The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-12-17
/. AFFAIRS IN TURKEY.
Statement from the American
Board Of Foreign Missions.
AN INVESTIGATION NECESSARY.

Aufkwn investigators Wouu T1opap'y
Not DO Impartial.
BOSTON, Dec. 1.-THE American board
of commissioners, for foreign missions
more than any other missionary organiza-
tion in America, centralizes its work in
behalf Of ArInenians in Asiatic Turkey.
It's western Turkey mission began in 1919,
Its eastern Turkey began in 1885, and its
central Turkey mission in 1847. These
three missions comprise 10 stations, 1858 out
stations, AZ missionaries, medical mission
airy In eastern Turkey, 40 married women
and 70 unmarried women; In fact 1t en-
ploys 79l native laborers These occupy
600 places for stated preaching and secure
average congregations Of 80,747 persons
The Sabbath schools number 2646t. The
adherents are estimated at 1884. There
are lie churches with membership Of IL
t81, of whom 49S were received within
year.
The educational work is extensive.
There are theological schools, 20 theo-
logical students, 81 college, high and
boarding schools for boys, containing ,3i3
pupils; 20 college, high and boarding
schools for girls containing 1,131 pupils.
There are 372 common schools, containing
1898 pupils. There are 1861 others under
under instructions consist of 1886 per-
sons. The contributions of the natives
last year to the board amounted to t34, 759
These facts do not include the work In
European Turkey. Numerous inquiries
has induced this conservative organiza-
ton to furnish the following statement.
relating to affairs in Turkey
1--WE are not unconcerned about the re-
ports of the massacre in eastern Turkey.
The position of the III missionaries Of the
American board within the Turkish en-
pire Is an extremely delicate one. Sympa-
thizing deeply on the one side with all who
arc suffering by reason of poverty, oppres-
sion and misrule, they have yet been loyal
to the government under which they have
lived, and have never countenanced sedi-
ton or rebellion. 1t is not necessary for
our missionaries, after these scores Of years
of devoted labor for the native races of
Turkey, to prove their sympathy with the
suffering and oppressed by joining Others
who, at n safe distance from the scene Of
dan ger, are passing vigorous resolutions
in condemnation OF the wrongs inflicted
1t is inexpedient for us to present full
statement of all we hear and believe.
Some things we may properly say to
the full Investigation of the alleged atroc-
titles, which we trust will be made by the
representatives of both our government
and of the European powers. In the Sas.
SCUM region, south Of Moush Plain, there
are, or recently were, many villages in
habited by Armenians These people were
Systematically robbed of their flocks by
kurds, and in the latter part of tine sum
mer the Armenians pursued the robbers
In the endeavor to recover their property
In the fight which ensued dozen of these
Kurds were killed, among whom were
some who were enrolled as Turkish sol
diers.
when Information was given that the
Armenians had killed some of the sultan's
troops, the charge of rebellion was made
and orders were sent to put down the in
surrection. The result was that these law
less and uncontrolled soldiers made indis-
criminate slaughter of the people who had
sought to defend their property In the
horrible massacre which followed thou
sand were slain, some state 5000, others
10000. The details of this wretched affair
are not obtainable even by those near the
scene. They will never be obtained unless
foreign governments insist upon thor.
ough investigation, conducted by foreign
ers. The poor people are in terror and
dare not state the truth unless under pro-
lection.
Though our missionaries in eastern
Turkey are often upon the Moush Plain,
where there are many out stations in
which the evangelical work is conducted
by them, yet their work has not extended
into this Sassoun district, and hence they
have had no direct reports from tho scene
of the massacre.
Papers from Constantinople, printed
in that city and entirely under the control
of the Turkish ccnsors of the press, an
nounce that the sultan has sent one of his
imperial guards to the city of Erzingan,
in eastern Turkey, to carry decoration to
Zekki Pasha, the commander of the Fourth
army corps, which is located there. Zekki
Pasha is the military commander who led
the troops against the defenseless villages
In the Sassoun region at the time of the
massacre. Another envoy carries four
banners from the sultan to the four lead
ing Kurdish chiefs who were associated
with the military commander in the re-
ported massacre, and who probably were
the instigators of it.
"After the sultan has thus approved of
the action of his troops and of the Kurds
it will be impossible for any commission
appointed by the Turkish government to
investigate the outrage and bring any re.
port that reflects on either the kurds or
the army. By this act tho sultan seems
to assume all the responsibility of what
has been DONE"