Los Angeles herald., 1909-04-25

1 constitutional forces are in COM
~ plete control of the capital to-
night. The sultan is virtually a pris-
oner in the Yildiz palace. His formal
submission has not yet been given,
but he and the troops with him are
at the mercy of the army of occupa-
tion.
Mahmoud Schefket Pasha, the COM
mander- in chief of the invading forces,
desires to finish the work without fur-
ther bloodshed. He is in negotiation
with the sultans representatives and
has extended the period of grace with
in which the sultan must make MS
final decision.
The Yildiz Kiosk may be rushed
during the night, for some five thou
sand infantry are disposed within
mile and half of the palace.
What disposition will be made OF
the ruler of the empire when he is
in the hands of the constitutionalists
is unknown to the embassies, although
the opinion is held in authoritative
quarters that he will continue as the
nominal constitutional executive,
largely responsible to the cabinet,
who in turn will be responsible to.
parliament.
Troops Are Pouring In
Complete tranquility prevails in the
CITY at present, but anxious looks are
cast in the direction of the Yildlz, the
refusal of part of it's garrison to sub
init being the serious feature OF 'ne
situation. .
Troops have been pouring in since
noon, and several batteries have been
planted in the neighboring heights, but
it is feared the task of capturing tnls
we'll guarded stronghold will be ex-
tremely difficult, owing to It's excei-
lent defensive position and the tnor-
nf the garrison.
The other positions already captured
by the investing army We're not pro-
vided with artillery, which gave the
assailants an immense advantage.
since they were able to shell the bar
racks without reply from artillery.
The Yildiz garrison not only possesses
artillery, but it is believed the neigh
borhood is mined. Apparently General
Schefket and other leaders of the Sa-
loniki troops are anxious to avoid fur-
ther bloodshed, hence their desire to
give the sultan and his advisors ample
time for consideration.
The sending forward OF the advance
posts of the Salonika army yesterday
afternoon to within two and one-half
miles of the palace foreshadowed the
attack on the city that was begun this
morning. The bridges had been pick
eted and small parties of cavalry re-
sonnoitered the ground. After desui-
tory firing just before dawn, an ad-
vance was made in the southwest part
Of Pera.
Heavy Losses on Both Sides
There were heavy losses on both
sides.
while this attack was proceeding, an
other corps of Salonika infantry en-
countered a sudden attack from the
artillerymen in the Taxim barracks, BUT
these were supplied with rifles only.
Mukhtar Bey, commander of the Sa-
lonika forces, fell dead and many We're
killed or wounded on the first assault.
The fighting in the Stamboul quarter
occurred at the Porte, where the gar
rison refused to surrender, but after a
sharp fusillade it was obliged to hoist
the. white flag. There was stiff fight
ing at the Iplik Haneh barracks, where
the mutinous artillerymen who recently
arrived from Tchatalja were quartered.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature
of the attack on the city was the great
number of people of all nationalities.
including many Europeans, who
thronged the streets Immediately out
side the battle zone.
Everybody showed that confidence
had been inspired by the discipline,
valor and friendly courtesy of the in
vading troops, particularly the gem
darmes of Saloniki.
Ine nunlDeT Oh CdSudllloS pTODdDiN
will never be known, but it is estimated
far into the thousands. Around the
Taxim barracks alone, it is believed,
1000 or more fell.
Houses Suffer Greatly
The private houses within the line of
fire suffered greatly. One of the heavi-
est losses to the parliamentary forces
occurred through the misuse of the
white flag by the besieged Tasch
Kischla barracks. For more than an
hour the machine guns of the attack
ing party poured a hail of shot into
the garrison, and then the defenders
hoisted the white flag. Infantry moved
forward in the open and the gunfire
was supended When these battalions
were within 400 yards of the barracks
the guns behind the walls poured n
deadly fire into them, twenty-seven
being killed and eighty wounded
About 5000 or 1000 troops engaged in
the conflict. but with the effectiveness
of the shots. few non-combatants were
killed Half of the chasseurs, brought
from the country districts several
months ago and placed in the Yildiz
garrison by the committee of union and
progress, and who took prominent
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