Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1909-04-30
SULTAN'S POSITION
HANGS BY THREAD
THE DEPOSITION OF SULTAN A9.
Dull HAND APPEARS NOW
TO BE CERTAIN.
SALoNlKINS ARE VERY SEVERE
The Conditions In Asiatlc Turkey
Alarming In Some Of the Towns,
While Others Have Been
Somewhat Relieved.

Somewhat Relieved.
Constantinople, Turkey-The dep
osition Of Sultan Abdul Hamid appears
now to be certain, and the 101 guns
saluting Mehemmed Rachad Effendi
as the new ruler of the empire prob
ably will be heard before the next
selamlik on Friday. The dignitaries
of the church care as little for Abdul
Hamid as does the Committee of Un-
ion and Progress, but the higher cler-
gy are seeking to curb the agitation
of the enthusiasts of the Monamme-
dan league. Senators and deputies
who have made inquiry among the
ulemas find them in different degrees
favorable to the sultan's removal.
To Compel Sultan to Abdcate-
A caucus of senators and deputies
yesterday determined to make an eff
fort to compel him to abdicate under
the ecclesiastical law, by the terms
of which decree may be issued by
the Sheik VI Islam, the highest au-
thority of Mohammedanism next to
the sultan, pronouncing the sultan in.
capable of ruling.
The grounds upon which the issu-
ance of canonical rescript will be
demanded are that the sultans SUI
premacy is harmful to the church, con-
trary to the sacred law and unjust to
the Turkish people. The program as
agreed upon at the caucus is that a
demand shall be made for the Gbdica-
tion of Abdul Hamid simultaneously
from the highest court of the church,
from the national assembly and the
military chiefs. The sultan will be of
fered a palace and liberal allowances.
Salonikins Show Great Severity.
The Salonikins show great severity.
Many of the arrested softas, credited
with being reactionaries, have been
brutally treated and others concerning
whose loyalty there is doubt have not
entirely escaped. The vigorous search
continues, even into the European
quarters. 1t is estimated now that at
least 10000 prisoners are in the hands
of the Salonikins. Those liable to
severe punishment, such as the rebel
lious Saloniki chasseurs, have been
securely roped. Among the civilians
arrested are Maurad Bey, editor of the
Mizan, Abdurrahman Effendi, assist
ant minister of finance, and several
high officials of the porte.
Conditions in Asiatic Turkey.
Alexandretta, Asiatic Turkey, Apr.
27.-Refugees who have made their
escape from Deurtyul, which is a small
town not far from Alexandretta, bring
most alarming accounts of the situa-
tion there. They affirm that 100000
Armenians are beleaguered by $4,000
Moslems. The besieged are half starv-
ing and the conditions within the
walls of the city are pitiful. 1t is
difficult for foreign residents here to
credit these numbers. The foreign
consuls estimate about 5000 towns
people and refugees at Deurtyul, with
perhaps as many more Turks threat
ening them from the outside.
The town of Hadjin, about 100 miles
to the north of Alexandretta, where
the residents have withstood the as
saults of the fanatics for the past
week, was in flames Sunday. Accord
| ing to reports received here several
of the quarters escaped and up to
midnight Sunday all the Americans
were safe. AT this place there are
five American women missionaries.
Latakia, in Syria, has been relieved,
thanks to the unceasing efforts of
the American consul general at Bel.
rut, Gabriel B. Ravndal, who secured
the cooperation of the French cruiser
Jules Ferry, which arrived at Latakia
yesterday morning. Thousands of ref.
ugees have been pouring into Lata.
kia. The refugees are mostly women
and children, many of the male mem.
bers Of the families having been killed