Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-17
Skill with Which He Handles Troops
Marvel of Foreign Experts.
CABINET DEPENDS UPON HIM
Takes Pains to Dispel Feeling that
He is a Dictator.
WOMEN ARE TAKEN FROM HAREM
Eight wives OF AbduI Hamid Are
Removed TO SernEhO Palace,
which Has Been Vacant
since 1924.

CoNsTANTINoPLE, May 16.--Mahmoud
Schefket Pasha, commander of the Turkish
constitutional forces, both land and sea- is
the man most frequently in the thoughts
of those observing or dealing with the con-
fused politics Of the day in Turkey lie
is the one quiet figure upon whom rests the
preservation OF order. and the civil branches
of the government look TO him to impose
their liberal rule upon the empire and to
deal promptly with persons who are factors
dangerous to the state.
The skill and celebrity with which General
Schefket brought the third army corps
and part of the second army corps before
Constantinople and occupied the capital has
amazed the foreign military men here. Be
sides those attached to the embassies
seven officers came from German and five
British officers from Egypt to observe the
develor ment of the campaign. They have
not ceased to discuss the details OF the
constitutionaist commanders arrange
ments.
Would DispeI Mystery.
General Schefket has been something OF
a man Of mystery. which impression he has
been taking trouble in recent days to re-
move. He has called In succession during
.the last week upon every ambassador and
minister in Constantinople and upon those
Turkish subjects holding high positions,
such the Greek patriarchs and the
American bishop, representing the vacant
patriarchate. He has talked modestly upon
political affairs and the relation of the
army to the government, possibly with the
idea Of checking the spreading notion that
he is virtually dictator and that he and
parliament are near 10 a rupture.
Speaking on this subject today. General
Schefket said:
THE army is merely an instrument of
civil power The army and l as an officer
in 1t derive our authority to establish order
from the national assembly. The army Is
a finger of parliament only. and works
under the will of the cabinet"
The general had an hours talk with Hilni
Pasha, the grand vizier. yesterday, at the
conclusion of which he said
The grand vizier and are In perfect ac-
cord Later In conversation he said:
I'VE have obstacles to overcome In our
progress towards free and stable institu-
tons. l have hope that we will rise above
them"
Punishment for Guilty.
The disorders in Adana province, Cen
eral Schefket said, were in process of solu-
tion. The court martial there could he
trusted TO make a thorough investigation
and provide adequate punishment for the
guilty. The agitation in the Fourth army
corps at the headquarters in Erzerum had
ceased, most of the mutineers and desert
ers having been arrested. In conclusion
General SchefSet said:
I'VE desire very mitch to have the sood
will, sympathy and moral support OF lie
Americans In ba
better government"
General Schefket's whole day after
o'clock In the morning is allotted 10 milf
tary business. He Is a tall, wide should
cred, thin Arab of Bagdad, with some DER
man blood. He is man of extreme COM
posure only his eyes shine like those Of
an enthusiast
Some of the members OF the committee
said Bauf Bey, one OF three who repre-
sented the Young Turks committee in the
navy, before the advance on Constanti-
nople, doubted whether General Schefket
was the man for the work ahead. He vas
still, tranquil, so silent; but what
man he is; wheat energy, what intellect,
what disinterested motives. To him tie
cause is everything; he thinks nothing If
himself"
Women Taken from Harem.
Eighty women from Abdue Hands
harem, richly dressed and veled were
driven in carriages today under the escort
of four eunuchs and a troop OF cavalry
from the Yildiz to the ancient seraglio
palace, which has been unoccupied since
about 1924 Curious bystanders were driven
away from the exit of the Yildiz palace
by a guard OF soldiers Following the car
riages was a train of wagons with bag
gage. The Yildiz palace IA being made
ready for the admission o. the public. Most
of te former sultan's slaves have been
freed.
The arrest OF Prince Burhan EddinA. the
fourth son of the deposed sultan, Is con-
firmed. He will be interned in one OF the
palaces here. Nothing is known OF the
precise charge against him, but he was
under suspicion OF being implicated In the
mutiny OF April 10.
Representations by LeishmAn.
The American ambassador John O. A.
Leishman. has made representations TO
Ferid Pasha, the minister Of the Interior
on the importance of restoring order in
the interior of Adana province, 50 that
the refugees crowded in the towns may
return TO their farms. Ferid Pasha replied
today, expressing his thanks for sugges-
tions and saying he would take additional
steps TO restore the confidence of the
Armenians and give them protection In the
country where needed.
Armenians I'm Panic.
ADANA, May l6.-Two hundred Armen-
ians who started away from here yester-
day were fired on soon after their de-
parture from the city by a band OF Mos
lens The Armenians returned here panic
stricken The military commissioners. how
ever gave assurance that the Armenians
would he safeguarded and sent out patrols
through the country. The police are taking
active measures 10 restore TO the Armen-
ians thier unburred houses.
DEURTYUL, May l2 (Via Adana, May
l5.)-There are $500 destitute people hers
from the neighobring villages which have
been destroyef