
HOLD ON TURKISH PEOPLE
Has So Far Saved His Thr0ne===Young Turks
Army Within Three Miles of Palace
lien. Shefket'S Proclamation.

! what are the intentions of the leaders of
| the Constitutionalists. who represent two
| factions the Radical and the Conserva-
| tive Evidently the Constituencies are
| Of two minds with regard to the ruler oil
! their country. The parliamentary depu-
| ties, who held sessions at San Stefano to-
| day seemed to be in favor of his depo-
| sition but the splendid reception which
| was accorded the Sultan today on his ap-
| pearance in public was graphic demon
| stration of the fact that His Majesty re-
| tains a strong hold on the hearts of his
| people. He was acclaimed by thousands
| or his way from the gate of the palace
| to the White Mosque Outside the walls
OF YildiZ Kiosk, while picked detach-
ments of troops in their brilliant uniforms
| lined the route and stood at salute as
| though to do his smallest bidding.
| No guarantees of any kind have been
given to the Sultan by the Constitution
alists, either with regard to his retention
| on the throne or the security of his per-
| SON. The Constitutionalsts practically
| have control of the government and are
| taking up passive attitude towards the
Sultan. Tewfik Pasha, the grand vizier.
: and his associates in the cabinet have
| agreed to carry out the wishes of the
| Parliament General Mahmoud Shefket,
| who in a telegram to the grand vizer to-
day STYLED himself commander-in-chiefo of
| the army of investment and of the otto
| man feet is now almost supreme in au-
| thority. In his communication, copy
| of which was also sent to the Sultan the
| Porte and the various embassies, and
was published tonight as a proclamation,
| Gen Shefket said:
| owing to recent corruption among
the imperial guard the power of the
government in the capital was COM
pletelv annihilated. In order to restore
and consolidate the authority of the
government, the md and 3rd Army
Corps dispatched troops to CONSTANT
nople and placed men at the head OF
these forces and also of the navy. Par
don Will be granted to repentcnt
soldiers who submit, but those continu-
| ing to rebel Will be punished without
mercy.
Certain guilty individuals, appre-
hending chastisement, have spread re-
ports that the army of investment pur-
poses to dethronc the Sultan. | ahso
lutely deny this allegation. If, during
the operations agitators attempt to
|
sponsible."
| The commanding general has sent
| considerable body of troops by steamer
to Smyrna, thGSce to Eski-Shehr and
| other strategic points across the rail-
way leading from Constantinople to
| capture refugees who may be anted
and to observe if troops from the re-
mote districts make any III I'VE in the
direction Of the capital or if there is
any rising of guerilla bands of anatics
Tomorrow is pay day for the Con-
stantinople troops. Yesterday the treas
ury was without sufficient funds and
it is considered dangerous by the cabi-
| net to leave the soldiers unpaid, owing
to the possibility Of riots and lootins.
| As n final resort the minister of war
hastily summoned the officials Of the
| tobacco monopoly and some Of the
leading bankers, who have arranged to
provide the funds. The Turkish fl
nances have been seriously affected by
recent events, besides the injury done
to Turkeys general credit abroad. Cash
must soon be found to meet the OK
penses of the army of OperGtio which,
it is estimated, since the movement be-
lgan has reached $1,000 900.
Latest reports from Adana show APP
pallng distress in that district. Some
1000 persons are homeless and starry
ing and thousands of orphans are to
be provided for. In a comparatively
small Protestant community 10 Protes-
tant pastors have been killed. The
loss of wheat and the damage to flour
mills has caused high prices.
Relief will be distributed irrespective
OF race and creed by the commission
of Moslems and Christians presided
over by the missionary, Mr.. Chambers,
who had much experience with relief
work at former Armenian massacres
and under the supervision of the Brit
ish consul. The central government is
endeavoring to take measures to pro-
vide shelter and FOOD for the refugees,
|. but owing to the paralysis at head
quarters foreign help is urgently need
ed to prevent further loss of life by
: starvation.