THE TURKISH CRISIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14980, 28 April 1909, Page 7

THE TURKISH CRISIS.

ARRESTS OF REACTIONARIES. , RESIGNATION OF THE MINISTRY. ■ MASSACRE AT LATAKIA. THE WORK OF THE SOFTAS. MACEDONIAN DEMONSTRATION. United Press Association—By Electrio Telograph—Copyright, CONSTANTINOPLE, April 26. Four hundred reactionaries, including a number of hodjas arid softas, have been arrested. The Ministry transmitted its resignation to the Sultan and informed the Parliament, which has now returned to Constantinople. A massacre is proceeding at Latakia, whither a French battleship is hastening. Nadjin is burning, and it is feared that the hodjas and softas who took refuge in Asia Minor will further inflame reactionary outbreaks. Eighty softas were killed while assisting in the defence of the guardhouse at Stamboul after the Yildiz barracks had been occupied. Several bodies of Macedonian volunteers, consisting of various races and creeds, attached to the Salonikan forces, were acclaimed while marching through Pera, but they got no welcome in the Turkish' quarters. Tewfik and Edhem, at the Sultan's instance, have returned to their homes. They declare that the Sultan was cool and collected throughout the ordeal. TRAITORS SUMMARILY DEALT WITH. CLOSING OF THE MOSQUES. A MACEDONIAN BATTALION AT YILDIZ. THE SULTAN'S FUTURE. DETHRONEMENT PROBABLE. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 26. During the preparations for bombarding Yildiz, the cries of the women of the Imperial harem wore heard at a distance. The traitors at Taxim were summoned from the ranks after the ocenpation and summarily shot. Many of the mosques have been closed. -, The Kurds within the city were disarmed. White handkerchiefs and rags are still flying over the surrendered barracks and guardhouses. According to the Ministry, at the Sultan's instance, a Macedonian battalion occupied Yildiz. The Sultan takes credit for preventing any further bloodshed and prevailing upon the Yildiz troops not to resist the Macedonians. Parliament is almost unanimous as to the necessity of deposing the Sultan. Shevket fears a bad effect upon the army and in Anatolia owing to the latent hostility between the European and Asiatio Turks. SURRENDERS AT SCUTARI. SHEVKET PASHA'S ULTIMATUM. (Received April 27, 10.5 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 27. Four thousand defenders of Scutari have surrendered. The Senate and Chamber, in a joint secret sitting at Stamboul, asked the Ministry to remain in office some days longer, and Ministers acceded. The Salonika Committee announces that Shevket Pasha, prior to 'the capitulation, issued an ultimatum that defending soldiers in the First Army Corps actively engaged in massacres would be sent to Yemen, and those guilty of complicity would be employed in the construction of Macedonian roads, and neutrals Incorporated in the Third Army Corps. He also demanded that Constantiople should be garrisoned by sixteen highly-disciplin-ed battalions of the Third Arary Corps. These would bo quartered at the Ramiz and Tschiftlik barracks, outside the walls, and would support tho Constantinople police and gendarmerie. The present police would be replaced by gendarmes and police | from Macedonia.

' Shevket Pasha has announced that the state of siege will last until the Chamber has passed an association law, a Press law, a public meetings Act and a suppression of vagabondage law. Hadi Pasha, acting-commander of the Third Army Corps at Salonika, will preside over the court-martial at Constantinople. Refugees aro pouring into Athens. FUNERAL OF CONSTITUTIONALIST SOLDIERS. ARRESTS OF REACTIONARIES. (Received April 27, 10.25 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 27. Three hundred Constitutionalist troops killed on Saturday were buried in a common grave with great ceremony. The Sultan's personal guard, consisting of two hundred fusiliers, body servants and secretaries surrendered on Monday afternoon after Shevket Pasha had trained numerous guns and massed troops at all approaches to the palace. The arrests now number 10,000, including several high officials. The journal "Ikdani," which supported Kiamil Pasha, has been suppressed. The editor has fled.