Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-04-20
Rumor that Head of Mohammedan
Church Is Preparing Written
Declaration of His Fall.
ABDUL HAMED Is MISSING
Unconfirmed Report that Sultan Has
Fled from the Palace.
is WILLING TO ABDICATE
Another Rumor Says He Will Make
Peace at Any Price.
YOUNG TURKS MAsSING TROOPS
Army II Concentrating and wiu
March ON YiIdis Kiosk Unless
Concessions Are
Made.


COHSTANTINOPLE. Aril la-The sheik-
Ul-Islarn, the head OF the church, is pre-
| pairing a written declaration to the country
pronouncing the fall of the sultan. 1t is
rumored here this afternoon the sultan has
fled but the report cannot be confirmed.
BERLIN April l9-The Constantinople
correspondent OF the Murgen Post says in
a dispatch that he has been Informed from
an excellent source in the Yildiz Kiosk that
the sultan has sent his chamberlain. Rifaat
Pasha, and his secretary to the grand vizier
with orders that the government mako
peace with the young Turks on any terms
in order to prevent general bloodshed. Ac-
| cordng to the correspondent the sultan de-
clared that IL his person was any hindrance
| to peace he was willing to offer himself in
order to save the fatherland from catas-
trophe.
| Trops Are ConcentratiDR.
| CoNSTANTlNOPLE, April 1s.-Turkish
| troops. loyal to the Young Turks and de-
termined to enforce the political aspirations
Of the reformers. are rapidly concentrating
upon Constantinople and threatening to
March in to the city and force the sultan
to abdicate, unless constitutional govern
|
Kiosk the residence of the sultan is their
objective. No resistance is expected and
steps are being taken by the Young Turks
| to protect the lives and property Of for
! eigners and Christians. The nearness OF
the expected victory of the Young Turks
is evidenced by the fact that they and not
the authorities at Constantinople are giving
assurances OF protection and the main
| tenance OF order
Two advance guards precede the main
body of the soldiers. One Is composed Of
800 men, half of whom are officers. while
the other numbers 100 men. These two
columns are expected to occupy Pera and
Galata, the foreign and official quarters of
Constantinople as soon as possible. In order
to protect foreigners in the event Jof rio'-
ing. Many of the troops In Constantinople
favor the young Turks and resistance Is
hardly expected.
The sultan Is described as ready TO sac
rifce himself TO save the fatherland from
catastrophe.
The Turkish warships stationed at
Smyrna are loyal to the Young Turks.
Orders have been issued for both French
and German warships to proceed at once
to Turkish waters.
Troops Nearing Capital.
|
troops intend to enter Constantinople today
and enforce their demand for the abdica-
ton of the sultan. The new ministry is
tottering. It is believed adequate steps
have been taken to guarantee public order"
The foregoing statement was received in
London today In a code message from Con-
stantinople. 1t was sent by the local agent
OF a well known banking firm.
General Massacre Feared.
BERLIN, April IA German squadron,
composed of the cruisers Gneisenau, Lue-
bee, Stettin and Berlin, has been ordered
to Constantinople. The vessels sailed this
afternoon They will be joined in the
Mediterranean by the cruiser Hamburg,
which accompanied the imperial yacht
Hohenzollern to Corfu when Emperor
William went to Corfu for his vacation.
In dispatch from Constantnople the cor
respondent Of the Lokal Anzeiger says:
THE situation is extremely serious.
general massacre can be prevented only by
the speediest success of the SaIonIkin
troops. The liberal unionists at last under
stand TO what purpose the Yidlz Kiosk
used them. and as a result they are partly
downcast and partly incensed against the
palace. The sentiment OF the troops in the
city is turning strongly against the
palace.
"The movement OF the troops loyal to
the young Turks TO Tshatalja appears to
be proceeding with the greatest order.
Everything was planned beforehand In ex-
act detail. Tchatalja is the key to the
girdle of Qualifications around the capital.
, Four military trains arrived there Sunday
morning. Mukhtar Bey is In command of
, the advance guard of the salonikins. When
a deputation Of pacificaton from Constan-
tinope greeted him he asked gruffly:
Have you brought the head OF the old
man? We cannot negotiate so long as you
come without that head
Peace DeputatiOn Threatened.
"This deputation, consisting of thirty
men. wanted to proceed to saloniki but 1t
was compelled to return here. Mukhtar
Bey threatened to give orders to have
them shot Immediately II they attempted
to get into touch with the soldiers.
''The troops which arrived at Spartakule
Saturday afternoon, under the command
OF Niazi Psshs, proceeded last night 70
, kutchuk and Tchekmedje, where It Is be-
] lieved they viii await the coming OF rein
, forcements. They will then embark on
, vessels and, avoiding Constantinopie.
march to Yildiz Kiosk. Many officers
have deserted their commands and Joined
the salonikins
"fzzet Pasha. chief OF the general staff,
went with ten officers yesterday afternoon
to Kutchuk and TchekmedJe.
They went ostensiby 10 pacify the SOL
diers, but persons we'll Informed say the
E real purpose 70 transfer the entire
general staff TO the sslonikihs.
The foregoing dispatch to the Lokai An
: zeger came out OF Constantnopue by way
I Of smyrna. The Turkish warshlps stationed
70 al smyrna are loyal 10 tho Young Turks
d The volunteers in the vilayet OF Kossovo
I number 5000; Albania has furnished 72. .Ool
y more and Salonk. 5000. The committee of
o union and progress has accepted an offer
o from Bulgaria TO organize a militia for
A n1rnoaaa