Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-08-03
Foreign Correspondence ofthe Free Press aid ines
Letter From Turkey.
FROM The SEAT OF WAR IN AsIA-sCENEs AND
EVENTS NEAR ERzRooM-IHE SITUATION OF
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARIES
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times

EVENTS NEAR ERZRooM-IHE SITUATION OF
THE AMERICAN MISSIONARIES
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times
TREBIzoSD, TURKEY, June 90, 1s77.
Sixteen neutral non. combatants, thirteen
OF the number women and children, seemed
too large number to expose, not only to the
danger of war missiles and siege. but also to
the attendant evils of famine and pestlence,
so our families ave here while two of our
number ''hold the fort in Erzroom. We
came here in Carriages over the newly-built
macadamized road, meeting immense guam
titles of war material going TO the front and
large numbers of soldiers. The cannon,
some OF which were siege guns of very large
calibre, were drawn by men, two hundred
men at times being attached to one gun.
The soldiers We're generally respectful to us
and We suffered little Inconvenience from the
crowd. We were fortunate in seeing almost
no Circassians. The large companies that
have lately passed through this city have be-
haved so lawlessly, thieving from shops,
snatching bundles from persons passing on
the street, and assaulting individuals, that
the citizens were obliged for time to close
with caution, to avoid harm. We saw on the
road from Erzroom one village which had
been abandoned by the inhabitants to avoid
the eSactlons of Circassians. The village
was Mahommedan, SO it seems the Circas-
slams make little or no distinction between
Christian and Mahommedan. They are only
sure of their hatred of the Russians. The
tide OF Clrcassians has now passed, and we
breathe lreer.
So We nave war at last in good earnest and
Gortschakon rolls up his eyes in II sancti-
monious fashion, and tells the world it is
solely for the purpose OF emancipating the
Christians of Turkey The missionaries
have had a similar work i'll hand for IL good
while, and though they have shed no blood,
and have spent very little money, compared
with war expenses, yet they tatter them
selves they have done something towards
emanclpating al the races of Turkey from
the slavery OF Ignorance and superstition, as
well as bad government. But in the estima-
tion of the Russians, doubtless, their meth
ods are rather slow and old-fogyish, and we
shall see, now, how promptly and thorough
ly the Russian emancipators will complete
their task. Every one must rejoice. if 10y
the war, So laudable an end is attained.
We hear that the Russians treat the peo-
pie i'll the Turkish villages, which fall into
their power, with great kindness, carefully
respecting their rights, and paying for all
they take from them. On the other hand
the oppression of the Turks is worse than
ever. When the russians reached Alti they
distributed the grain the Turks had abnnd-
oned, to the people. When the Russians
retired from Alti and the Turks again took
possession, they compelled the people to give
up the grain given them by the Russians.
The Turks have also forced the soldiers that
were paroled at the capitulation OF Ardahan
TO enter onactive service.
The region beyond Erzroom is altogether
at the mercy OF the koords. In letter
which reached me few days ago the names
of twenty villages are given i'll which ont
RACES had been committed, stealing sheep,
horses and cattle and even girls-beating
and wounding and numbering the villagers,
ii they venture the least opposition.
A flock of sheep belonging TO citizens OF
Bitlls was driven of by marauders while in
the hands of the shepherds ON the noun
tains. One hundred and fifty armed citizens
went i'll pursuit, and only succeeded in res
cuing the sheep after battle in which sew
eral of their number were wounded. Seve-
ral villages i'll that vicinity have been plum
dered. The missionaries at Van have sent
their families TO Achtamar, n small island in
Lake Van, owned and occupied by an Arme-
man monastery, where they are compare
lively secure. Two of the missionaries re
main in Van, but are obliged to keep strong
police force on their premises day and
night
All is quiet bere. and as the Turks are
masters in the Black Sea, it is not probable
this town will see active war operations.
The brick tiled, sloping rooted, bright houses
OF this city are very different from the low
mud novels of Erzroom, with their fiat earth
roofs ; Nnd the gardens of this place. with
their pomgranate, fig, apricot lemon, ornnge,
and other fruit trees, besides roses, callas,
alalins and many other flowers in abundance,
are in strong contrast with the barren yards
called gardens of Erzrnom. Still Erzroom
Is our home, and while We are unsettled here
nothing can quite compensate for the home
feeling which every one Graves wherever he
may be.
The Russians, after moving forward 50
rapidly and So Tar ns almost to have Err
room III their grasp. have now fallen back, |
for reasons which do not yet appear. But it |
has long been apparent thnt the declaration
of war came too soon. For more than
month hugh water in the rivers and snow and |
mud in the mountains impedcd their pro
.,rrss and gave the Turks time to hurry up |
their incomplete preparations. The rapid
advance ot the Russians hus been mostly
with cavalry not IN sufficient force to hold
heir positions. Il is probable they are wait
ing to capture kars before moving forward
IN force II their forces should admit IT 1t.
i would seem good strategy to mask Mars
md move on in force towards Er2roon
attest accounts report only IL hhttalions
With Monkhtur rnshn between kms and
Erltoon. not more thnn 10000 elective men
=, all r,,IuIty Monk htur Npuli retire tp