The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-05-31
FAMINE IN ASIA nrNoE.

GQTT69pOQutuI Ol L1b- 6gaa0a AHs
writes as follows: "The famine in As
Minor has assumed alarming proportion
and there Is grave reason TO fear that
has not yet reached It's climax. 1t a
peared frst in the northwestern proyii
ces, near the Russian frontier, and vi
there = result of the var. These proTir
ces, it will be remembered, suffered sever
ly during the campaign. II the hEryes
last year had been good, they might, PEI
maps, have 80 far recovered themselves a
to have no fear Of starvation, bat, unfor
tunGtely, the unusual drouth entirely de
stroyed the crops in many districts, anc
prevented = plentiful supply Of grain be
ing obtained in the others.
From the telegrams which have been re
ceiyed, we find that each district hopes 70
receive assistance from its neighbor, Will,
in reality the neighbor itself requires a.
sistance. Thus, the Armenian Archbishoy
Of Van telegraphs: The population hAv'
only food ior fifieen days more. The loca
authorities distribute bread 70 twelve
thousand persons in the town, but they
have been compelled 10 reduce the ra
lions one-hSf. The number Of iamishec
people TO whom We are ourselves giving
rAtions amounts 70 four thousand. All
our hopes are founded on the grain which
should be sent 70 rs from Bitlis, We be,
seech you 70 get it sent as quickly as poss-
ible, 30 Is 70 save the life Of the populA-
tion.'
"How far these expectations Of help
from Bitlis are likely 70 be realised We
may see from the following telegram sent
by the archbishop OF that town; Here
the poor classes have hitherto borne their
piTations without murmuring. Complet.
ely exhausted, they now appeal TO public
charity. Unless they receive immediate
help their lives are in danger. An suffer
from famine.
~ might multiply indefinitely these
kilograms, for they come in almost dEily
from the principal centres, and each day
the cry Tor help becomes more piercing
and desperate. Here, for example, is one
81 the last from the Syrian archbishop Of
Moussul: tLamentAble and indsserihable
scenes. The FINISHED people collect from
all sides in the town. Not finding any
barley, they eat carrion, and disease l. the
result Considerable numbers Of persons,
finding nothing. die OF starvation. In the
name Of the suffering endured, We appeal
10 your charity and beseceh speedy help.
"The way in which the Government has
acted with regard TO this widespread fam
inc does not give good alRuriss for the fu-
ture. Until quite recently il adopted the
convenient plan Of simply ignoring Il,
and sent from time to time stringent or
ders 70 the Governor General that not on
" the taxes for the current year, bot also
the arrears Of taxes, should be collected
without delay. To all the appeals for as
sist4nce it turned deal ear, and decided,
with short sighted syeriee, that the fiscal
wants OF the treasury should be alone
considered. Indignant at this heartless
and foolish action on the part Of the Gov
eminent, the leading members OF the Ar
meniGn community determined 70 assist
their suffering fellow-eounrymeu, and
for this purpose organized q system OF re-
lief, with Central Committee In OonstAn-
tinople. Considerable sums were collect.
ed and dispatched 70 the principal towns
in the famine districts, but Il was found
that part Of the money distributed was
seized by the tGI-RAtherers, and zeveral
local Committees telegraphed that Il was
Of little use 70 send money, Tor there was
no grain to be bought A new system
had, therefore, TO be adopted. Not mon
ey, but grain, had 70 be sent, and this
was no easy matter, for the roads were
blocked up with snow. Now, fortunately,
the snoE Is melting, and the roads are be-
ing opened bat the pecuniAry means at
the disposal Of the Committee are far
from sufficient.
'The Government seems now to be
awakening from its torpor and apathy,
and begins 70 perceive that the existence
Of the famine can no longer be officially
denied. The ArmeniAns are actively or
ganizing relief, the local and European
press have taken up the nGtter warmly,
money Is flowing in from western Europe,
and even the Emperor OF Russia has sent
q transcription Of 1000 francs. In these
circumstances the porte feels that Il must
do something, but If We judge from is
first act We must eonelude that It would
have done better 70 remain inactive. To-
day learn, from = Trustworthy source,
that it intends 70 dissolve the Armenian
relief committees on the ground that the
organization Is . Edias n HaiI, which
might be used for revolutionary purposes,
and which, in any case, cannot be tolerA-
ted in q Eell-gUVerned country"