The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-02-08
Exciting Time
OfOur Consul
In the Recent Fighting be-
tween Russians and Per
slams is Related.

SOHsuI az lduTlS MT. GOTuOn pau-
dock. had a decidedly exciting time
during the recent nGhting between
Russians and Persians there, accord.
ms to a letter from an old resident
which has just reached London.
The American Consulate is just in
the shadow OF the old citadel popu-
larly called the Ark" The Ark was
one OF the principal targets for the
Russian artillery fire, and 1t was
shelled hotly for several days. Many
shells burst over the consulate build
ings and around Mr.. Paddocks house,
but fortunately no one was injured,
and the principal damage was the de-
struction Of the Flagstaff from which
the stars and stripes were flying.
During ten years in the consular
service Mr.. Paddock has been a spec
tator OF many interesting events in far
parts OF the world. He was stationed
some years at Seoul in Korea, and
there witnessed the naval battle when
the Russian cruisers "Variag" and
"Korietz" were sunk by the japanese
at the beginning of the Russo-Japa-
nese war. He saw the debarkation OF
the Japanese forces; was afteward at
Hardin in the times when it was I'M
safe for a white man to venture into
the streets after dark, and in Mud
ken. witnessed the most stirring days
of the ',reconstruction" of Manchuria.
This letter, which came by the first
mail to leave Tabriz after the fighting
contains interesting news OF the sit
uation there.
A good many bodies of Russian SOL
diers were mutilated by the Persian
Fedlas,' says the writer but there is
no evidence, so far as l can discover.
that there were any cases of torture.
although the Russians insist that there
were. A good many non-comhatants
were killed or wounded-how many Is
unknown-as might be expected IN
street fighting in a walled town like
this. Some were killed in the Russian
attacks on the houses occupied by the
Fedlas, near the Russian camp, but
there was o such thing as massacre
OF innocent women and children by the
Russians. In fact, they took women
and children as refugees into their
camp during the fighting.
Russian soldiers have done some
looting and robbing, and they do not
seem to be under perfect discipline.
But since the arrival of the command
ing general that has been pretty well
suppressed, except that the Russian
authorities have destroyed good
many houses of leaders of the Nation
alist party; in other words, OF the rec
ognized government before this affair
The worst feature Of the matter from
non-political viewpoint seems to be
the hanging on the first instant of
some of the prominent constitutional
lists here, and the method of doing 1t
was not too civilized. The execution
of Sigat-ul-Islam. a noted parsonage
and of ziah-ul-Uliman, late Chief JUS
tice, has caused much comment.
The new hattleship, the keel Of
which was recently laid at Portsmouth
dockyard. the first of the five ar
mored ships OF the 19ll-l9l2 program
will be known as the secret ship" 1t
is generally known that she is 70 be tue
largest battIeship built for the British
navy. that she is to have an anti
torpedo battery OF six-inch instead OF
four-dnch guns, as in older ships, ana
that there is to be n great improve
ment in the compartments to prevent
sinking in case she is torpedoed' BE-
yond this, however, the Admiralty IS
introducing changes which are to re-
main secret for the time being at
least.
Usually the laying of the first keel
plate is attended with some ceremony
and naval attaches and others are m
vited, On this occasion, however, only
the dockyard officials, Miss Evelyn
Moore. daughter OF Admiral Sir Ar
thur Moore, who performed the cere-
mony. and few ladies' were present
Newspaper men and photographers
were vigorously excluded. The snip
IS 10 be completed in two years, hui II
Is quite likely that she will be ready
for service before tina, time. lmmedi-
ately her first plate was laid workmen
commenced putting other plates IN po-
sotion. so that before the afternoon
had passed the vessel commenced 10
take shape. In fact, great deal OF
the material was ready before the ac-
tuol work of construction commenced
Or. Fletcher. the die,etIc expert
who has been shopping in copen nasen
has finished course of living on po-
4atoes and margarine. which lasted
afty-eight days. The object was %
prove that man can live coTfortao'y
and do a reasonable amount OF WORK
on a diet Of potatoes plus smal
amount Of nitrogen or protein. ono
thousand five hundred drachms OF po'
tatoes per day and $50 drachms OF
protein constituted the entire nonrlsh'