107) The Raid on the Ottoman Bank

 

 Below is a marvelous excerpt from E. Uras' "The Armenians in history and the Armenian question", pp. 763-771, relating the takeover of the Ottoman Bank by Armenian Dashnak terrorists. Aside from wearing the mantle of the "first Christian nation on earth," Armenians have contributed to civilization another first that is rarely credited; as Prof. Erich Feigl put it:

 

A model had been created for all future terrorist raids, complete with hostage-taking, forced publication of a list of demands, and permission for the terrorists to leave the country — plus all the P. R. that accompanies an action of this type.

 

 

After the Kumkapi demonstrations assassination attempts continued to be made by the revolutionists against wealthy Armenians who refused to contribute money to the cause.

 

The lawyer Hatchik Efendi, Dadjat Vartabet and Der Sukias, a priest in the Kumkapl cathedral were all murdered. Hatchnik was killed by a fifteen year old Armenian boy by the name of Armenak. Mampre Vartabet and Migirditch Tutundjief, who were both suspected of giving information to the Ministry of Gendarmerie, the police officer Markar, Hadji Dikran, the candle-maker Omnik, the wealthy citizen Karagozian and Undjuian Apik were all murdered in the open street. Vart Badrikian arrived in Istanbul from Russia as Hunchak representative and was arrested on arrival on suspicion of having carried out various assassination attempts but, being a Russian subject, he was handed over to the Embassy. Ohandjanian, another Russan Armenian, came to Turkey as representative in his place.

 

The Dashnaktsutiun representative in Istanbul was a Caucasian by the name of Melik Yusufian.

 

In 1896 Shant (Thunderbolt), another secret revolutionary society, was founded in Istanbul, as was as a second revolutionary committee called Kurban (Sacrifice). 37

 

The Hunchak and Dashnaktsutiun comrnittees got together with the Shant and Kurban committees and, after long discussions decided to carry out a raid on the Ottoman Bank and to stir up trouble in the
districts of the city inhabited by Armenians.

 

The following plan was drawn up by the revolutionary committees:

 

1.- Rooms were to be rented in various parts of Beyoglu, beginning from Agacami, on both sides of the bridge, in the Armenian Central School in Galata, Tepebasl, Galatasaray and around Tunel.

 

2 .- Groups of eight to ten revolutionaries would lie in wait in these rooms. At the appointed time they would rain down bombs on the people below and occupy important points.

 

3.- Six revolutionaries carrying bombs would attack Nasim Pasha, the Minister of Gendarmerie.

 

4.-Trenches would be dug in the main streets in Beyoglu. Ox-carts would be brought in laden with stones and sacks of sand made to resemble household goods being transported by migrant families. The oxen would then be removed and the carts used as barricades.

 

5.-The most important part of the plan was the seizure and dynamiting of the Ottoman Bank.

 

Apart from all this, the necessary keys were to be obtained to allow them access to certain important places. It was also decided that a hundred rifles should be brought from the revolutionary committee's centre in Bulgaria.

 

Preparations were carried out in Uskudar, Samatya and Haskoy. Bombs were ordered from two brothers by the name of Serkis and Mikayel in Uskudar at 15 kurush for large bombs and 10 kurush for small ones.

 

Tests were carried out on the bombs at Kaglthane. They were transported from Uskudar to KabataJs, and thence by ox-cart to Beyoglu. There were 753 bombs in all, twelve of them weighing as much as 25 kg, all bearing the initials of the Dashnaktsutiun Revolutionary Comrnittee. There were also 800 of the best quality American revolvers.

 

The revolutionists gathered at the end of July 1896 in the house of an Armenian woman, Mlle. Uskuk, in Karnavola St. in Beyoglu. This meeting was attended by the leaders of the Shant, Samatya (Kurban) and Dashnaktsutiun groups. The operation was organized by three Russian Armenians, Varto, Mar and Boris, who had been given full powers and authority. The operation to be carried out in Samatya was entrusted to the Kurban Revolutionary Committee, and they were given 200 bombs. The Uskudar region was entrusted to the Uskudar Dashnaktsutiun leader Avo, while Haskoy was left to Hrach. A few days after the discussions Armen Garo arrived from Athens. 38 The bombs were taken by Ohannes to the British school at Galata.

 

The raid on the Ottoman Bank was regarded as of great importance by the revolutionists, who hoped that it would bring great advantages to the Armenians.

 

 The following account of the incident is given by Hrach (Haik Tiryakian), who himself took part in it: 39

 

"The comrades gathered at five past six on the morning of August 14. Six people were enough to begin the raid. We embraced them and bade them farewell. Khosrev and Papken led the six heroes away. We ourselves left the house with sacks of bombs on our shoulders and revolvers in our hands. On approaching the bank we heard the bombs thrown by the comrades who had preceded us, together with the sound of rifle fire. We began to run in great excitement. The streets were already in a state of turmoil. People were running here and there in terror and panic. We reached the Ottoman Bank and rushed inside. Three of our colleagues were on duty in front of the lower door. We found that one of our party had been wounded.

 

While our comrades were busy firing outside, those within the building were holding up the bank personnel, all of them pale and trembling. I shouted to them that they had nothing to fear as long as they took no action. They thought we were bank robbers. They felt relieved, but on hearing the bombs they again lost their composure. After the bombing had continued for several hours they realized that we were carrying out an operation against the government. In the heat of the fray I began to make my way up to
the upper floor together with five comrades. My aim was to go up on to the roof and signal the success of our operation to a colleague who was waiting at some distance. This colleague, on learning of our success, was to present letters putting forward demands to the representatives of the six Powers. My first task was to take out my handkerchief and wave it. After waving it for a little I bound it to the chimney as a sign of our success. A few minutes later I saw Margo, one of our comrades, at his appointed
place at the top of a high house. On seeing me he rushed out in joy. I looked down on to the road from the side of the building. There were lots of civilian and military vehicles. I threw a medium-sized bomb. Screams were heard. People rushed here and here. They began to pick up the dead and the wounded, and bring fresh soldiers to take their place. Another bomb, and more screams and panic. The bombs had quite incredible results. They did not kill instantly but tore the victim's flesh and made them writhe in pain and agony. The large bombs made a sound like a cannon and produced panic and consternation. I could hear the continual explosion of bombs and the firing of revolvers.

 

A number of people were watching us from the windows and balconies of buildings far and near. I had enough dynamite with me to blow up the whole bank. I remembered my comrades, and tried to hear what was going on. There was no sound from below. Were they dead? I was terribly worried. I wept. Only a few hours before they had all been alive. I went up to a window. Suddenly I heard them calling me. They were our comrades. They had been looking for me. I went down. Garo and I went into the manager's office. The Head Secretary of the government was there. I wrote down our conditions.

 

1.- Guarantee of peace and security throughout the whole country.

 

2.-An undertaking on the part of the government that our demand will be satisfied.

 

3.-That all those who had participated in the operation should be allowed to go free and not be subject to prosecution.

 

4.- That if our conditions were not satisfied we will blow up the bank and ourselves with it.

 

There were seventeen of us left fighting. Three had died and six were wounded. There were a few bombs left. Some of us started filling these. Others took up positions at the sides of the windows and fired on anyone approaching the doors. The comrades were in good spirits. They said they were ready to fight to the death. Someone from our side hung out a white flag as a sign that we wanted to parley. I told the comrades not to throw bombs. Two of the bank personnel were sent out for discussions.

 

After five o'clock, I began to write down the names of those who were still alive. I shall never forget that tragic moment. Darkness had fallen and lights were being lit. We had continued the attack for four hours, and for nine hours now we had been on the defensive. We had had very great losses. We had also inflicted considerable losses on the enemy. The wounded lay howling on the ground. The pain and agony they felt must have been frightful. The soldiers gradually withdrew from in front of the bank and took up stations rather further away. All their weapons were trained on the windows of the building we were occupying. The cretins were waiting for us to be foolish enough to put our heads out of the windows. We stayed in the bank for thirteen hours. About a hundred and fifty of the personnel - most of them European - were trembling like mice in front of us. They dared not take a step without permission. They were terrified out of their wits by the revolvers and bombs we were carrying around. Some of them told us that they had stayed for four or five hours in dark holes. Thirty or forty people in this situation were too terrified to come out. Twenty or thirty clerks had stayed shut up for six or seven hours in a dirty little room. The sound of our whistles made their blood run cold."

 

At the the very beginning of the operation the Dashnaktsution Revolutionary Committee had sent the following manifesto to the Powers:[40]

 

[...]
  

 

 We repeat! We shall avoid no sacrifice in order to achieve our aims . We accept no responsibility whatever for the consequences.

 

We deeply regret the losses that both foreigners and the local people may suffer in these disorders. We deeply deprecate this calamity. But for the desperate, mourning has no meaning.

 

We shall die. We know that. But until we gain our rights as human beings, the spirit of revolt that has worked into the marrow of our bones will continue to threaten the throne of the sultans as long as a single Armenian remains alive."

 

The bank was occupied on the morning of 14 August and hostilities continued the whole day. Auboyneau, the manager of the bank, and his interpreter entered into negotiations with the rebels and received permission to present the Armenian demands to the Palae. Having asked permission from the officer in command by lowering a letter on a string from the window, Auboyneau and his secretary climbed out of one of the lower storey windows. The General-Director of the Bank, Sir Edgar Vincent, went to the Palace accompanied by Maximoff, the head Dragoman in the Russian Embassy. Sultan Hamid asked Maximoff to find a solution that would prevent a catastrophe. They returned to the bank at night. The discussions proceeded as follows: 41

 

"Maximoff: I remained in the embassy until evening. The manifesto sent by your central committee had not yet arrived. Of the conditions you put forward most have been put into effect.

 

1. Measures have been taken to ensure law and order in the country.

 

2.The attack against yourself and your colleagues has in effect ceased.

 

3. Your colleagues have been guaranteed safe conduct out of the country.

 

As for the third condition put forward by your Istanbul Centre, I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter. I cannot discuss diplomatic matters here. We are doing everything
we can to persuade the Sultan to allow himself to perceive the needs of the country.We were doing this before in any case. We shall continue in our efforts. You took action, and you have displayed great heroism. This is sufficient to draw attention once again to your demands. But if you persist, you will lose your case. Instead of friendship and respect, you will be confronted with hatred and hostility. You say you that otherwise you will blow up the bank. What will you gain by this? The death of 157 innocent
people will bring the hostility, enmity and detestation of the whole of Europe on your heads."

 

The discussion lasted fifteen minutes. We opposed the idea of surrender. It was necessary to wait. We could wait, we had taken up defensive positions. Garo entered the discussion.

 

Armen Garo (Karakin Pastirmadjian — We have made clear our demands. We shall wait till tomorrow evening. By that time your five colleagues will have received our documents and will have given their reply.

 

Maximoff — We beg you to leave the building. We can discuss the matter in greater detail on the yacht. Time is precious. If you wait until tomorrow you may bring about a massacre tonight. I managed only with the greatest difficulty to get this consent from the Sultan. Tomorrow everything may change. You will then be faced with a very heavy responsibility. Do not be the cause of further massacres. There is no need for written promises and undertakings. We ourselves can give you such a document. But this can never be a reliable guarantee. A promise extracted with a knife at the throat has no legal validity. Although giving you our promise we insist that the weapon you are using is not a reliable one. I understand your situation. But you will arouse the hostility of all Europe. You have begun well. See that you also end well. Give a little more thought to the matter and consider the fate of your whole nation.
 

 

Garo was opposed to the idea of surrender. But he was worried that we might be the cause of a massacre."

 

After protracted discussions the revolutionists finally agreed to leave the building. They had said that if they met with attack they would kill Maximoff. They walked down to the shore together with Maximoff between two lines of soldiers with bayonets. There they embarked on Sir Edgar Vincent's yacht. They were then taken to the Gironde, a ship belonging to the Messagerie Maritime, and sent off to Marseilles.

 

Thus, as in the case of the Zeitun revolt, the rebels were able to leave the country freely under foreign protection.

 

The Armenians and their supporters in Europe of course added this affair to the list of "massacres perpetrated against the Armenians."

 

 

-------------------------------------------------------------
© Holdwater 

tallarmeniantale.com/ottoman-bank.htm

-------------------------------------------------------------