THE TURKISH CRISIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14975, 22 April 1909, Page 7

THE TURKISH CRISIS.

CONSTANTINOPLE INVESTED. ADVANCE 0E THE CONSTITUTIONALIST FORCES. GERMANY SUPPORTING THE SULTAN. THE ADANA MASSACRE. United Press Association—By Eieotrio Telegraph—Copyright, ATHENS, April 20. Mukhtar Pasha, who reached Athens aboard a German vessel, states that the Ministry and Parliament are too cowardly to proclaim a state of siege, otherwise the revolt would be nipped in the bud. The British warships have landed 800 bluejackets at Mereina. THE YOUNG TURK PARTY. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 20. General Izzet Faud reports that the Young Turk forces reiterate their demands, and intend to send five battalions to assist the authorities at Constantinople in the maintenance of order. GERMAN DIPLOMATIC INTERFERENCE. SUPPORT OF THE SULTAN. LONDON, April 21. Immense surprise has been caused in Vienna by statements of the Austrian official telegraph agency that a, more conciliatory mood is apparent among tho Young Turks, and that Abdul Hamid is likely to bo maintained. This 13 interpreted as pointing to some diplomatic intervention, probably German or Austro-German. The Vienna correspondent of the “Times” states that the German Ambassador is reported to bo using all his influence with the Constantinople members of the late Committee of Union and Progress with a view to retaining the Sultan. THE SULTAN IN SECLUSION. AWAITING THE CONSTITUTIONALIST ARMY. (Received April 21, 11.30 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 21. Tewfik Pasha is the only counsellor who has received an audience at Yildiz. He spent thirty out of the last fortyeight hours with the Sultan, who, secluded in his favourite pavilion, professes to await the arrival of the Constitutionalist Army with benevolence and equanimity. Tewfik declares that the Sultan has nothing to loso, gain or fear, since he is the supremo guardian of tho Constitution. The Sultan has ordered that not a shot shall be fired against tho committee’s forces. ANARCHY IN ASIA MINOR. THE ADANA MASSACRE. FIVE THOUSAND PERSONS KILLED. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 21. Consular telegrams estimate that there were 2000 deaths at Adana and 3000 elsewhere in tho vilayet, which is in a state of anarchy. The position at Marash is still precarious owing to renewed attacks on tho Armenians, Advices from Laranaca state that the massacre at Adana began in the markets on Wednesday. A Moslem mob, impelled by fanaticism and a desire to loot, killed five. The Armenians withdrew to tbei” own quarter and resisted the mob for forty-eight hours. Hordes of Moslem villagers arrived and were supplied with arms by the authorities, who affected to regard them as a military reserve. Women and children were horribly mutilated. Tho town resembles a shambles. There were similar scenes at Tarsus. Four thousand took refuge in the American College. BRITISH WARSHIPS SENT TO TURKEY. LONDON, April 21. Admiral Curzon Howe, aboard the battleship Ocean, with the battleship Canopus and the cruiser Minerva, has started for Turkey. Other ships have been ordered to be in readiness. CONSTANTINOPLE SURROUNDED. (Received April 21, 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 21. Constantinople is practically -surrounded. A force with several heavy gum from Tchataldja is approaching. The Cabinet is discussing Husni Pasha’s terms. One report states that the Sultan has been allowed until tonight to abdicate. THE SULTAN PREPARING FOR FLIGHT. THE SALONIKA FORCES. WELL DISCIPLINED AND CONFIDENT. (Received April 21, 10 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 21. Tho Sultan’s yacht, after getting up steam, took ammunition aboard. Husni Pasha, commander of the Salonika troops, has issued a proclamation addressed to the garrison and inhabitants, assuring them of the safety of their lives and property. Husni’s troops are spread in a semi-circle within calling distance of tho walls of Constantinople and intersecting all roads thence. The force is well fed, disciplined and confident. Military attaches are amazed at the excellent equipment, ihcluding field telegraphs, hospitals and supply trains.

(Received April 21, 10.50 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 21. All Husni Pasha’s requisitions for food and live stock are paid for in cash. One attache counted thirty machine guns, another learns that the corps has sixty field pieces well horsed. Husni Pasha considered that besides taking Constantinople they must be able to patrol and control the city, which contains a million inhabitants with many dangerous mob elements. Trains full of visitors arriving at Sanstofanc yesterday included many secret agents seeking to converse with the troops. Fifty were arrested, several of whom were disguised as hadjas. Many real bodjas, hadjas and softas, whose subversive preachings were responsible for Tuesday’s outbreak have fled to Asia Minor.