The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-07
An Explosion Is Likely to. Occur
at Any Time.
Ambassador Morgenthau Stand
ing Guard Alone.
REPRESENTS EIGHT NATIONS
Has Prevented the Imprison.
ment of All Foreigners.
All of Their Property Has
Been COnfiscated.
(By Henry Wood. U. p. Staff

(By Henry Wood, U. p. Staff
Correspondent
Salonica, via London, Dec. Turkey
to be struck at any moment, would
cause an explosion which would shat
ter all elements of Europeanism in the
country. Foreigners are constantly
menaced. Only superhuman day-and-
night efforts by American Ambassador
tional crisis. MOrgenthau now repre-
sents eight nations.
>COnstanttnOple is practically isolated.
There is only one line of rigid1y CEN
sored telegraphic communication. Ev-
cry letter and paper is confiscated by
fleeing as from the plague. The bor-
der towns are filled with anxious men
who dare not step on Turkish soil to
rescue their wonenkind.
Refugees are only permitted to take
fifty dollars in gold with them. If they
carry more than this amount the au-
thorities confiscate it and give in re-
turn the deprecated Turkish paper. At
DedeOghatch there are 1000 European
refugees financially unable to proceed.
The day left Constantinople the
government was permitting the de-
parture only Of foreign women and
children and holding all men who might
bear arms upon return to their native
country. They are threatening to inn
prison these men in the concentration
camps. Amba ssador Morgenthau il
fighting this plan. The few thousand
consist Of those financially unable to
leave. Their condition Is miserable.
MOrgenthau q Busy Man.
Ambassador Morgenthau now repre-
sents the American, British. French.
Belgian. Servian, Swiss. Danish. and
Argentine interest at the capital. He
alone has prevented the Turkish gov
eminent, ablaze with determination to
throw off European interference, from
imprisoning all foreigners in the con-
centration camps. He and his staff
have worked day and night since Tur-
key entered the war. The embassy
has been open twenty-four hours day.
The ambassador or. a member OF his
staff has personally accompanied most
of the refugee trains to the border.
When Turkish fury against Europe
anism first struck, Morgenthau STOOD
alone between foreigners and Turkish
reprisals. Before he could act all Eu-
ropean hotels, stores. factories, banks
and schools had been seized. So far
as can be known, he has prevented vto-
lence to individuals.
The Turkss word is not to be trusted.
Scores Of times the authorities have
promised non-interference with the de-
parture of trains loaded with European
refugees. Every time the police have
held up the trains. The refugees COM
planned to the ambassador and hit hur-
ried to the ministry and requested safe
conduct. The government apologized.
would happen. Morgenthau's only an
swer from the Turkish authorities
would be that they forgot their prom
iSeS."
They Can't Understand 1t.
On the occasion of one of these in
cidents, which personally noticed the
high government officials. to whom pro-
test was made, replied: I'VE can't I'M
derstand your solicitude; we have not
killed, hung or shot anyone yet"
Wholesale arrests Of prominent for
eigners were the first steps the young
Turks took. Their search for papers
and private wireless stations was thor
ough. Robert Frew, for years rector
of the Episcopal church here. was a
victim. The authorities seized every
scrap of paper in his home, even in
GLIDING his sermons for fifteen years.
The foreign schools were taken over.
In ConstaEtinople alone seventy-five
such institutions, valued at ten mil
lion dollars. were seized and converted
into hospitals, barracks or Turkish
schools. Two American institutions
Roberts and Constantinople colleges,
alone escaped, although the wireless
apparatus at the former place was de-
stroyed.
As left Constantinople the govern
ment was Selling foreign-owned utility
concessions, including the English naval
construction yard valued at five million
dollars. The French waterworks have
also been taken over. The railroads
to Damascus and Smyrna were seized
on the day 1 left and the government
officially announced it's intention to
take over all transportation, harbor and
public utilities ON the excuse that all
foreigners had fled or been expelled
and that none remained to operate
them.