THE TURKISH CRISIS.

Evening Star, Issue 14037, 19 April 1909, Page 6

THE TURKISH CRISIS.

+- TROOPS FROM SALONICA MARCH ON CONSTANTINOPLE TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright LONDON, April 18. Renter's Constantinople correspondent advises that two military trains, containing 1.600 infantry from Salonica, have arrived at Spartsknlch, seventy-sax kilometres from Constantinople. An additional 7,000 are expected-on Sunday, including Adrianople sympathisers. Early in the week the Committee of Union and Progress expects 20,000 troops to arrive within striking distance of Constantinople. A communication from Salonica to the 'Neue Ereie Presse' (Vienna) states that the Young Turks ordered the Third Army Corps to march on Constantinople, and that the officers replied that it was impossible to obey. The attitude of the troops is becoming doubtful. ' The Times' states that seven battalions left Salonica for Constantinople, but without artillery. They will probably be met by a parliamentary committee and dissuaded from any violent purpose. PARLIAMENTARY DEPUTATION. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18. The Turkish Chamber sent a deputation, including two Pashas, three members of the Ulema. and three deputies, to meet the Salonica troop*, but they failed to convince the troops that the revolution did not mean a disturbance of the Constitution. THREAT TO ATTACK. -• LONDON, April 17. ' The 1 imes's' Constantinople correspondent states that- the officers of the Third Army Corps telegraphed threatening to attack the capital unless Hilmi Ahmed Riza were restored in twelve hours. THE SULTAN'S ASSURANCES. A GIFT OF £IO.OOO. HINTS AT DOUBLE-DEALING. CONSTANTINOPLE, April IS. The Sultan has presented the theological students' college with a sum of £IO,OOO. A committee of the Ulema issued a pacifying proclamation declaring that there is no fear of a return of despotic rule. This has created an excellent impression. LONDON, April 18. ' The Times"* ' correspondent reports that the Sultan reiterates his assurance that he will maintain the Constitution. Viennese reports, however, credit him with being the prime mover in the trouble which led up to several military officers connected with the Committee of Union and Progress being attacked early in the week. ARTILLERISTS MUTINY. RAIL TO THE CAPITAL. MARCH TO THE WAR OFFICE. MINISTERIAL "REASSURANCES. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18. (Received April 19, at 8.50 a.m.) Twelve hundred artillerists at Hadamkaui mutinied. 'They seized their officers, and then entrained for this city to assure themselves that the Constitution was to be maintained, and to see if the Sultan were alive. They arrived at the station, and then marched to the War Office, where they had refreshments, and thence to Parliament Square, where the Acting President of the Chamber made a reassuring speech. The men afterwards cheered the Sultan and re-entrained for Hadamkaui. THE CASUALTY ROLL. KILLED BY" INTENT. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18. (Received April 19, at 8.30 a.m.) Stray bullets during the outbreak on Tuesday and Wednesday wounded 514 persons, and seventeen were killed. A number of officers were intentionally killed, but how many is as yet unknown.* A MINISTER MURDERED. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18. [Received April 19, at 8.50 a.m.) General Izzet Fuad, Assistant Minister of War, was murdered on Friday evening. THE COMMITTEE AT SALONICA. reconstructed AND strp:ngthened. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18. (Received April 19, at 8.30 a.m.) Eraer Hakki has arrived at Salonica. He accuses the Liberal Union of aiding the reactionaries' revolution, which, he declares, is another stage in the Kiamil Pasha plot, in which the Sultan is also concerned. He claims that the whole of the cavalry are siding with the reconstructed Committee of Union. It is said that the Albanians have abandoned their load struggles, and are ready to march on Constantinople. POPULAR EXCITEMENT. AN ARMENIAN MASSACRE. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 18. Protests against the revolution have been received from several bodies of troops, also from the officials at Y'anini. There is excitement at Smyrna, consequent on rioting. Five thousand persons, including several heads of religious communities, met at Salonica, and appointed a central committee to take the -place of the dissolved Constantinople Committee. In an anti-Armenian outbreak at Adana (Asia Minor) sixty persons were killed and many houses burnt. The troops were unable to stop the massacre, and added to the horrors themselves by pillaging. LONDON, April 17. ' The Times's ' correspondent advises that the avowed reactionaries have retired. THE ADANA -MASSACRE. SEVERAL HUNDREDS KILLED. LONDON. April 18. (Received April 19, at 8.30 a.m.) Major Wylie, the British Vice-Consul at Adana, was wounded, and is is rumored that several hundreds were killed, including two American missionaries. BRITAIN STANDS BY THE CONSTITUTION. NO SYMPATHY WITH REACTION. LONDON, April 18. (Received April 19, at 8.45 a.m.) Mr Asquith, speaking at Glasgow, said that the Turkish Government had been assured that the British intended to adhere strictly to the Constitution. If Turkey turned aside from her policy of reform and just administration, British sympathy «§ald be entirely with<t«""="