Great Alarm In Stamboul.

New York Times 100 years ago today, November 4, 1912:
Fears of Terrible Outbreaks Grow as News of Defeats Comes In.
    CONSTANTINOPLE, Saturday, Nov. 2, (uncensored.)— Constantinople is in a fever of excitement over the alarming reports from the field of battle. Foreigners and natives alike are suffering from the tension caused by the series of military disasters, and, although the city is in a state of siege, crime is unchecked in some quarters. Many families are leaving the city.
    The people fear, first, an outbreak of Moslem fanaticism by the turbulent elements, the lower classes, and, second, a rising of hordes of maddened soldiers, who are being driven by the Bulgarians to make their last stand a few miles outside of Constantinople, and then, perhaps, fall back on the capital.
    The battle still continues on the plains of Thrace, and if the Turkish soldiers fall back within the gates of the city it is feared that they may turn their guns and bayonets on those who are awaiting in trembling the outcome of the conflict.
    There is a large and unruly element of the population who would be glad of any pretext for massacre and pillage. The presence of more than 10,000 Moslem refugees from the war zone, who have lost all their possessions, adds to the danger of the situation. Rumors are current that the Young Turks Committee may start rioting with the object of overthrowing the Government, but there has been no tangible proof of such a plan.
    It is doubtful whether a rising would be directed against foreigners as much as against native Christians, but the danger to foreigners is very real. If the Turkish Army sustains complete defeat the lives and property of thousands of foreigners, as well as native Christians, will be in imminent peril.
    The presence of foreign warships is of the greatest importance, and would be the surest guarantee of the security of foreign interests and public order generally. The Government has made the state of siege more severe; strong patrols circulate through the streets, and the police have received orders to use the utmost vigilance and repress disorders rigorously.
    A brigade of infantry has been dispatched to Tchatalja with orders to prevent all fugitives, particularly soldiers, from coming to Constantinople, but it is questionable if the brigade, under current conditions, could carry out such an order.
    The diplomatic representatives of all the nations held a conference on Thursday. Just what measures were decided upon is not known, but the Austrian Ambassador visited the Foreign Minister and called attention to the disquiet on the part of foreign residents respecting their safety.