New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-12
Authorities Raise Bridge
Over Golden Horn to
Cut Off Rabble.
TURKISH CAPITAL
NEAR STARVATION
Disaffection in Army-Regiment
Mutinies - Native Officers
Deprived of Commands.
Try Gable to Tho Tribune ]

! London, March lZ.-DlSpatcheS ltOH
! Constantinople to "The Daily Chron-
| icle" by way % CONSTANCE, Rumania,
| state food is running short in the Turk
! ish capital and riots in Stamboul are
frequent. The hamals, or porters, with
which STEAMBOAT abounds, are without
work or money to buy their meagre ra-
tions, which are already bringing ex-
horbitant prices. These men are be-
coming source of grave arr lety TO the
authorities. In Galata an Pera the
shops are closed and the own-rs have
fed. The streets in the business quar-
ters a-e deserted.
The swing bridge across the Golden
Horn is open, thus cutting off communl-
cation with Stamboul. Pera 10 also
guarded by soldiers to prevent the
hamals from footing and massacreing in
the pcra district and coniine the unruly
element TO it's own unsavory quarters.
Ferryboats between Prinkipo and HAL
dar Pacha, on the Asiatic shore, have
stopped runnin~ and there is short
age of coal, the supply of which is
barely adequate for naval requirements.
Residents Are Fleeing.
Cooked versions of Turkish successes
are unable to stem the panic which set
in a week ago, with the news of the
presence of the Allied fleet. Inside the
Dardanelles residents in possession OF
any money are fleeing from the city and
reckur refuge in Therapia, near the
Black Sea. Others are seeking asylum
in Scutari and its environs on the Ash
attic side. The fear of bombardment
of the city with the arrival of the Al
lies is causing stampede, and fugl-
tives are being numerically fleeced by
corrupt Turkish officials, who are gath
erinc a rich harvest of backsheesh from
these hapless ores. Permits 70 leave
are openly sold for cash down. No
steamers are available, and owners of
caques, the quaint looking rowing
boats which ply in the Bosporus. are
obtaining three Turkish pounds for
mile row across to the Asiatic shore.
The fare usually is about 60 cents.
The Goeben is lying, helpless ard
disab ed az Gul Ismid. 1t was found
/ impossible. with her deep draught, 20
/ tow her into the Golden Horn dock
yard She is already stripped Of her
heavy armament and her guns and
crew are being used for land defences.
/ The German commander declares that
/ if the Allies force the Dardanelles ne
/ will blow up the Goeben to prevent
/ her capture The Bres,au has been
/ patched up and, with several units OF
/ the Turkish fleet, is cruising in the
/ Sea of Marmora Two old warshlps
are anchored in the Bosporus fair
way off STEAMBOAT point. The lighthouse
/ on the point and also the one in the
/ fairway have been extingui she'd The
/ Turks boast they have mined the Sea
of Marmora and also the Bosporus
and that if the Allies force the Oar
darelles they will simply court de.
s.ruction by these deadly submerged
engines.
There is feverish activity in military
circles. The Turks are busy terrifying
the hills on the Asatic side behlnI the
British cemetery at Haidar Pacha rail
way station. Two Turkish German Of
fcered regiments have mutined. The
leaders were summarily executed and
the mutineers are now confined in the
military barracks at Scutari under
strong escort. Discomfort and a spirit
/ of revolt are declared to be spreading
| in the army.
Spirit of Mutiny Prevails.
4 number of officers who showed
! signs of wavering have been removed
from their commands. These men,
/ whose hearts were never in this war,
which menaces THEN cou try with COM
/ plete ruin, are said to be anxious TO
end the war, as far as Turkey is CON
cerned. They hope at the eleventh
hour to obtain reasonable terms from
/ the Allies and deeply resent the Ger
man intrusion, which, they foresee,
( will, if not checkmated, result IA the
death of Turkey as a nation.
/ The seeds of revolution and an anti
German movement are fructifying
among the masses of Stamboul. 1t will
be difficult to suppress them if once