The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-04-20
Unconfirmed Rumor Has 1t That Sultan Abdul
Hamid Has Abdicated and Gone Away.
GREAT EXCITEMENT PREVAILS At CONSTANT|NOPLE
Efforts to Confirm Stories of Abdicaton and Flight Prove
Unavailng the Foreign Embassies Denying Amy
knowledge of Rulers MovementsPrince
Izzedino May Be the Successor

Constantinople, April 19.-The mos,
important feature of the situation in
the Turkish capital today was the :e-
port that Sultan Abdul Hamid had alb
dicated 1t caused the greatest ex-
citement in the lobbies of parliament.
A rumor of the flight of the sultan on
"a war ship followed closely on that of
his abdicaton, but neither could be
confirmed
Large crowds gathered at the Bri :ish
embassy, where other reports Lad it,
the sultan had taken refuge, and there
also We're scores of inquiries at the
Russian embassy, concerning the truth
of the rumor that the sultan was un-
der the protection of Russia on one of
it's guardships.
At both of these embassies all knowl-
edge of the sultan's movements was
denied and the Turkish foreign office
also gave a strong denial to all these
rumors. The abdication of Abdul
Hamid, however, appears to be not i'm
probable and it appears that within a
day or two the constitutionalists may
accept as his successor Prince Yuisof
Izzedino, the eldest son of the late
sultan, who is second in line, as they
ara strongly displeased with Abdul
Hamid's attitude.
The palace today was under strong
guard and even high officials were not
permitted to enter. The constitutional
forces this afternoon sent out small
parties to reconnoiter and at o'clock
in the evening they were within sight
of the gates of Constantinople. They
encountered no resistance, nor does
any resistance seem likely unless it
is at the palace. The headquarters of
the constitutionalist army is at Dedea-
gatich and General Husni Pasha's
forces, which now number between 20,-
600 and 10000, occupy range of hills
about 20 miles from the capital. Every
hour reinforcements are added to their
numbers.
Refuse to Act.
At a secret sitting of the chamber
today the deputies refused to act on a
vote of confidence in the cabinet. 1t
was apparent that the chamber was
hostile towards the cabinet because
many of the ministers were identified
with the old regime.
a declaration explaining that he had
assumed office from patriotic motives
at the moment of a crisis in order to
save the country and constitution,
which everybody believed to be endan-
gered He said he counted upon the
support of the deputies and was ready
to withdraw if their confidence was
withheld He concluded by annocun-
cling the signing of the Turko Bull
garian protocol.
1t is not likely that the entire army
will reach the capital for some time,
as Husni Pasha and his military as
sociates deem it advisable to with
hold their advance until they are
strong enough to win success by over
whelming numbers, They hope that
the so-called reactonary opposition
will yield without fighting.
No Preparations.
The war ministry under Edhim
Pasha has been inactive, except that
appointments and promotions have
been made to fill the vacancies caused
by the killing of officers, which it is
estimated numbered 200. There have
been practically no preparations so
far as can be observed to resist the
advance of the Saloniki troops.
The city appears very quiet and Eu-
ropean and American women are driv-
ing about the streets as is usual. Ad-
aid Mrs. Arthur Chester of New York