THE TURKISH REVOLUTION

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2511, 26 May 1909, Page 5

THE TURKISH REVOLUTION

CABLE NEWS.

STORMING OF CONSTANTINOPLE A GRAPHIC ACCOUNT.

United Press Association—copyright (Received May 26, 12.40 a.m.)

PERTH, May 25

Mr. Maxwell, war correspondent of 'the “Daily Mail,” gives a graphic account of the storming of Constantinople. He writes : —At sin tlie morning of April 13 the citizens were arousted by the report of cannon and a heavy fusilade in the. direction of Yildiz Palace. Albanians and gendarmerie from Salonica were posted at every street 'corner. Strong guards were stationed at the embassies, banks, and public buildings. The city had been completely occupied under cover of night, but heavy firing above on the heights at Pera proved that the revolution was at last demanding tributes of blood. Constantinople woke with a start and shuddered, and peered from fiat roofs t-o. learn its fate. Men - and women, half clad, looked down into the streets, along which moved the patrols 'with rifles unslung. I made my way along the Pera road, where the firing sounded heaviest. 1 came upon troops hotly engaged in attempts to reduce one barracks, in which were 2000 desperate men. The story goes that as tho Albanians were approaching tho barracks, over which was hoisted a white flag, they were met by rifle fire, and many •were slain. At this treachery the Parliamentary troops fell back to prepare an attack. Guns wore brought •to the front, and an artillery duel began. The streets were soon humming with bullets, and many spectators had cause to regret their curiosity. The Tashkislar barracks, a three-storey building, flanked by a cemetery, near the German embassy, became tlie centre of the fight, and here tlie battle raged fiercely for throe and a-half hours. The effect of the artillery was too great for the defenders, and men began to desert tlie barracks and took- refuge in the cemetery, where tombs served as excellent cover. Guns were also brought among the graves, and renewed the cannonade. It seemed to rain lead. Bullets began to drop through the windows, and casualties were many. After'four hours, the garrison surrendered. ’At the Taxim barracks, where there were 4000 defenders, similar tactics were adopted. As the army of occupation advanced, the garrison general appeared with a white flag, and cries of “Vive la Liberie.” The soldiers responded with cheers, and pressed forward, to meet a fusiladp which stretched about a score on the ground. Machine guns rattled to the front, and be‘gan to pump lead into the windows am: 'doors. Field guns opened with shriek of shell and a hail of shrapnel, and the assault was carried on with reckless bravery. . Spectators poured forth in streams to witness the fight. (Received May 26, 1.5 a.m.)

The throng of Turks, Armenians, Greeks, Italians, Germans, French, and British, a medley of races and tongues, looked more like a disorderly fair than a serious affray, in which shot and shell wero concerned. Towards 10 'o’clock resistance waned. Nothing could exceed the care the soldiers took of the wayward spectators. One of the first shot was Mr. Frederick Moore, correspondent of the Now York “Sun” and the London “Daily Chronicle.” Ho was taking a photograph, when a bullet pierced his shoulder: The wound was not dangerous. There were moments when spectators, even boys, took a hand in directing the attack. The officers jver© disguised at privates, in order to prevent them from being a special mark for the enemy. By noon 'both Tashkilar and Taxim barracks were reduced to submission.

Tho advance of the investing army 'began at dawn. Cavalry scouted from noon. Thirty thousand infantry followed on their heels, with their centre, at Sparatakoni, moving on Silehdar and Allbeykoi. On the left wing in the direction of the heights behind Tataola, tho troops met with slight resistance near the Adrianoplc gate. They marched on Yildiz and Per a' in perfect order. As soon as the concentration was complete, the battalions deployed and advanced against the barracks and other points. The defences of Stamboul were speedily occupied. A few shots from the barracks followed. The surrendered soldiers at Sublime Porte came 'out after cannon shot had done damage to the building. Closo by were anchored the guardships of tho foreign Powers. One shell passed over a British vessel. One Italian sailor was killed by a shell. People began to speculate as te the fate of Yildiz, where were four battalions of Albanians, the trusted guardians of the Sultan, hut the palace capitulated at noon, and the garrison surrendered unconditionally.