THE TURKISH CRISIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14977, 24 April 1909, Page 9

THE TURKISH CRISIS.

THE FUTURE OF THE SULTAN United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, Ar>ril L'2.

Renter reports that Eggefc Pasha, Chief General of the Staff, who is the principal Constantinople member of the Committee of Union aud Progress is Director of Affairs and that tho First Army Corps, now garrisoning the city, has been won ovor totheConstitutional cause. His able assistant is Rifaat Pasha. Tho committee has detached practically every person of distinction from' tho Sultan, and baa refuted to negotiate with anyone on tho Sultan's behalf regarding the future of tho Sultan.

THE SITUATION AT THE CAPITAL. A JOURNAL SUPPRESSED. ANARCHY IN ASIA MINOR. CHRISTIAN VILLAGES DEVASTATED. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 22. The Army investing Constantinople numbers 25,000, and reinforcements of artillery are arriving daily. The Constantinople police have confiscated the journal "Hilal" for publishing a violent article, disputing the Sultan's title of Khalif, citing the circumstances of previous depositions of Sultans, and stating that the wave of fanaticism at Adana was directly traceable to the Sultan. Respect for Sheriat and the popularity of the Sultan are spreading in the eastern provinces. Kurds, Circassians and nomads are devastating tho Christian villages throughout the Swas and Aleppo vilayets. Though confident assurances are given from Constantinople that tho Sultan will not be deposed Enver Bey and other leaders of the Young Turk Party insist on tho contrary. THE CONSTITUTIONALIST ARMY. (Received April 23, 9.10 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 23. The Sultan did not, as previously stated, make overtures to the Salonika forces. Armenian ladies of tho Red Cross Society presented Husni Pasha's troops with a flag, which was thankfully .Accepted. Many Armenian ladies presented them with flowers, and offered their services to the Red Crescent Society if needod. Contingents of tlie Third Army Corps sent across the Sea of Marmora occupied the railway station at Eskishehr to intercept fugitives from Constantinople.

MASSACRES OF ARMENIANS,

THOUSANDS SLAUGHTERED.

ATROCITIES BY THE REACTIONARIES.

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 23.

Between ten and fifteen thousand Armenians were massacred in Syria, principally in the Adana Vilayet. The Government has urgently instructed the Vali to suppress the disturbances and deal vigorously with the ringleaders.

The situation at Tarsus has improved.

The reactionaries in the districts devastated spared neither women nor children. The massacres everywhere were conducted with the greatest violence, amid shouts of " Not a twig of the accursed race shall be suffered to live."

THE CONSTITUTIONALIST DE- | MANDS. UNCONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT. (Received April 23, 10.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 23. Latest Constantinople advices state that the Government has unconditionally accepted Shovket Pasha's demands, including the formation of a Cabhieto, election of a president of the Chamber conformably with the law and constitution, the discovery and condign punishment of the promoters of the revolt, tho reduction of the garrison to four battalions, and the enlistment of police and gendarmerie in Constantinople on tho Macedonian model.

MEETING OP THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY. SULTAN'S DETHRONEMENT DISCUSSED. NAVY SIDES WITH THE CONSTITUTIONALISTS. LONDON, April 23. Advices from Salonika state that Shevket Pasha has proceeded to the front and will direct tho investment Sultan is preparing resistance. Messages received at Vienna statethat the National Assembly of Senators and 120 Deputios now at San Stefano discussed two motions, tho first providing for the Sultan's deposition, the second declaring that tho march of the Macedonian army was legal and those resisting it wore rebels. While Mukhtar Pasha was speaking against the dethronement of the Sultan, five war ships without Admiral Gamble appeared and placed themselves at the Assembly's disposal. Among the factors influencing the foeling of tho Assombjy in favour of the dethronement of the Sultan was tho belief that Ids deposition had already been decided in principle and that tho Sheik ul Islam had assented thoreto. The Assembly, which, was increased to 200, postponed its decision regarding the dethronement, but adopted the second motion. Deliberation will be resumed

to-day. The ships started before the fixed time without Admira] Gamble, as they desired to hasten to join the Constitutionalists.

Shovkot Pasha as defender of the rights of all Ottomans has assumed the. direction of negotiations with the vernmenb.