CRISIS IN TURKEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 453, 22 April 1909, Page 3

CRISIS IN TURKEY.

Constantinople, April 19. The Minister for War, on applying for troops from Erzeroum and Trebizond. received a reply that the Fourth Army Corps had decided to march on Constantinople and restore the constitution. The officer in command at Smyrna sent constitutional troops. The population of Scutari, Vali, and Salonika have broken off relations with the new Government. The Ottoman Bank ordered the Salonika branch to send all the cash to Constantinople, The commandment of the Third Army Corps thereupon placed an embargo on deposits at the branch for the administrative requirements of three vilayets. Upward of 10,000 troops from Salonika and elsewhere have arrived at Tchatliaja. They informed the deputation from the Government that they would refrain from entering Constantinople only if safe conduct aud protection were granted to Salonika, the deputies were enabled to resume duties, and the ringleaders of the uprising were punished to prevent a recurrence of such an event. Cabinet has sent Izzu Pasha, Chief ot the General Staff, to parley. The Committee of Union and Progress at Salonika is pursuing firm and moderate plans, and is anxious to avoid civil war and prevent foreign intervention. Several thousand of their forces including the Adrianople contingent, and 24 maxims and field batteries, are at Spartakeni. The advanced guard of 680 has reached Kutchuk Tchekmadji, a town on the Constantinople railway. The Sultan and Ministry are almost in a State of panic. Vienna, April 19. The Neue Wiener Tagblatt publishes an unconfirmed report that the Sultan will negotiate with the committee in regard to his abdication. London, April 19. Reuter states that the committee has telegraphed to the Sultan, upbraiding his violation of his oath to maintain the constitution. Enner Bey declares that the Liberal Union must be courtmartialled. The Times states that the upper and educated Mahomedan clergy have joined the Liberal Union for the preservation of order and the restoration of the Constantinople garrison, which is repentant. The Liberal Union has separated from the reactionaries, owing to the brutality of the latter in killing 16 officers. Constantinople, April 19. Mistafa Effendi, deputy for Aleppo, has been appointed President of the Chamber.

Many telegrams from the provinces, including Anatolia, were read in the Chamber protesting at the anti-constitutional Cabinet. The Macedonian Army demands guarantees for the maintenance of the constitution.

The Committee explain that Kiamil’s fall was due to his subservience to his son.

. Said Pasha, a palace favourite under the old regime, emphasises the point that the outbreaks in Asia Minor are the result of the overthrow of the Committee of Unions’ authority. The absence from Hademkeni of the artilleriests, who had gone to Constantinople, enabled the Salonika battalions to slip through the fortifications and reach Spartakeni and Kutchuk, which are 18 miles from Constantinople. Other reports state that the Committees’ advance guard of 300 has reached San Stefano. Husni Pasha, Commander of the Salonika troops, telegraphs to the foreign embassies that the soldiers marching to Constantinople desire the definite reestablishment of the constitution and the punishment of the authors of the sanguinary disorder. The lives and property of foreigners shall be safe-guarded.

The Committee’s leaders interviewed at Salonika threaten a military dictorship until the country is tranquil. They said Stamboul must be swept of the fanatical element at any cost. More details are now available as to the Anti-Armenian demonstration at Adana. Two American missionaries were killed —Maurer and Rogers. The Armenians made a desperate resistance and inflicted heavy losses on their assailants before they were overpowered. Eight British, French, and German warships are concentrating at Messina (in the province of Adana, Asia Minor), where foreigners and Christians have engaged the Consulates. It is feared the Governor’s troops are insufficient to withstand the onslaught of Moslems from the north.

British and French warships have been ordered to Alexandretta which the Moslems are threatening. The Christians at Tarsus were attacked and some massacred. Portion of the town is burning. The Swiftsure and Triumph have left Malta and started for Turkish waters. The Diana has been ordered to Beirut. Dates. Over a thousand were killed at Adana, including 700 Armenians. The fire destroyed half the town. The situation is better there, but at Tarsus it is critical. Twenty were killed at Marass, where there is an important American mission. Constantinople, April 20. Troops to the number of 36,000, and with a] large/^ontln-

gent of artillery, are concentrated at Hademkeui and hold the line to Aansto, and Famo, and Dandpadhe barracks. The outposts are falling back on Constantinople or surrendering. Mahmud Shevket Pasha commands the Third Army Corps and directs operations. Nazim Pasha, assistant Minister for War, has ordered the first Corps to avoid collision with the adv ancing force unless attacked. ABDUL, HAMID ABOUT TO ABDICATE. The Sultan is prostrate, and has expressed a desire to abdicate. A proclamation announcing a change in the throne is being drafted in the presence of Pri uce Mohamed Reshad, the heir presumptive. Reshad is described as just and temperate, and although inexperienced, honest and susceptible to guidance. St. Petersburg, April 20. Opinion in Russia is entirely favourable to the constitutional cause. Constantinople, April 20. Widespread rumours of the deposition of the Sultan have caused great excitement in Constantinople. The ultimate feeling is one of relief. A few apparently realise its iuevitableness. Condon, April 20. The Times Vienna correspondent sends confirmation of the Sultan’s abdicating in favour of Reshad. This was generally expected, as the natural epilogue of the failure of Tuesday’s coup against the Committee of Union and Progress, which was not expected to allow Abdul Hamid further opportunity of undermining its position. Some Macedonians insist that the Sultan’s abdication is the preliminary to negotiations with Nazim Pasha, head of the Government’s forces, and the Government. Constantinople, April 20. It now appears there is an element of bitterness in the minds of the Committee, which was absent in July. Many officers at the gates of Constantinople will be eager to avenge the blood of their murdered comrades. Official telegrams mention the report from. military sources that 220 young Turk officers, including all the officers of the cavalry regiment, were murdered last week. Tewfik Pasha, the new Premier, explained in the Chamber that he assumed office in order to save the country and the constitution, which everybody believed endangered by recent events. The Chamber unanimously postponed discussion of his programme. Athens, April 20.

Mukhtar Pasha has reached Athens aboard a German vessel. He states the Ministry and Parliament are too cowardly to proclaim a state ot siege, otherwise the revolt would be nipped in the bud.

The British warships lauded 800 bluejackets at Messina, in the Adana district.

Constant i noplk, April 20,

Izzet Bey reports that the Young Turks reiterate their demands and intend to send live battalions to assist the authorities at Constantinople in the maintenance of order.