The Washington herald., 1909-04-23

Constantinople. April 22.-While no Of
fetal OF reliable figures are available.
one Of the embassies estimates that 15,0oO
persons have been massacred in Asia
Minor. The outlook continues very ugly.
Fanaticism seems 10 be at its greatest
height It is reported 70 have been
awakened by reacdonaTies. who have rep
resented that the Young Turks are Ieagued
with the Christians. and who have raised
the CRY that Islam is endangered The
local Moslems. as ignorant as they are
bigoted. were readily moved. and their
fury Is growing. AleppO. Antioch. Had
jim. Ekbaz, and Deurtyul are among the
towns and villages now threatened.
There have been no important changes
in the local situation in the past twenty
four hours.
The Sultan remains at the YiIdiz Kiosk
Affairs are apparently awaiting the az
rival Of Cheftek Pasha. commander-in-
chief OF the Third Army Corps. who is
due here from saIonh this evening.
Meanwhile the investing army has prae-
ticaIly. completed its preparations, and is
ready 70 enter the city.
sultan still in Power.
Although there are emphatic assertions
10 the contrary. there are still reasons for
thinking the Sultan viii not Immediately
be deposed- A firm determination not 70
ahdicate is ascribed 70 his majesty who
IS represented as declaring that his con-
science is absolutely clear concerning the
mutiny. as he is able 10 prove.
Among to-day's few incidents was the
departure Of the entire feet, except the
cruiser MedTdieh. for a cruise under .Ad-
nliral Gamble, the new British instructor.
II Is ~a-ieu-sy stated ,,latit has gore q
aid in restoring order in Asia Minor. and
that Il has departed for maneuvers.
Whatever its destination. the city is re.
lieved by its departure, 1t being EeEerally
unknown which side the crews favor
and q bombardment from the sea being
much feared.
There IS an American mission al AIepno
and the missionaries are stated 70 be in
extreme danger, although thus far they
have not been attacked. Numbers Of
fierce fanatics from the countrv. around
have arrived IN the town. The consuls
have appealed 70 the governor. who
promised TO do everything possible "a
protect foreigners, but he admitted that
his power is limited. as there are only 81
soldiers in the town
Murders and robberies are going on al
Antioch. but 70 what extent is not vet
known Mohammedan tribesmen sur
round Hsdjin, which has an almost *.
clusively Armenian population. Il 4:
maintaining the defensive at present but
the besiegers intend to rush il as soon
as they are numerous enough. The
French mission at Ejbaz IS besieged.
The village OF Deurtyul IS encompasses
by fanatics The Armenian inhabitsnt,
have sent a messenger 10 AIeppo 10 bee
for help. He reports that outskirts NJ
the village were burning when he left
The whole population OF the village a
karikhan has been wiped out. It is re-
ported that four Germans are among the
killed at Bake
The position at Tarsus IS better. The
mission buildings. which are now protect.
ed are sheltering 1900 fugitives.
The victims at THarsus number abou-
fifty. but many more have been kiIled II
the surrounding country. Evervvhera Tbs
masSacreS have been carried out with IN.
greatest ferocity, women and children
sharing the fate Of the men.
The British consulate at ADAM. .renort,
extreme misery owing 10 there being NJ
food IN the town A large number Of tbs
survivors are starving. The consul begs
that help be sent
Soldiers Refuse 10 Take Oath
London. April According 10 the Con.
stantinople correspondent of the Times
the saeik-ul-islam and several staff Off.
GERS visited the different barracks Thurs.
day 70 dictate TO the assembled soldier:
Al cath TO obey their officers and to alb.
stain from interference in politics.
A majority OF the men in the barraek,
visited declined 10 obey unless the officer.
swOTe implicit obedience TO the Suifar
and, the sheik-Ul-islam and his compan.
ions returned and announced that fhel,
mission had been in a large measure Z
failure.
The situation Is one Of some tension
and il remains 10 be seen whether a sbov
Of force on the part OF the investing arm,
viii bring the Yildiz troops and the Othel
soldiers Of the First corps TO reason.