The San Francisco call., 1909-04-22
SULTAN STATE
IN ARMY'S
HANDS
Advance Guard Reaches
Gates of Capital of
Turkey
CABINET IS ENDEAVORlNG
TO ARRANGE COMPROMISE
Ten Agents of MOhammedan
League Shot for Trying
to Turn Troops
FEAR OF RI0TING CAUSES
EXODUS OF FOREIGNERS
CABINET IS ENDEAVORING
TO ARRANGE COMPROMISE
FEAR OF Rl0TING CAUSES
EXODUS OF FOREIGNERS
.ONSTANTINOPLE. April IL
I The conflict between Mussulman

HONSTANTINOPLE, April I'll
I The conflict between Mussulman
piety and the political idea of
the west has brought the Turkish peo-
pie to the verge of civil war
Zeal for the faith has been unloosed
and the adjustment of the sultan's re-
lations to the committee of union and
progress probably will only postpone
the armed struggle between the de-
liverers of the ancient teachings of
the prophet and those urging the
teachings of western Europe
The Saloniki committee, which is
the backbone of the whole progressive
movement, is largely military. and its
most important civilian members are
with the army.
Attempt to Compromise
Some of the cabinet members, in
cluding Rifaat Pasha, the foreign min
lister, are active constitutionalists.
Tewik Pasha, the grand vizier. who
personally is most agreeable to the
sultan and to military men, and who
is looked upon as both benevolent and
honest. has undertaken negotiations
for a compromise. He has not been
able to proceed very far.
The grand vizier and his cabinet are
prepared to resign if the committee
asks their withdrawal Indeed, they
are anxious to resign and have only
been held in Office by the feeling that
they may be able to avert a civil
war or prevent acts of violence that
would cause foreign Intervention
Radicals for Deposition
The committee is without definite lin
it's Its adherents are divided among
themselves. The radical faction insists
that there shall be no compromise: that
the sultan must be deposed and rea-
sonable prince. for instance Yussif Izzo-
din. named as his successor. that the
whole administration be cleaned. that
no promise OF Abdul Hamid's can be
trusted and that TO re-estabIish the
system of 10 days ago would be to set
tie nothing.
The conservatives declare the deposit
tion of the sultan would only be possi-
BILE after severe lighting; that it is un-
certain whether troops under the con-
troll of the committee would uphold such
an act with their bayonets; that the
wavering soldiers of the First army
corps, to the number of $4,000 or 10000.
would be inhamed and break into open
revolt, and that to demand too much
means the failure OF all.
Sultan Has Them Quarreling
The sultan has got them 10 quar-
reling among themselves" said one OF
the ambassadors today. and he will
have his own way yet"
Since the investing army has drawn
nearer to the city numerous agents OF
the Mohammedan league, ardent young
men. theological students and junior
members OF the clergy, have pene-
trated the lines. pointing out to the
men that it was their duty to Allah
to rid themselves of their officers, who
were no better than Giaours. who
scorned the sacred law Of the Koran
and who openly argued that the law
devised by one archdeviI, Napoleon.
ought to be substituted for the sacred
law in all the courts.
The agitators pointed out that the
officers had succeeded in imposing these
wicked laws upon the civil courts and
now wanted to apply them to the
persons of the faithful
Zeaiots 0verrun Camp
Three days ago two of the Hedjas
who We're caught among the troops
were beaten and turned out of the
camps. The following day 80 of them
were Imprisoned. Yesterday the camps
were overrun with proselyting zealots.
Scores were arrested. and today 10
were shot by order OF court martiaIs-
State of Siege Discussed
The demeanor of the soldiers within
the city is respectful They salute
their officers cheerfuily and have re-
sumed their regular drill
The council OF ministers drafted a
proclamation which was published this
evening. 1t denies the rumors OF dis
sensions between the troops and the
Invading army. and says measures
have been adopted for the general Sc
curity.