New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-17
FORTE'S STATEMENT.

London. Nov l6.-"The Standards" corre-
snondent in Varna describes the recent massa-
ere of Armenian Christians as of equal inn
nortance with the Bulgarian butcheries which
,sd to the Russo-Turkish war. He says
"The trouble began with the refusal of the
lrmenans pay taxes. on the ground that the
kurdish raids had so impoverished them as TO
render il impossible This probably true.
Troops were sent to enforce the payments. but
were beaten off. The Governor of Bitlis then
arrived with an imposing force of regulars.
The people. seeing that the struggle was hope
less yielded. but the Governor resolved to make
an example of them. He ordered the troops to
fire on the defenceless populace, and they
obeyed with alacrity. They only ceased when
the residents of twenty-five villages. numbering
some thousands had been killed. Some reports
say 5000 were slain.
Great Britain sent her consul in Van. Mr.
Halward 10 report on the slaughter The Brit
ish Ambassador in Constantnople. upon receiv-
ing the report. communicated 1t to the Porte.
The Sultan was Mortified and he ordered the
local military commander. Zeki Pacha. to make
his report on the matter at once. Zeki had been
originally instructed to proceed to the scene after
the repuse of the troops. but the Governor Of
BItlis arrived there ahead Of him II seems that
Zekis report confirmed Mr.. lIaward's. where
upon the Governor formulated the grave charge
that the latter was melting the Armenians to
revolt; thus causing the whole original disturb
ance This was submitted to Sir Philip Curre.
who has sent out British officials 10 make in
Quries."
Mr. HagOpan. chairman OF the Armenian
Patriotic Association. in London has sent Lord
Kimberley. Foreign Secretary. letter sent from
ff.p Al
claring his belief in the reports of the massa-
Gre submits that in view of the horrible tor
lures and prosecutions of the Armenans. the
time has come to abolish the administration OF
the Porte and substitute a regime approved by
the signatOries of the Berlin treaty.
The letter from Bitlis gives details of the origin
Of the disturbances. There was kurdish rald
on American cattle. resulting in night in which
two Kurds were killed The friends Of the kurds
took the dead bodies to Moush and declared that
the Armenians had overrun the land and were
killing and pundering right and left. This fur
nshed the pretext for the massing Of the troops
The letter then described the horrors Of the
massacre. 1t says that on the admissions Of the
Turkish soldiers, Of whom tearfully pro-
tested that they merely obeyed orders. it is as
serted that no compassion was shown TO age or
sex In one place 800 or 400 women after having
been forced repeatedly to submit TO the soldiery,
were hacked to pieces with swords and bayonets.
In another place 200 weeping women begged at
the commanders feet for mercy. The commander,
after ordering that they be outraged had them
were enacted In other places. In one case sixty
young brides and maids were driven into a
church and were violated and butcherec until
their blood flowed from the doors.
large company. headed by a priest, knelt
near the church begging for compassion
averring that they had nothing to do with the
culpr!ts who killed the Knrds. II was in vain
all were killed. Several attractive women were
told they might live II they would recant their
faith. They replied: why should we deny
Christ? We have more reason to do 50 than
hoi niptf NO no
their husbands and brothers XIII us. too.
This was done The letter says that between
5000 and 10000 were killed Babes were impaled
on the same weapon with their mothers. Several
soldiers admitted that they had disposed of 100
victims each Nearly thirty villages were de-
stroyed. Some families were burned with kero-
sene in their own houses.
Conste ntnople. Nov 1s.-The Porte has issued
an account Of the last Armenian troubles in
the Sassun district The responsibility Is laid
upon Kurdish brigands. who murdered Mus
sulman and committed many other excesses
The Turkish troops called TO Sassun are said TO
have restored order and protected all law-abid-
ing persons.