Evening star., 1909-04-24

where Americans are stopping to reassure
them that their part of the city was Sc
cure and that they were in no danger
Admiral Chester expressed the opinion
that Schefket Pasha had handled his
forces In an admirable manner.
AS soon as the ress ance at the Match
ka and the Tasch Kischla barracks had
been overcome the attacking forces Oc-
cupied the heights surrounding Yildiz
Kiosk
At 2:2O O'Clock there was an engage
ment near the German embassy between
the constit utionalists and some soldiers
who had escaped from neighboring bar
racks It's duration was short
Occasionally a shell fell in the city, ap-
parently from the investing forces ad-
yancing from the north on YiidiZ Kiosk.
Men from the invading army have occu-
pied the military guardhouses of the city
Ii is reported that one barracks was
bombarded after having hoisted the white
flag.
With the exception of the line to Sara
jevo all public communication with Eu-
rope is interrupted. In the height OF ex-
citement picke;s went through the streets
of the city searching the natives and con-
fiscating all revolvers found on them.
The Turkish officer commanding the
guard on duty at the British embassy
announced that his troops were under the
orders of the ambassador and that tney
could be relied upon to do their duty as
we'll as If they were British soldiers.
Story of the Battle.
Heavy rife firing shortly after o'clock
this morning mingled with the occasional
rattle of artillery from the heights sur
rounding Yildiz Kiosk marked the culmi-
nation OF the expected clash between the
troops of the Constantinople garrison and
the army of investment which began its
advance on the city yesterday afternoon.
Firing started in the southwest part OF
Pera near Yidiz Kiosk. between the
troops under Gen. Mahmoud Schefket.
commanding the army of investment, and
part Of those loyal to the sultan.
The firing was at its height at O'Clock.
The Saloniki troops attacked the Match
ka and Tasch kischla barracks, south or
Yildiz Kiosk. where they met stubborn
resistance. 1t is reported that the cas-
ualtieS are heavy.
Despite the fighting excellent order pre-
vailed in the city for while. Later
panic ensued. Thousands began fleeing.
Detachments of military cadets, COM
manded by officers of the constitutional
lists, are protecting the foreign embassies
Every possible measure has been taken to
prevent disturbances in the city. Enver
Bey. one of the Young Turk leaders. has
sent company of infantry to guard each
legation.
ceased At long intervals the field guns
could he heard together with the scat
tering fire of heavier artillery.
From the houses near YildiZ Kiosk the
bodies of those who met death during
the encounter near Tasch Kischla bar
racks were plainly visible. The streets
near the firing line had been cleared. All
non-combatantS were ordered to remain
indoor to prevent casualties and the pos
sbility of mob violence. leaving the
streets clear for the exclusive movement
of the troops.
The public had been warned away from
the neighborhood of Yildiz Kiosk The
lines were impenetrable.
Movement Began at Dawn.
Schefket. commanding the constitutional
army, began to occupy Constantinople at
dawn. Word came from the city at mid
night saying that the long-expected entry
bad been made. People nevertheless went
to bed skeptical. only to be awakened in
the Pera quarter by the sound of artillery
and the ragged crash of rifle fire in the
direction OF Yildiz Kiosk.
The battalion OF the sultan S household
guard occupied Tasch kischla barracks
about 500 strong and was resisting the
advance of the investing army Expect
ing an attack. they were deployed outside
the barracks when an Ofhcer from Gen.
Schefket demanded that they surrender,
but they refused.
Within minute after the representa-
tives from the constitutionalists returned
the firing began The investing forces
brought into action one battery of field
guns, and one battery of machine guns. as
was judged from the sound of the firing
early in the morning.
Only a small part of the constitutional
troops was engaged in the attack on the
barracks. Pera is stiil strongly occupied
with companies of infantry. stationed in
nearly every street and detailed to guard
every embassy.
The American embassy is thus protect
ed. The Young Turks are protecting all
hotels and banks in the Pera quarter
where Americans and Europeans are
gathered in security.
From the head of the Grand Rue de
Pera. tne main street one was able to get
a partial view of the operations. The
brilliant sunlight now and then flashed on
the field. showing a landscape OF gun rims
or a succession of sparkes. as a machine
gun slowly fired away at segments of the
thin line of infantry which could be seen
with the aid of a glass.
At the Tasch Kischia barracks the sui
tans men were returning the rife fire
steadily. Presently the loyal troops oc-
cuped the military school nearby and
fired on the advance.
Desertion at Tasch Kischla.
A considerable reinforcement from the
Yildiz barracks Joined the troops at Tasch
Kischla. There the Saloniki Chasseurs,
accused OF hetraying the constitutional
cause, were defending themselves
The fire was concentrated on the bar
racks of the chasseurs. and they were
shown little quarter. They put I'D a
splendid fight. and many of them were
killed.
BY half-past 10 in the morning the
Tasch kischla barracks were half de-
stroyed by the shell fire. Thereupon the
firing slackened.
Yildiz Kiosk also had been subjected to
a shell fire.
Schefket Pasha issued orders to shoot
down any soldiers of the Constantinople
garrison seen carrying arms. whether
using them or not He declared also that
all unarmed soldiers would be treated as
non-combatants.
During the encounter rain of bullets
fell in the crowd observing the great pam
Drama in the Grand Rue de Pera wound
inS four men. all of whom however were
natives. With this warning of danger
the correspondents and others hastily
withdrew.
During all this scene a half dozen
vasrant dogs. which are so numerous in
Constantinople. slept peacefully on slope
in the sun, entirely undisturbed The
crowds in the streets too were singularly
quiet. in view of conditions While shops
were not open horse cars were running
outside the fire zone.
4 tourist party of fifty or sixty Ameri-
cans was at an early breakfast when
the first boom of artillery shook the win
dows of the Pera Palace Hotel There
was scurry to the windows. AS the
tourists were unable to see anything from
their position they merely abandoned
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