TURKEY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 285, 26 August 1908, Page 7

TURKEY.

THE YOUNG TURK FREEMASONRY. A HATED CAMARILLA. FOREIGN BRIBES FOR CONCESSIONS, (BI TELEGRAPH —ritESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.) (Ree. August 25, 9.20 p.m.) Constantinople, August 25. The Turkish Government has arrested tho Governor of Hedjaz, and threatens to arrest tho Shereof of Mecca .if ho continues to oppose the railway to Mecca. Astounding revelations are being made regarding bribery by foreign diplomatists to secure concessions for their countrymen. The Young Turk organisation covered tho country three years ago with a secret society like tho Freemasons. They aimed to destroy tho Camarilla at tho Palace, and to got rid of European control, especially in Macedonia. A revolution was to have been started when the army had been converted. If tho Sultan had refused to grant a constitution, the 3rd ariny corps was ready to march on Constantinople. FOREICN TROOPS IN MACEDONIA. PROLONGED FURLOUGHS. THE STAMBOUL CONFLAGRATION. (Rec. August 25, 10.40 p.m.) Vienna, August 25. Austria and Russia have granted their gendarmerie officers stationed in Macedonia a prolonged furlough. Constantinople, August 25. Seven thousand people wore rendered homeless by the firo at Stamboul. Fivo thousand buildings were destroyed, and a number of firemen, women, and children perished.

A GOVERNOR'S EXTORTIONS. Tho Hedjaz or Hejaz ("the land of pilgrimage") is the Arabian' province of Turkey that extends along the northern half of the Eed Sea, containing the 'sacred cities of Mecca and Medina. The Hedjaz railway has already roached Medina, and the intention is to extend it on to Mocca itself; the ostensible object being to provide facilities and protection for tlio Mecca, pilgrims. The samerouto is supposed to be the principal highway by which Asiatic cholera is .importod into Europe. The local opposition to tlio extension of the railway is 110 now thing; in fact, it has been so fierce that doubts were expressed as to whother tho railway would even reach 'Medina. The German engineer, Meissner Pasha, while 'working on railway plans outside Medina, was on 0110 occasion so threatened by tho natives that he had-to tako flight to Maan.

The opposition to the railway seems to be based partly on Mohammedan local fanaticism and partly on official greed. Tho Governor of Hedjaz, Eatib Pasha, whom tho new Turkish Government has arrested, while reporting that the populace are opposing the work, has, it is alleged, encouraged them. Eatib Pasha and other influential officials at Hedjaz are opposed to a continuation of the railway southward, bccauso its construction will diminish their power. At present communication with Hedjaz is so difficult thatEntib Pasha is almost absoluto ruler there, and many abuses exist, especially in regard 'to tho treatment of pit. grims, who aro mercilessly fleeced by unscrupulous officials. The construction of the railway would naturally tend to torminato this condition of affairs, from which corrupt officials of all ranks derive a heavy profit. After being repeatedly urged to check disturbances, and pleading non possum, Eatib Pasha's policy apparently became patent to the Sultan, who earlier in tho year sent him a personal telegraphio message informing him that Ilo' would bo held responsible for any trouble which occurred. His arrest tends to indicate tho strength and, tempor of the now Turkish Government.