The San Francisco call., 1909-04-27
MOhammed Rechad Effendi May
Be Proclaimed Monarch
This Week
Abdul Hamid Will Probably Be
Offered Palace and Lib
eral Allowance
Last of Garrison of Yildiz Kiosk
Surrenders to Victorious
Hosts
Ten Thousand Prisoners in
Hands of Sal0nikans, but
Search Continues
OONSTANTINOPLE. Apr;l 70

HONSTANTINOPLE, April 20
The deposition of Sultan Abdul
Hamid appears now to be GER
tain and the 101 guns saluting Mo
hammed Rechad Efendi as the next
ruler OF the empire probably will be
heard before the next selanlik, on
Friday. The dignitaries of the church
care as little for Abdul Hamid as does
the committee of union and progress.
but the higher clergy are seeking to
curb the agitation of the enthusiasts
of the Mohammedan league.
A caucus of senator's and deputies
today determined to make an effort
to try to compel the sultan to abdi-
cate under the ecclesiastical law by
the terms of which a decree may be
issued by the Sheik ul Islam pro-
nouncing the sultan incapable of rul-
ing.
A canonica1 rescript win be de-
nlanded on the ground that the sui
tan's supremacy is harmful to the
church, contrary TO the sacred law and
unjust to the Turkish people The
program is that demand shall be
made for the abdication Of Abdul
Hamid simultaneously from the high
est court of the church. from the ma
tional assembly and from the military
chiefs The sultan will be offered
palace and liberal allowance
Prisoner for Is Years
The constitutionalists have no wish
to oppose ecclesiastical authority nor
to undertake the tasks of progress
without the support OF a majority OF
the Mohammedan wise men.
Mohammedan Reichad Enendi. the
heir apparent to the throne. has lived
practically a prisoner for % years in
the large palace and gardens not far
from the Yildiz Kiosk. Since the July
revolution. however. he has often been
in the streets looking from the car
riage windows upon the scenes in the
thoroughfares. which must have been
strangely interesting to him. He is
gray haired and not very strong He is
s5 years old and well educated. al
though inexperienced in the affairs OF
the world
This afternoon witnessed the final act
in the siege of the YiIdiz. General
Schefket, commander of the constitu-
tionalists. overawing the Albanians into
surrendering. This force. composed of
200 men. was stationed in the imperial
palace The Albanians did not fight
last Saturday, but persistently refused
to- lay down their arms.
General Schefket sent up a strong
body of Macedonians and six field
pieces were placed in prominent po-
sition above the palace. Other guns
were disposed over the neighboring
heights, while the troops commanded
all the approaches. The red Tag con-
tinued, however, to fly dehantly until
o'clock, when the watchers saw it
dropping slowly down the hagpole.
making place for the white token OF
surrender.
Sultan's Proteges Prisoners
A few minutes later crowd OF fu-
gitives were seen pouring down the
dusty road leading to BeshImtah.
where they were fastened together
with ropes and conducted under mill
tary escort to headquarters OF the com
mission OF inquiry. The prisoners in
cluded domestics, eunuchs. pages. sec
retaries and practically the entire male
stan OF the palace as well as the IA
nous fusileers. the spoiled proteges
of the sultan. Their commander was
arrested in disguise at Galata and Sc
verely handled and subjected to indig-
mites
The Salonikins show great severity.
Many of the arrested Softas. credited
with being reactionaries. have been
brutany treated and others concern
ing whose loyalty there is doubt have
not entirely escaped
The vigorous search continues even
into the European quarters. II is esti-
mated now that at least 10000 prison
ers are in the hands OF the Salonikins
Those liable to severe punishment
such as the rebellious saloniki chas-
seurs. have been securely roped.
Among the civilians arrested are
Maurad Bey. editor OF the Mizen: Alb
dur Rhaman Enendi. assistant minis
| ter OF finance. aud several high offcials