THE PROBLEM OF TURKEY 211 



of reasoned self-control which are among the most prominent 

 Turkish characteristics. The first massacre was stirred up by 

 reactionary Mullahs, or Moslem priests, whose object was to 

 discredit the constitutional party and restore the old regime. As 

 soon as news of the atrocities reached Constantinople, the Young 

 Turk Committee, which then seemed still to be actuated by high 

 Ideals, ordered troops from Salonika to proceed to Adana and 

 restore order. The Salonika troops had been the chief agent In 

 forcing Abdul Hamid to grant a constitution. They were sup- 

 posed to be especially Imbued with principles of fraternity and 

 progress. What happened? The troops reached Merslna, and 

 were entrained for the short ride to Adana. As they disembarked 

 from the train, long-robed Mullahs with white or green turbans 

 went among them: "Thank God you have come. Ever since the 

 massacre we have been in terror of our lives. These Christian 

 dogs — may Allah curse them — are sly and cunning. Look out or 

 they will shoot you in the back. Thank God you are here, and 

 our wives and daughters are at last safe." Thus they talked, 

 lying, and the poor simple peasant soldiers believed them. In the 

 middle of the afternoon a soldier was shot In the back. Later it 

 was proved that the shot must have come from a Turkish house, 

 and moreover the Armenians had all been disarmed. But the plans 

 of the Mullahs worked well. "To your arms," they cried, for 

 they were still whispering lies among the soldiers. "Kill the 

 Christians or they will kill you." In a moment the unstable, 

 unthinking Turkish soldiers were out of hand. Their officers, 

 so they claim, could not restrain them, and perhaps did not want 

 to. At any rate the troops that had arrived to save In the morn- 

 ing went out to massacre In the afternoon. And their massacre 

 was worse than Its predecessor. 



The Young Turk Committee tried to save Its face In the sight 

 of Europe. It executed about six Turks — I think that was the 

 number — for killing fifteen or twenty thousand Armenians, and 

 perhaps two Armenians In penance for the score or two of Moslems 



