THE TURKISH REVOLUTION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2485, 26 April 1909, Page 5

THE TURKISH REVOLUTION.

FIGHTING AT CONSTANTINOPLE. ATTACK ON YILOIZ AND PERA. SUCCESS OF THE CONSTITUTIONALISTS. THE PALACE SURROUNDED. SULTAN SUMMONED TO SURRENDER UNDER THREAT OF BOMBAR DMENT. \ United Press Association—Copyright

THE SULTAN’S DECLARATION.

OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES. ATTACK ON PERA AND YILDIZ. (Received April 25, 4.30 p.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 24. For four days the Salonika troops have been drawing closer. On Friday evening they occupied Makrakoi, and at daylight on Saturday advanced upon Yildiz Kiosk, and the garrison <jf Pera. At 5 o’clock heavy artillery and musketry lire opened on the bights above Yildiz. Tlio contest developed against the Matcihka and Tashkisla barracks.. Quietude reigned in the west of the city, where the Macedonian troops patrolled the streets, Enver Bey .seat detachments of military cadets, commanded by Salonika officers, to protect the embassies, banks, and hotels. Other measures were taken to prevent disturbance. SEVERE FIGHTING. CONSTITUTIONALISTS SUCCESSFUL. The Salonikans vainly invited the Matehka and Tashkisla barracks to surrender. The latter was nearly demolished under two hours? fighting. All the troops surrendered lie fore 10 o’clock. Several isolated guard-houses fought gamely. The Taxim barracks, in the centre of Pera, resisted for three hours, the defenders’ bullets sweeping the main streets. They were finally beaten by hotchkiss gun fire, and surrendered. Another detachment at Tophanesk barracks barricaded tbemscivcs in a mosque, and were overpowered after a stubborn resistance. Another detachment occupied the grounds of the Belgian Legation, causing the walls of tho Legation to bo riddled with bullets. Tho inmates were uninjured. An American correspondent was wounded in tho shoulder while snapshotting the scone. Few fives were lost outside the actual fighters. While tho barracks were being captured tho police of Stambonl and other districts urged tho people to open their shops.

SWEARING IN OF THE GARRISON

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 23

The Sultan declares that he is innocent of all complicity in the outbreak. He refuses to discuss the subject of abdication .save as the result of an inquiry regarding his guilt or innocence conducted in accordance with the S-heriat. A hitch lias occurred in the swearing in of the garrison. The majority declined to take the oath unless the officers swear implicit obedience in the Sultan. Thereupon the Slieik-ul-Islam and his companions returned to headquarters, stating that their mission was largely a failure. It* transpired that agitators had tokl the men Shevket’s army did not exceed 5000, and that its leaders had been bribed by Christians to overthrow the Sultan.

The military authorities announced early to-day that the swearing-in was proceeding satisfactorily.

The Government arrested 5G Softas and exercised strict survcil'ance. The Committee of Union at Salonika deny influencing the military leaders, and has instructed all members to withdraw from the army. Whoever remains must be under military orders. The omission from Shevket’s list of conditions of any reference to the Sultan’s future is interpreted to mean that the subject will be dealt with later. BERLIN, April 23. The Cologne Gazette has an unconfirmed Constantinople message that at, a Parliament at .San Stefano it was decided to depose the Sultan. PARIS. April 23. Ik? Matin states that the Sultan refuses to abdicate unless the Powers, guarantee that Reshad will be his successor. It is reported that the Sultan's favorite son has disappeared. He is accused of helping the reactionaries. THE ARMENIAN MASSACRES. AN AMERICAN PROTEST. United Press Association —Copyright (Received April 25, 4 p.m.) LONDON, April 24. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 24. During the massacres in the vilayet of Adana, nineteen Protestant- pastors were killed. The massacres continue at Antioch, and at many Armenian villages in the vicinitv of Alexandretta. LONDON, April 24. The United States Government has inquired from Sir Edward Grey how far Turkey, in accordance with the Berlin treaty, is taking steps to stop this wholesale slaughter. THE SAN STEFANO ASSEMBLY. SULTAN WILL PROBABLY BE FORCED TO ABDICATE. The “Times” correspondent at Constantinople learns, on the authority of a deputy attending the new National Assembly, sitting at San Stefano, that the latter has decided in favor of the S lilt an ’ s dethronement. CONSTANTINOPLE, April 24. The Sultan paid his usual Friday’s visit to the mosque, and crowds of people gave him an enthusiastic ovation. There ore indications that Shovket Pasha’s caution regarding the Sultan’s future has been strengthened by a warning which Nazim Paslia personally conveyed to San Stefano- yesterday, stating that a portion of the garrison and also tlm populace are strongly loyal to the Sultan, and that bloodshed is extremely probable over any precipitate step. Prominence is given at Constantinople to Shevket’s telegram to the Government denying that'the army had arrived in order to dethrone the Sultan. LONDON, April 24. Advice from Vienna states that Shevket’s advance on Pera and the coast has begun, ft is suspected in some quarters that Shevket’s assurances were greatly tactical. 'Die civil population and garrison of Jerusalem telegraphed to Constantinople threatening to proclaim Palestine an independent State unless the Constitution -is restored. Mohammedans and. Christians .at Jerusalem are eagerly offering to join the second and third .army corps. The “Daily Telegraph” states that an agreement lias been reached at San Stefano to restrict the Sultan’s authority to the- narrowest limits of constitutional sovereignty. Other messages foreshadow that, alter the mutineers hav'o been overawed and discipline reestablished, the strongest prosshro will be brought to bear to force the Sultan to abdicate.

Slicvket sent- contingents to Lsinid and Iskishor to prevent the Anatolian troops, who are favorable to tho Sultan. from approaching Constantinople. Unrest prevails at Scutari, Mitrovitza, Avion a, and Uskub, due to the Albanian League. GROSS TREACHERY. THE SULTAN’S TROOPS ABUSE THE WHITE FLAG. (Received April 26, 12.30 a.m.) CONSTANTINOPLE, April 25. A rtilleriests at Taxim treacherously hoisted a white Hag and enticed the Salonika infantry over open ground to receive their surrender. Then they opened fire, compelling the infantry to retreat. Thereupon the Salonikans shelled the barracks, which the assailants rushed. Desperate hand-to-hand fighting followed in the courtyard and cemetery at the rear. LONDON, April 25. Reuter’s Constantinople correspondent, at 8 o’clock last evening, reported that complete tranquillity reigns in the city, but anxious looks are turned in the direction of Yildiz Kiosk, where a portion of tho garrison refuses to submit, their defensive position being excellent. THE PALACE SURROUNDED. SHEVKET’S ULTIMATUM TO THE SULTAN. Shovket Pasha has “concentrated large forces round the palace. Troops were poured in since noon, and several batteries planted on. the heights. Tin* (loot has iiipturnod and anchored opposite- Yildiz to co-operate with the Salonika ns. Shovket • Paslia lias sent an ultimatum to the Sultan that unless Yildiz Kiosk surrendered it wlould he bombarded from sea and land.

[Constantinople consists of Stumboul or Constantinople proper, and Christian Constantinople- (comprising Pera, Galatea. And Top-buna. The tw,o are separated by the Golden Horn, an inlet about five miles long and: liall-a-milo wide at the .entrance. Stambonl is on the north and Christian Constantinople on the .south side of the Golden Horn. The Palace of Yildiz Kiosk stands at the top of the hillGif Beshiktasli, beyond Pera . |