Amurath himself was slain, and it was in the plain where are found his simple monument and a mosque in commemoration of his name, that Mahomet V, the witless dotard and befuddled puppet of the Young Turk Committee, called together all the various picturesque tribes of Turkey in Europe for a grand _selamlik_, or service of prayer. Besides civilians, some of whom are said to have walked for days to be present, there were thousands of troops, and many famous regiments, carrying ancient battle-torn flags. A huge tent had been erected for the sultan, and the vast throng seated itself upon the ground. As the priests recited the service and the thousands of worshippers bent their foreheads to the earth and sat up again, the sea of red fezzes rose and fell rhythmically like a wide field of poppies swayed by the wind. There have been in the world’s history few more picturesque and impressive sights than this last _selamlik_ on the ill-omened “Plain of Blackbirds.” I was presented to Mehmet (or Mohammed V) at Saloniki, and a more flabby, pitiful, witless countenance it would be difficult to imagine. The bleary eyes were puffy underneath, the lower lip dropped in slobbery fashion. His Imperial Majesty was accompanied by several shrewd-faced prompters, of the Europeanized type, and he never uttered a word without turning to one of them with a helpless and infantile expression for directions as to what to say or do. When the interview was finished, Mehmet turned his back and started to walk away. He had gone but a few steps when one of the prompters whispered to him, whereupon he faced about ponderously and slowly twisted his features into a ghastly and mechanical grin. It was as clear as any pantomime could be made that he had been instructed to smile when taking leave, and had forgotten a part of his lesson. Mehmet V had been kept in confinement all his life, practically, by his brother, the great and cruel Abdul, by whom it was said that he had been encouraged to absorb daily incredible quantities of _raki_. He was a kindly harmless soul, who had been selected by Enver and the rest because he had become practically an imbecile. The great _selamlik_ made a strong appeal to the Turks, deeply stirring their religious feelings, but it is needless to say that it did not accomplish much toward “Turkifying” the Christian element. And all this time the crafty Abdul, the famous “Sick Man” of Europe, one of the greatest diplomats and murderers in the history of the world, was confined with a small army of wives in the Villa Allatini at Saloniki. CHAPTER V PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN SMYRNA DISTRICT (1911-1914) In 1911, I was transferred to Smyrna, where I remained till May of 1917, when the Turks ruptured relations with the United States. During the period from 1914 to 1917, I was in charge of the Entente interests in Asia Minor and was in close contact with Rahmi Bey, the famous and shrewd war governor-general.