Omaha daily bee., 1915-09-14
TURKS SUSTAIN
HEAVY LOSSES
Lines Defending Dardanelles Said
to Be Greatly Weakened and
Position is Precarious.
DICTATORs CONTROL CAPITAL

ATHENS, Sept. 12.-(Vta Paris,
Sept 49, - An American citl-
zen of standing in Athens has re
ceived advices from Constantinople,
which. he says, are Trustworthy, that
the situation OF the Turkish army
and government is unfavorable. 40
oording 20 this information. the posi-
tion of the Turkish forces defending
the Dardanelles Is precarious. II is
said the Turkish front, thinned by
the heavy losses which the fighting
has entailed on both sides, is finding
II increasingly difficult to hold the
lines against the French and British.
Turkeys position at sea is described
as disadvantageous. The former Ger
man cruisers Goeben and Bresau are
said to have been incapicitated. while the
Russian fleet proys upon Turkish sh.p-
ping.
Triumvirate I'm Control.
According to this information. Turkish
affairs are under the control OF triun-
virate with Rutocratlo powers, osnsist-
ing OF Enver Pasha, minister OF weri
Taalat Bey, minister OF tho interior, and
Bedri Bey, chief of police of Constanti-
nople. lassatisfaotion among the Mos
lens ls reported, and II Is sald Bheik VI
Islam was dismissed because he did not
approve of measures taken against the
Armenians. The committee of union and
progress is reported 20 have been v.r,
tually superseded by a secret committee
which Is responsible to the wishes OF the
triunryirate.
ArmenIRns Are Massacred.
The Americans informant states that
Armenians are being shipped 70 conoen-
tration camps at various poi.lts, being
driven afoot or forwarded in box cars.
He adds that the earlier massaores Of
Christians In Asia Minor are being du-
plicated in the present instance and that
In some cases only comparatively small
part OF the expelled Armenians reach the
concentration camps alive.
Henry Morganthau, American ambassG-
dor at Constantinople, has exerted every
effort to protect the Armenians. but ap-
parently his endeavors have been I'M
availing. II 10 stated that Ameriean
women who attempted to 30 with the
refugees TO look out for Armenian chill
4 oItn WeTo tuTnSu DuCk ana Ilht a uuIu-
ber of young Armenian girls. who were
students at the American college at Con-
stantinople fell into the hands OF the
Turks.
Capital short of Fuel.
Owing to the Interruption of sea trans
portation It Is aiYie6st impoaslble to pur.
chase coal In constantinople and wood Il
being used for locomotives. The crops
were good, but Il has been almost i'm
possible to harvest them. Petroleum
costs 81 gallon and the price OF sugar
has Increased seven-foid.
The Americans informant states, 4
an agreement. said TO have been reached
between Turkey and Bulgaria has not
effected definite settlement of rela-
tions but that TO the contrary. the Turks
are hastily erecting defenses against the
BulganAns.
Turks Destroy CaissOns.
CoNsTANTINoPLE. Sept. l2.-Via
Amsterdam and London, Sept lS.)-Th'
following official statement was ISSUED
today at the Turkish war office:
"In the Anafarta section our artillery
on the right wing destroyed some enemy
caissons while that on the left wing di
rected a heavy fire against enemy
trenches.
Nothing Of Importance occurred yes
terday near Arl Burnu.
Near Seddul Bahr two enemy cruiser
and a torpedo boat fired ineffectuall,
at our various positions"