The Daily Missoulian., 1909-04-26
SITUATION IN ASlATlC TURKEY
HAS REACHED EXTREMELY
CRITICAL STAGE.
THOUSANDS LOSE LIVES
Warships of Foreign Nations Reach
Scene Of Trouble but Efforts to Re-
Avail Thus Far-Town of Hadjn Is
Reported to Be Burning Now.

Beirut, April 25.-The situation in
Asiatic Turkey is extremely serious.
How many thousands have been mas
sacred cannot even be estimated. be-
cause the disturbances have been so
widespread that it is impossible to Sc
| cure details of the happenings.
The latest estimates of the number
killed in the vilayet Of Adana reaches
approximately $4,000, and thousands
have been killed in the towns of other
districts. The state of siege at sew
eral of the places has brought the in
habitants near starvation, and each
day brings it's tales of further afro
cities and the depths of misery and
despair to which the savagery of the
fanactics has brought the people.
Several warships are now in these
waters, but the disorders are so far
reaching that the efforts of the pow-
ers to restore normal conditions have
as yet hardly been felt. The French
cruiser Jules Ferry arrived today and
left almost Immediately for Latakia,
where swarms of refugees are pouring
in. British, French and German
warships are at other ports and ma
rines have been landed to uuell the
disorders at the more important
points
Besieged by kurds.
One of the missionaries at Alexan-
dretta, Mr.. Kennedy, with 1000
Turkish troops, has gone to the relief
the coast, where 10000 people within
the walls are besieged by immense
bands of Kurds and Circassians Only
two days ago British warship re-
turned from that place. the governor
of the district having refused the COM
mander permission to land a relief
party.
The water supply has been cut off
from the town and the besieged are
suffering greatly. The children are
drinking out of animal tracks after a
shower. There was incessant firing
on Greek subjects sent under an es-
cort yesterday
The Armenian village Of Kessab has
been burned. All the men and many
women and children have been slain. |
The American property at Kessab
was destroyed. Miss Chambers, an
American missionary, is safe.
Conditions Worse.
A British warship has been ordered
from Alexandretta to Suediah, where |
conditions have become worse All |
the property of the Christians at Die |
belbereket has been DESTROYED. The
total loss is unknown, but it will be |
enormous. Reports state that Hadjin, |
in the vilayet of Adana, is on fire. |
There are five American women quar-
tered here, including Miss Lambert, |
who has been sending out appeals for
help, Miss Virginia A. Billings and |
Miss Bowman. The authorities have
refused permission to Messrs. Lawson
and Chambers, also American mis-
sionaries, to go to their relief. Fran
tic appeals for protection and for food
are coming in from all sections.
Protection Adequate.
Washington, April 25.-While condi-
tions in the near east continue unset
tied, the state department has been
assured by Great Britain that her
ships on the scene are adequate to
protect Americans as we'll as English
subjects.
Further advices from the London
embassy say that after consultation
with the British foreign office, Russia
has sent an expedition from the from
tier to Tabriz to relieve foreigners
A dispatch from the American en-
bassy at Constantinople states that
after severe fighting the city is in
complete control of the constitutional
forces. The department has been as
sured by the embassy of the safety
or two American women named Webb
about whom some inquiries had been
made. Trouble is likely to continue in
the province, it is said, until quiet is
restored in Constantinople. Recent in
formation is far from reassuring
Very Serious.
At Antioch, Hadjin and Deurtyol, a
very serious state of affairs have de-
veloped.
The national assembly sitting at San
Stefano has declined to recognize the
legal existence of the present cabi-
net.
The members of the cabinet are
scattered and no new cabinet has been
formed, according to recent advices.
Vice Consul Debbas at Mersina had
advised the. department that Mersina
is quiet, but that the conditions at
Latakia and Eassat are uneasy. The
t,rnf to, %