The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-18

What does Abdul Hamid, "the Red Sui
TAM" dream about all day long In his
new exile at Beverley?
High up on the dark coast OF Asa
Minor, in this white castle which the
radiant autumn sunshine makes winter
still, Abdul Hamid has been shut up Tor
the last month. A wall Of mystery still
surrounds the dethroned Sultan. but
there is no wall SO thick that cannot, In
one way or another, be pierced by the
curiosity of a whole world. And SO, In
spite of all vigilance, in spite of guards
and walls, one hears something from
time to time of Abdul Hands life.
II Is common gossip that when steps
were taken for his removal from Salon
Xxi he fatty refused 10 obey. They
shall only tear me away from here by
sheer force" he exclaimed But time
was short and events were pressing. and
II would never have done to expose. the
Padishah of yesterday to the possibility
OF finding himself a captive in town
IN the hands OF Greeks and Bulgarians.
So other steps were taken and German
influence was brought TO bear
The German guardship Lorelei was sent
from the Bosphorus to Saloniki with a
mission to persuade Abdul Hamid. On
board were two princes of the imperial
Ottoman family, both of them his sons
in-law. AS soon as the Lorelei reached
Saloniki they were shown into the ex-
Sultan's presence. and did their best TO
convince the fallen ruler that he must
leave the place at once. But all their
persuasion could not induce the old man
to go back on his resolution not to move.
They then bethought themselves Of a
final argument" The commander of
the LOTelei, in the uniform Of the Ger
man navy. was ushered into Abdul Ham,
ids presence This at once changed his
tone of defiance. II have every conf
dence," he said, 'in the loyalty and
friendship of the Kaiser. l will. under
such auspices. follow you all over the
world
Within an hour Abdul Hamid was on
board ship. His presence there was fol-
lowed by a complete surprise for all who
were about him. For this ex-Sultan. who
had been generally supposed to have fall
len into a condition bordering on idiOcy
and stupidity. displayed a remarkably
clear and accurate knowledge OF affairs.
Moreover. this man, who all his life had
never been known to speak twenty
words OF French. and who had always
utCIdItN lndl ne WAS quite lSIpTNllt VI
that language, began to speak French
not only with accuracy. but with an eX-
traordinary good accent and fiuency.
"DeuX queries malheureuses dams la
meme aimee. 'C'est beaucoup." he re-
marked. 1.-TWO losing wars in the same
year. This is niceo He went On-also
in French-to ask for news concerning
the German imperial family. of which.
1t seemed. he knew every member. He
was silent and saddened for a time when
told OF the death Of Baron MarsChal Won
BebCrstein, former German Ambassa-
dor to Italy, which seemed to be the
only recent event OF which he knew
nothing.
He was my friend was all the OK
Sultan said Of the dead statesman.
He was quite curious 10 know wheth-
or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was still
amusing the world with his stories Of
the exploits OF Sherlock Holmes. Those
stories he said. were the only ones that
ever appealed to him. Conan Doyle"
he said, would have made a magnificent
chief Of police" he declared.
There was but one moment Of hest
fancy at jthe end OF the voyage TO Bey-
ler-Bey. This was when he had to leave
the German veSse! and enter a boat
alone in which he was taken 10 a land