The San Francisco call., 1909-04-25
SULTAN HELD
IN PALACE AT
REBELS MERCY
C9nstantinOpIe Falls to Invaders
With Cost of Thousands
of Lives
Imprisoned Regent Treats for
Terms of His Final
CapitulatiOn

CapItulatIOn
afternoon 10 within two and half
naes of the palace foreshsdOwed the
attack on the city that began at ;
o'clock this morning The bridges had
been picketed and small parties OF cav
airy rec0nnoftered the ground. After
desuitory firing just before dawn a
striking advance was made in the
southwest part Of Pera. The attacking
forces spread out in = long line and
made IN assault on the Matchks and
1'asch Hischla barracks. south Of the
palace, where they met with a stubborn
resistance
The invaders continued TO advance in
three columns with the utmost precision
and occupied All points OF vantage.
Volunteers Conquer Garrison
The volunteers from Chrevegili re-
Ctived their baptism Of fire from
Nstchks but they stood their ground
well and replied with steady volleys-
TIE strength of the volunteers was
overwhelming and the Matchka garri-
son soon surrendered.
Almost Immediately the loyal soldiers
iu the Tasch Kischla barracks. on the
opposite hill opened deadly fire,
but withstanding that many Of
them fell. the Saloniki troops did not
hesitate in their advance. but moved
slowly and cautiously. bringing up
their machine guns. which eventually
resulted in silencing the garrison.
There were heavy losses on both sides.
SaIoniki Commander Killed
While this attack was proceeding an
other corps Of saloniki infantry en-
countered sudden attack from the ar
tilerymen in the TaNim barracks. but
these were only supplied with rifles.
~ ukhtar Bey, commander Of the Salo-
niki forces fell dead. and many were
Killed or wounded on the first assault.
The lighting IN the StambOul quar-
tiers occurred al the Porte. where the
* rrison refused TO surrender. but after
4 sharp fusiliade they We're obliged to
hoist the white flag There was stiff
fighting at the Iplik-Haneh barracks,
. where the mutinous artillerymen who
recently arrived from Tehatalja were
Quartered. Perhaps the most remark
able feature of the attack on the city
was the great number OF people Of all
natiOnalities. including many Euro
peans who thronged the streets i'm
. Tnedfasely outside the battle zone.
Every ybody showed thar confidence had
been inspired by the discipline, valor
rand friendly courtesy of the invading
troops. particularly the gendarmes of
sSaI Ioniki
Loss Is in Thousands
The number OF casualties probably
swiE never be known, but IL is esti-
mated far into the thousands Around
the Taxim barracks alone it is be-
.lieved that / 900 more fell The private
houses within the line Of fire suffered
10 the parliamentary forces occurred
through the misuse of the white flag
by the besieged Jasch Kischla bar
racks For more than an hour the ma
chine guns OF the attacking party
poured a hail OF shot into the garrison
and then the defenders hoisted the
white flag Infantry moved forward
ia the open and the gunfre was sus-
pended. When these battalions We're
within 500 yards Of the barracks the
guns behind the walls opened up a
deadly Gre y being killed and 50
wounded
in one quarter some 5000 or 1000
troops were engaged in the conflict
but with the terrific exchange Of shots
few noncombatants We're killed.
Half the Saloniki chasseurs. who
weTc brought from the country dis
tricts several months ago and placed
s-.n the Yildiz garrison by the commit
Zee Of union and progress and who
stOok prominent part in the recent
ndtiny fell fighting in or near the
barracks. where they murdered most
'sfE the officers only 10 days ago. in
1.-THE pockets Of some OF the dead We're
- found large sums of money in gold
which Il is assumed was part OF the
price OF their loyalty.
Women Prove Nerve
The American ambassador, Mr.. Leish-
man. declared that the conduct OF the
Americans during the lighting and
while he was arranging 10 send them
of on = steamer was splendid. They
..displayed the keenest interest in the
strange battle and every woman
showed the greatest pluck. There was
30 fainting and no Mysteries.
At noon the battle ceased and pre-
cavtionary measures We're Immediate
ly taken By the victors 10 insure the
safety 81 the residents.
No disorders Of any kind occurred
during. the afternoon and no footing
was permitted. General satisfaction
seemed TO be felt at the swift change
from uncertainty 10 constitutional
order.
Complete tranquility prevails in the
city al present. but anxious looks are
cast in. the direction of the YiIdiz the
f'AAHcA W part u IFS BdIIltOn 10 SUD
NIT being the serious feature Of the sit
uation. General Schefket is concen-
trating large forces near this point
Troops have been pouring in since noon
and several batteries have been planted
in the neighboring heights, but it is
feared that the task of capturing this
wei guarded stronghold may be ex-
tremely difficult. owing to its excellent
defensive position and the thorough
preparedness Of the garrison.
The other positions already captured
by the investing army were not pro-
-rided with artillery. which gave the
assailants an immense advantage. since
they were unable to shell the barracks
without reply from artillery. The Yil-
diz garrison not only possesses artil-
lery but il is believed that the neigh
borhood RS mined. Apparently General
Schefket and the other leaders OF the
Saloniki troops are anxious TO avoid
further bloodsheo, and hence their de-
sire 10 give the sultan and his advisors
ample time FOR consideration.
SuItan's Fate in Balance
What disposition VIII be made OF the
ruler OF the empire when he is in the
bands Of The constitutionaiists is un-
known to. the embassies. although the
opinion is held ia authoritative quar-
tiers that he VIII continue as the nomi-