Turkish Life in War Time

Preface

. An understanding of the elements which enter into the composition of the Eastern question is a necessary preliminary to comprehension of efforts looking toward its solution. Some of these elements are the diverse interests which centre in Turkey, and which limit the unity of European action. Others are the administrative peculiarities of the Turkish Government, the funda mental principles of its statesmen, the corruption of its officials, and the close intermixture of the discordant races which are under its rule. Others, again, of these elements grow out of the dense ignorance which, leading a sturdy and often meritorious Moslem peasantry into detestable actions, makes the Turkish name a by-word in Europe ; and which causes the Christians of Turkey to lend themselves to folly or to crime, unmans them, and leads them to bewail as unendurable, not only real grievances of their subject condition, but penalties of indolence and ignorance not exclusively limited to the Turkish Empire.

Any near view of life in Turkey will aid to an understanding of these features of the question of the East. Such a view may perhaps be found in the record of events and experiences found in the ensuing pages. Preface. This book does not profess to be a complete history of the Turkish war with Russia. It is merely a record of leading events, a suggestion of causes and effects, and a story of incidents of .Turkish life in a critical time, written with a view to assisting public acquaint ance with the character and habits of races whose hands sometimes seem to toy with the peace of all Europe. London, June, 1881. V CONTENTS.

Chapter I

the crisis of 1876. [April, 1876 — January, 1877.] page Disorganization at Constantinople. — Plans for an insurrection in Bulgaria. — Murder of the Consuls at Salonica. — Outbreak of the Bulgarian Insurrection. — The Berlin Memorandum. — Revolt of the Softas in Constantinople. — Fall of the Grand Vezir, Mahmoud Nedim Pasha. — Deposition and death of Sultan Abd ul Aziz. — Sultan Murad V. — The Revolution disposes of the Berlin Memorandum. — A new era for Turkey. — Suppression of the Bulgarian Insurrection. — Assassination of Turkish Ministers. — Mithad Pasha. — Servia declares war. — Postponement of reforms. — English demonstrations of horror at atrocities in Bulgaria, and their effect on Turkish policy. — Deposition of Sultan Murad V. — Sultan Abd ul Hamid II. — Endeavors of Europe to end the Servian war. — Turkish successes. — Russia secures the arrest of the Turkish armies. — The Conference of Constantinople. — Proclamation of constitutional government for Turkey. — Failure of the Conference 1

Chapter II

drifting toward war. [January, 1877 — April, 1877.] The European Ambassadors leave Constantinople. — Turkey passive. — Distress, insecurity, and financial straits. — Preparations for war. — Banishment of Mithad Pasha. — Rumors of war. — The first Turkish Parliament. — Negotiations among the European Contents. VI PAGE Powers. — The Protocol of London. — Hopes that this will prevent war. — Turkey protests against the Protocol as contrary to the sovereign rights of the Sultan. — Russia declares war. — The Turkish army, its numbers and disposition of forces. 65

Chapter III. Beginnings Of War

[May and June, 1878.] Parliament and the war. — Gold and bread in Constantinople. — The war declared to be a holy effort against misbelievers. — Roumania joins Russia. — Russian success. — Fall of Ardahan. — Excitement in the city. — War bulletins of the Government. — Life among the Kourds. — Expedition to the Caucasus. — Financial distress. — Seizure of private horses by Government. — Motley crowds in Constantinople. — Montenegro, and efforts to crush it. — Government against the newspapers. — Turkish system of army supply. — Its utter failure. — Brigandage. — Defeat of Russian army near Erzroom. — Failure of the campaign against Montenegro. — The Russians cross the Danube. — Panic of the Pashas. — Bashi Bozouks and Zeibeks. — Incapacity of Turkish generals 86

Chapter IV. The Period Of Victory

[July to October, 1877.] The Russians expelled from Armenia. — Dissolution of Parliament. — The Russians cross the Balkans. — Panic in Constantinople. — Measures to meet the invasion. — Russians repulsed at Plevna. — Attempts of Turks to recruit Christians. — Defeat of the Russians and their expulsion from Roumelia. — Second defeat of the Russians at Plevna. — The fast of Ramazan. — Battles in the Shipka Pass. — Defeat of Russian army on the Lom. — Defeat of Russians • in Armenia. — Third defeat of the Russians at Plevna. — Rejoicings of the Moslems at Constantinople. — Defeat of Turks upon the Lom. — Distress of refugees from Bulgaria. — Explosion of Government powder works. — Reinforcement of Turkish army at Plevna. — Fresh defeat of Russian forces in Armenia. — Difficulties of the Turkish Government. — More battles in the Shipka Pass. — Contents.

VII PAGE The military situation.— The feast of Bairam.— The Civic Guard of Constantinople.— Cruelty of courts-martial toward Bulgarians. —Misdeeds of Bulgarians.— Capabilities of the race 126

Chapter V. The Turning Of The Tide

[October to December, 1877.] Destruction of the Turkish army in Armenia.— Concealment of disagreeable facts from the Sultan.— Anxieties of the Turkish Ministry.— Difficulty of supplying the army.— Investment of Plevna by the Russians.— The Sultan desires peace.— His dream.— Bulgarians exiled.— Flood in Constantinople.— Popular discontent. —The price of bread.— New levies.— Fresh disasters in Armenia. —Desperate position of the Turks.— A typical pasha.— Conditions of life among the Christians of Constantinople.— Their fear of military service. — Moslems evading military service. — Fall of Plevna. — The Sultan asks Europe to mediate. — Servia declares war against Turkey. — Impotent rage of the Turks 172

Chapter VI. The Great Collapse

[January and February, 1878.] The populace on the fall of Plevna. — Attempts to defend the Balkans. — The Russians willing to make peace, but unwilling to accept British mediation. — The Turks order a suspension of hostilities. — The Russian generals refuse to suspend operations. — Russian passage of the Balkans. — Rout of Turkish army at Kamarli. — Capture of Turkish army at Shipka Pass. — Disappearance of Suleiman Pasha with main Turkish army of the Balkans. — Despair of the Turkish Ministry. — Panic at Constantinople. — Delegates sent to beg for an armistice. — Russian troops occupy Adrianople. — Suleiman Pasha arrives with the fragments of his army on the coast of the Archipelago. — The Moslem inhabitants of Roumelia in flight. — Their misery. —Deaths in the streets of Constantinople. — The Turkish hopes of aid from England. — Exasperation at England. — Suspense as to an armistice. — The Russians still advancing. — Distress for bread. — Distress every- Contents.

PAGE where.— Change of ministry.— Continued anxiety as to an armistice. — Disorganization of Government departments. — Critical times in the city.— Refugees and their relief.— The Russians approach Constantinople.— They occupy its fortifications.— Remnants of the Turkish army in the streets. — Coolness of the population in the presence of disorder.— The empire at the feet of the Czar. — Parliament, unconcerned, arraigns incompetent officials.— The English fleet at the Dardanelles. — " Lost six iron clads."—Greece enters the fray.— Is restrained by England.— The case of Greece. — Jealousy between Greek and Slav.— The English fleet produces a new crisis. — The question of the Straits. — An inconvenient Parliament dissolved.— Jealousies between Turkish generals. — Troubles on financial questions.— Injustice to the Moslem population of Roumelia 203

Chapter VII. The Russians At Constantinople

[March to June, 1878.] Russian policy toward Europe. — The Grand Duke Nicholas advances his headquarters to San Stefano. — His body-guard proves to be an army corps. — Constantinople in the hands of the Russians. — Moslems who hope to fight the 19th century. — A visit to the Russian camps. — Turkish superficiality. — The Treaty of San Stefano. — A Russian celebration. — The Sultan a vassal of the Czar. — History repeats itself. — Russian methods of negotiation. — Disagreeable consequences of life in Constantinople. — General Grant and the Turks. — Osman Pasha of Plevna. — His reception by the Sultan and the people. — The Sultan and the Grand Duke. — Tax on bread. — Doubtful character of European interest in Turkish Christians. — The English and the Russians face to face. — Both before the shopkeepers of Constantinople. — Russian contractors' frauds. — Relations between Turks and Russians. — Russians ask a definition of Turkish policy. — Change of ministry in name but not in character. — What the Turkish shepherds copied from the Byzantine Empire. — Russian Turks and English Turks. — Caution of Grand Duke as to provoking England. — Difficulties besetting the Russians in Roumelia. — Revolt of the Moslems of the Rhodope. — Quarrels between Greeks and Bulgarians. — Superstition and low morality of Christians of Turkey. — Attempt to restore Murad V. to the throne. — The leader of the attempt, Contents.

IX PAGE Ali Suavi, religious teacher, swindler and college president. — Results of this outbreak. — Change of ministry. — Burning of Sublime Porte. — Imprisonment of Murad V. — Russian anxiety concerning the state of Constantinople. — New change of ministry. — Disorganization in Asiatic Turkey. — Its resources. — Rich crops. — The Grand Vezirs of Turkey. — The Congress of Berlin. — The people of Turkey petitioning the Congress. — The Armenians and their needs. — This land not beyond the sphere of European interests. — The Bulgarians. — Their misbehavior and loss of prestige. — The Greeks. — Their hate of the Bulgarians. — Neither race yet fit to rule. — The work before the Congress. — Dislike for Russia among all classes. — The people crave sympathy and desire develop ment. — England's opportunity to gain influence in the East 257

Chapter VIII. The Earlier Results Of The War

[July— October, 1878.] Fragile character of the Peace between Turkey and Russia.— Difficulties of Turkish finance. — Corruption among Turkish officials. — Leniency of Government toward it. — Oddities of life in Mesopotamia.— The Treaty of Berlin. — Cession to England of the island of Cyprus. — Dissatisfaction of people with Berlin Treaty. — Not quite just. — Disgust of the pashas. — The Turkish habit of refusing demands. — Final concessions probable. — The farewell review at San Stefano. — Incidents of the cession of Cyprus. — Hardships of the refugees. — Austrian occupation of Bosnia. — Resistance of the population. — It is perhaps fomented by Turkish officials — is favored by Turkish newspapers. — Difficulty of the task of the Austrian Government. — Troubles of the pashas. — Russian demands. — Exigencies of England. — Greek hopes. — Origin and justice of these expectations. — The Albanian League. — Possibility that it too is a demonstration gotten up by Turkish officials. — Character of the Albanians. — The Armenians pressing for rights. — Weaknesses of the Armenian nation. — Lack of fitness for independence among all the people. — Anxieties of the Turkish Ministry regarding Bulgaria. — Unsettled condition of that region. — Piety of Moslem officials as an antidote to troubles. — Depreciation of paper. — Resources of Turkey. — The jewels of the Sultan. — The fast of Ramazan. — The English fleet comes to salute the Sultan Contents. X

Chapter IX. The Antecedents Of The War

PAGE The Eastern question and the result supposed to be attained by the Crimean war. — Turkey ready to be led by the allies. — Carelessness of the Powers. — The sovereignty of the Sultan. — The Sultan's decree of reform. — Ali Pasha. — His objections to European supervision. — His reform measures. — His failure. — His death. — Mahmoud Nedim Pasha labors to protect the sovereignty of the Sultan. — Appeals to the Moslem national spirit. — Revival of Turkey unreformed. — The opportunity for reviving the Eastern question. — Insurrection in Herzegovina. — The European Powers commit themselves to the work of restoring order. — Distress of Turkey. — Suspension of interest payments. — Efforts to avoid European intervention. — Europe demands reforms by the Andrassy ' note. — Failure of the measure. — State of Turkey in the spring of 1876. — England's suspicion of Russian motives fosters the idea of war 374

Chapter X. The Reconstruction Of Turkey

[October, 1%7%—July, 1879.] What is involved in this reconstruction. — Financial reform the key to all reform measures. — Currency in Turkey. — Method adopted by Turkish Ministry to reform its monetary system — to balance receipts and expenditure. — Waste in tax collections. — Means taken to float a loan in Europe.— The effort fails on the question of effective security. — Failure of general reform measures. — Haireddin Pasha. — His character. — His opponents. — His demand upon the Sultan. — His downfall. — His effort to reform Turkey fails on the question of limiting absolutism. — The obstacles to voluntary reform of the Turks. — Their religious feeling toward Christians. — The Sultan's obligation to resist Christian aggression. — He does not violate his obligation when he yields after a show of resistance. — The means of restoring peace in Turkey. — Delays of Europe in treating this question dangerous. Turkish Life in War Time.

Chapter I. The Crisis Of

1 876. Constantinople, April i$tk, 1876. As we passed in front of the Sultan's palace to-night, a Turk, sitting near me on the ferryboat, burst out into a wild tirade of abuse against the Sultan, calling him the devourer of the people's substance. No Christian would dare whisper such thoughts. The fact that a Moslem is bold enough to speak his mind in such a place shows that his opinions are popular. The people, hoping against hope, have imagined that the embarrass ment of the Turkish treasury will somehow find relief. Although the Government did not pay the coupons which were due in October, it has been expected to pay those maturing in April. But now it has let the April coupons also go by default, not even remarking upon the circumstances of its failure. Hence the people, at last convinced of the failure of their last hope, display a wrath and despair most pitiful.

Every night robbers break into houses ; every day footpads strip unhappy citizens in byways of the city. These robbers are desperate men, using the knife on the slightest pretext. You hear a footstep in your 1 Turkisli Life in War Time. 2 bedroom at night and spring up. The next instant a long, sharp knife strikes into your flesh, and the thief is gone. The coward has cut at you in the dark solely because he fears you may hinder his flight. Moreover he has fled so swiftly that no police investigation will ever recover him for your vengeance. These robbers often rob because they are hungry. But they are also transformed into anarchists by a blind sense of wrong, and are encouraged by the death-like lethargy which seems to be creeping over the whole social system. The police are miserably useless.

Two nights ago a man was dragged from his horse and murdered for his money within fifty yards of a police station, yet the men on guard say that they neither saw nor heard anything of the affair. While the Government in civil affairs is languid and shiftless, in military matters it shows plenty of energy. It is buying materials of war in great store, and is assembling numbers of troops in all the northern provinces. It devotes to army uses a good share of the money which ought to go to pay the coupons. Meanwhile, Panslavist emissaries have been preaching insurrection in Bulgarian villages, exciting the interest of their hearers by parables which represent the substitution of marble palaces for mud hovels to be the first result that may be expected from revolt. They seem to have ac tually arranged a revolt which, led by Servian officers and supported by the insurrection of Servia itself, will either wrest the whole Balkan peninsula from the hands of the Sultan, or, in failure, will still accomplish the same object, by forcing Europe, for the sake of saving Christian rebels from Turkish vengeance, to make a military occupation of the region.

It is now 1876. 3 said that this Bulgarian revolt will take place upon the 13th of May. Be this as it may, Servia is making active preparations for war. The European powers are considering new measures for quieting the disturbances in Turkey. The Eastern question evidently presses once more for a solution. This time that solution must be permanent. May Jtk. — On entering the steamer to go to the city this morning, I noticed a strange silence among the passengers. Some of the Turks were talking in whis pers, but the Christians in the crowd seemed troubled, not daring to speak a word. From a Turkish morning paper I learned the cause of the anxiety of the people. Two foreign consuls have been murdered in a Mo hammedan mosque at Salonica by a fanatic mob. The governor-general of the province stood by, and found no means of saving the victims.

No wonder the Chris tians seem terrified by this example of what Moslems can do, and no wonder that as I read, many Moslems watched my face, in order to judge of the impression produced upon foreign minds by the terrible story ! The murder of European consuls by a great uprising of Turks is an event so full of possible consequences that the announcement of it sobered even this crowd of care less and garrulous Orientals. The outbreak at Salonica arose from one of those pretended conversions to Islamism which are often the cloak for abductions of Christian women by young Turks. The girl in this case was a Greek from a country village. The wealthy young Turk who had capti vated her affections brought his -mistress from her home by rail to Salonica. A party of Greeks, informed of the affair, and enraged at the apostasy of the fair young Turkish Life in War Tiine. 4 Christian, took possession of the girl at the depot, and carried her off in the first carriage which they could find.

Meanwhile the Turk raised a cry that the girl was a Mohammedan, and that the Christians were try ing to force her to abandon the true faith. The carriage seized by the Greeks for the rescue of the girl chanced to be that of the American consul. This gave to the rescue the appearance of being directed by foreign officials, and supplied the fanaticism of the Moslems with the excuse for allying itself with the popular restiveness under foreign interferences. The whole Mohammedan population flocked to the mosques clamoring for the massacre of all the Christians of the city. The troops sympathized with the mob. The governor-general was fearful and incompetent. The Christians were wild with terror, and the consuls of France and of Germany went to the principal mosque to remonstrate with the people.

Then the fanatic mob, fairly howling with rage at this new attempt of Euro peans to thrust themselves into the affair, rushed upon the consuls and beat them to death with iron bars. The girl, who was known to be a worthless character, was afterwards surrendered to the authorities, and the violence of the mob was appeased. The murder of any foreigner in Turkey is a serious affair, but the murder of foreign officials must bring upon the Turks the danger of armed intervention for the protection of life. Yet the Moslems of this city are evidently rather glad of this murder. They sympathize with the men who dared translate into acts, the univer sal feeling of exasperation against Europeans. But events crowd one upon another. The Bulgarian insurrection commenced day before yesterday. There 1876. 5 are but five thousand troops in the city, but the Gov ernment sent off eight battalions within forty-eight hours after the first outbreak.

This was done so quietly that few in the city knew of the fact until they read of it in this morning's papers. May gth. — The Government gives no information whatever of the situation in Bulgaria. Private telegrams on the subject are detained by the police. The Bulgarians of the city are jubilant, believing that suppressed news must be favorable to their people. A gentleman who has the confidence of the Bulgarians, has told me some of the plans of the insurgents. The agents of the Servian socialists* have arranged to have drill-masters from the Servian army meet the rebels in the Balkans. Each Bulgarian village will send its quota of men to the various points of rendezvous in the mountains, whence, while organizing, they will send out raiding parties to burn bridges, tear up railroads, cut telegraph wires, and otherwise impede the movements of troops, until the arrival of the Servian army.

The families of the insurgents are to be cared for in their homes by men regularly detailed to remain loyal to the Sultan. The whole success of the plan depends upon the action of Servia. As yet the Servians give no signs of moving, although they have long been preparing for war. Meanwhile, the Bulgarians will have all that they can do to hold their own. Turkish troops are being hurried to the front. Nevertheless the characteristic languidness even in the Turkish military operations in * The Omladina of Servia is a socialistic society. It engaged in this insurrection. Herzegovina justifies an expectation that this new revolt may have time to grow. Already the Bulgarians are saying that the insurgents have cut the railroad and have burned Philippopolis. This would imply that matters have proceeded very far.

The Sultan is finding the murder of the consuls at Salonica a matter of serious gravity. The small regard for Turkey yet remaining in Europe will certainly be destroyed by any hesitation in dealing out prompt and spontaneous justice. The Pashas, anticipating some such danger, have sent high officers to Salonica, with orders to punish all guilty parties, and with troops to control the rioters. The governor-general of Sa lonica has been relieved, and, as he richly deserves, will be tried for his life. At the same time, the embassies of all the great powers represented at the Porte have sent secretaries to the spot to watch the trials. A number of foreign war vessels have also been ordered to Salonica. In all this matter the foreign ambassa dors here are acting in concert, for the Salonica riot threatens the safety of every foreigner in the land.

Constantinople, as it now is, is less than ever a pleasant abiding place for nervous persons. Besides the excitement caused by the Salonica affair and the outbreak in Bulgaria, we have a local excitement of our own. For two days past, the Softas, or Moslem students of theology in this city, have been crowding all the gunshops to buy arms. The Christians are in a white terror. These Moslem students are fanatical in their hatred for all non-Moslems, and have the reputa tion of being quite capable of bloody deeds, " for the good of the faith." The Christians fear that Softas be lieve in a modern restoration of the era of massacre. 1876. 7 Several have asked me to-day whether, in case of an outbreak of the Softas, the probabilities of aid from Europe would justify an armed resistance to butchery.

May 12th. — The city is convulsed with terror. Yes terday the Softas, to the number of about ten thousand, overturned their desks as a sign of revolt. Then they trooped to the palace of the Sheikh ul Islam. This functionary is the highest Moslem authority in matters of religious belief, and is therefore the great chief of those who study at the mosques. He has displeased the ultra-religionists among the Moslems by an undue readiness to indorse the Sultan's measures without regard to Moslem traditions. His resignation was the object of the mob of Softas who marched upon his palace. The old man heard what was coming, and fled by a side door. Then the Softas went in mass to the Porte, and even sent a tumultuous delegation to the Sultan's palace with a demand for the removal of the Sheikh ul Islam, and of Mahmoud Nedim Pasha, the Grand Vezir.

The Bulgarian revolt has stripped the city of troops, hence, fear of the Softas fills the people from the Sultan down to the poorest laborer. The Sultan has granted the demands of the mob, but the common people, having no such means of placating the Softas, find no means of escaping from their fears. By four o'clock in the afternoon the shops were closed, and the streets of the city were almost deserted. The panic spread into Pera, the European quarter of the city, and many residents prepared to flee for safety to the ships in the harbor. The dangers of the day are exaggerated among the foreigners, because, living apart by them selves, they have no means of knowing the habits of the Moslem population, or of anticipating its intentions. A guard of Russian marines was posted by the side of the great gate of the Russian Embassy, and at nightfall was reinforced by a motley band of ferocious-looking Croats and Montenegrins.

These measures for the defense of General Ignatief s person added to the popular panic and troubled the slumbers of the whole city. This morning the Softas assembled in the great square in front of the War Department, and marched to the Porte to learn what men would be sent by the Sultan to fill the vacant offices. In order to judge of the degree of our danger, I went through some of the principal streets. The Softas were grouped in large bands, and looked at me with no friendly eyes. Many of them had revolvers in their girdles, and they were talking in low, quick tones of excitement. Every armorer's shop was full of their white turbans, and I could see that they were buying pistols and long knives. But they showed no unusual rancor toward myself or other Christians who chanced to venture on the streets.

All the Christians whom I met showed great fear, slinking along close to the wall, as if anxious to escape observation. The shops were generally open, because the police had insisted on this mark of con fidence, but the poor shopkeepers looked as if they would by far prefer the safety of a prison. Not a wo man was anywhere to be seen. Nevertheless some attention to the language and the bearing of the Softas convinced me that whatever the ultimate result of the revolt, its first intent is not the massacre of the Chris tians. So far, this is a relief to the strain of expec tation, but it is not possible to avoid remembering that a mob does not reason when in the full heat of passion. The day wore heavily away. In the afternoon, mes- 1876. 9 sengers from the Sultan arrived at the State wharf at the foot of the street leading to the Sublime Porte.

With them came a new Grand Vezir, and a new Sheikh ul Islam. The moment was critical. The Softas had declared that they would allow no obnoxious appointee to land. But now the dense mass of white-turbaned gentry made way. They had deigned to accept the appointments made by the Sultan. The new officials, looking very uncomfortable in the midst of the great silent crowd, made their way to the place of instal lation and were formally established in office. Only then did the Softas show ungovernable excitement. They had carried their point ; they had compelled the Sultan to yield, and they cheered loud and long at their success. But now the terrors of the people caused a new trou ble. The excited students, dispersing to their various schools, filled all the streets. They rushed headlong, talking loudly, shouting, pulling each other about, chasing one another like school-boys.

Before this mob of uncertain intentions the hearts of the shopkeepers became as water. Some put up their shutters, some dared not wait even for this. Every man incontinently fled. Some crawled into cellar holes and sewer-vaults; some fell in the street overcome by fear ; some took refuge in neighboring buildings. In ten minutes all the streets between the great bazaar and the Golden Horn were deserted. The fortress-like Hans were crowded with the refugees, who clamored for the closing of the massive iron-bound doors, and then tremblingly waited behind them for the attack of the insurgents. But no attack came. The Softas, with vast self-control, even refrained from touching the contents of abandoned 1* shops. But they were pleased to regard this panic of the Christians as an immense joke, and, from an amica ble desire to prolong it, added vehemence to their mo tions.

With several other Americans, I was in a large building on a great thoroughfare, when these singular rioters passed by. We heard the rush of a great multi tude, and ran to the windows. The street, as far as we could see, was full of wildly gesticulating men. For one instant it was a question with us whether we ought not to bar the great iron doors, but in a moment more we saw that the leaders of the mob were merry and laughing. That settled the question, and in perfect peace we could watch the wild rush of the Softas, and admire their long robes waving behind them, like ban ners on the breeze. After the mob had gone by, the frightened people began to crawl out from their hiding-places. But all thought of business was given up. The shopkeepers secured their abandoned shops, and then went home.

Long before sunset the city was as still as a city of tombs. It is by no means pleasant to reflect that these wild jokers of to-day practically rule our city. They have tried their power, have carried their point, and what they may next attempt is .an unknown quantity in the problem of our safety. True, all the newspapers deride the fears of the people. The Levant Herald even ven tures to hint that Gen. Ignatief acted in opposition to knowledge, and with intent to create disturbances, by parading his body-guard before the public last night. But all these editorial remarks abate nothing of the disagreeable features of this affair. May 15th. — The Levant Herald has been suspended 1876. 11 for improper language " concerning the ambassador of a nation friendly to the Turkish Empire." This summary punishment makes all the papers cautious.