New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-16
Situation Grows Worse Daily,
. with Business Dead and
Traffic Stopped.
MANY FIRES UNCHECKED
Government Making Desperate
Efforts to Raise Money,
Including Downright
Robbery.

from Constantinople which have been
sent out of the city by private convey
ance in order 10 escape the censor and
telegraphed TO London from other
countries describe extraordinary and
chaotic conditions in the Turkish cap
itaL One such dispatch to THE Daily
News and Leader" says:
The situation in Constantinople
crows more extraordinary every day
All trans were stopped long ago, bust
ness is dead. many prominent business
folk being bankrupt. and most OF the
'Bosporus steamers have been com
Wandered for the conveyance of REIN
forcements and stores 10 Enver Bey's
expedition, which landed on the CAL
lipoli peninsula last Saturday. The re-
suit may be imagined when I state that
this seizure Of steamers is equivalent
to the sudden stoppage of all London
taxicabs and motor omnibuses.
There is an outbreak Of cholera on
the Asiatic shore. and fires break out
daily. On Saturday large portion or
the Toppane quarter was destroyed by
fire. Little attempt was made to mas
ter the flames. save by parties OF Tor
e;gn blueiackets Armed soldiers pres
ent confined their efforts to the proven
ton of footing. 1t is probable that the
fire was started by prospective looters.
Nothing pisturbs the Turk.
Even an outbreak of this kind does
mt seem to disturb the tranquil TURKS.
Scores of them sat and smoked peace
fu,,v in cafes while the flames rased
furiously in adjoining premises. Even
q terrible explosion in one house which
vas full of ammunition-an explosion
ca violent that it knocked me on my
feet and | was some distance away
created ONLY a mild interest. III causeu
,,,, q slight comment in the papers
the next day.
After all. these things are noliilh6
IN pcople fed up with earthquake rev
o,,tion and war. While one part OK
tho town was thus blazing, a successsiui
masked ball was in progress IN an
,,ner quarter Thus, amid laughter'
orsor dancing and light-hearted i'm
morality. this ancient city drifts 10 us
doom.
Perfect weather marks the catas-
trophe. The air is as braclng az a'
Niareate in spring, and the cloudIess
sky is that Of Naples. Pera Is hiieu
with we'll dressed people. Here the-
aires. even churches, are well atteiioeu'
Refugees from the Gallipoli PENN
sula are pouring into Asia Via Cons'ah-
tinople, and Asiatic soldiers are pourlns
into Europe in a continuous MOOD Inc
Government is making desperate EFFORTS
~ raise money, first, by an interha'
loan of state bonds. which Will De iorceu
IN the people, though the bonds VIII
be only 90 much waste paper; secohoiS'
nv treasury bonds OF the value OF one
million pounds, Turkish, sold TO MOI
sieur Kahn, the banker, and bearing IN
%.rest at per cent: thirdly, by requisi-
lions, and, fourthly, by downright ROD
berry.
Tho fourth method is simple In bru-
taltty. The committee Of public safety
simply goes to a rich merchant aho
sava: You have 100000 in the bank
and can AFFORD to give us $4,000 the
merchant pays. So many unauthorized
p.rsons have started collecting with
tn,enaces In the name OF the committee
thar notices have now been issued ID
the press warning the public against
unauthorized collectors, peramDula'ins
with revolver and hat. II the Bulgars
come they will find the crown treasures
in pawnshops. A foreign syndicate mas
offered q 300. 900 for the ancient throne
of the Sultan. The treasures OF the ola
seraglio are going dirt cheap. IL Is a
vreat opportunity for ]. Pierpont Nor
~on and other wealthy collectors.
Heroic as Well as Pathetic.
- This determination 70 sacruace
everything has a heroic as well as q
pa,hetic side. Though the cynic might
ocoff at the heroism Of the Turks send
ing their last Greek subject to die Tor
III. Sultan AT the front, spending the
Armenians' last piastre on the oeienee
2 OF the empire; though he ha'es the
heroic. the cynic must confess the EVIL
OF dent determination of the Turks TO dis
.pnte TO the last inch their European
empire and to fight for Constantinopie
house by house.
Riding out Saturday, | found the
trenches and forts within quarter "i
an hour OF the city. The press Is eX-
cessively irritated by General Savor
proclamation that he will drive the
Turks into Asia Ike ssvages.' Europe's
refusal to lend money has also caused
irritation. A leading paper says to-
dey: II the Turks succeed 1t will be
=. 4 victory over all Europe
"'rhc arrests OF local Greeks and Bull
-garians suspected Of espionage are
numerous and continuous. The Turks
s'sre rapidly drifting into the position Of
an Ishmae!ite empire. with its hand
against every man.