As Franz issued the order, the Austrian army on the front lines sprang into action, initiating the deportation without waiting for the Ottoman Empire's consent.
In those days, the Ottomans had no human rights, so no lengthy explanations were necessary—forced expulsion was sufficient. No one perceived anything amiss, including the embedded journalists who pretended not to see.
As for what they might write upon returning, no one knew. After all, for the sake of newspaper sales, there would be a variety of colorful news, and the integrity of journalists was only slightly better than in future generations.
As long as most mainstream media didn't speak for the Ottomans, that was enough; street tabloids were always about starting with a pen and a paper, with content completely fabricated.
Preparing public opinion manipulation in advance was not difficult—as long as there was money to be spent; trying to control public opinion completely was a pipe dream.
