The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-11-28
practically war of determination carried
ENDORSED BY TERRELL.
Is the Following Statement Furnished the
United Press.


Constanuinople, November 15.-The
following statement has been handed the
European manager of the United Press,
here and the latter, from full confidence in
the American Christian men who
present it, and from careful personal
observation forwards it to the American
press as an impartial statement of facts.
This statement has the full endorsement
of Minister Terrell.
"During October, considerable part
of the Armenian districts in the provinces
of Trebizond. Erzroun, Bitlis Van,
Harpout, Ediarbekr and Sivas, were laid
waste, and large number, not yet fully
known, of Armenian Inhabitants killed
by men intent ON crushing into the i'm
potence Of the Armenian race in Turkey.
AS the awful tidings come in the Turkish
government has diligently telegraphed
abroad that Armenians attacked Muslems,
arousing frenzy of indignation which
could not exactly be controlled, but order
restored after some loss of life. The
effect of these kilograms has been to culti-
vate belief of some general rising Ct
Armenians. Up to this date the only
authentic rising of Armenians took place
at Zeitoun, province of Aleppo. Men who
found themselves assailed by mob and
happened to have arms in the house in
number Of cases, defended their lives and
their families to the bitter end. Where
Christians were generally armed they
have made hard fight for life; some one
thousand Muslems are said to have been
killed. Aside from this case, the destruc-
tlon OF from ten to fifteen thousand
Christians have not cost Turkey more
than two or three hundred lives.
In the latter part of September, while
the Powers were renewing demands for
the acceptance by the Sultan cf a reform
scheme, word began to come in from all
these provinces that Musslenlans were he
ing armed, while a disarmament of the
Christians was being pressed with great
determination. In some cases the govern
lnent officials openly distributed arms
and ammunition to the Musslemans. In
some cases Musslemans were found buy
ing arms in the open market, who had
not money enough to buy bread. In other
cases officials sold Musselmans arms con-
fscated from the Christians, thus making
useful profit. At Santi, the Kourds Of
the mountainous districts of Dersim,
lying between Erzingan and Harpout, be-
gan to assemble saying they had received
orders from Zeekk Pasha, commander of
the Fourth Army Corps. to devastate
Armenian villages, taking plunder for
pay.
During the early days of October, Turks
in all six provinces openly declared they
were going to massacre the Christians
In Erzeroum about this time, large
number of Mussleman villagers, it is said
began to come into the city eager to buy
empty sacks Armenian dealers called
the attention of the officials to the matter
expressing a certain amount of anxiety.
Shaklr PaSha, the great reform COM
missioner, joined other officials in assur-
ing the Armenians they had nothing to
fear. All they needed to do was to re-
main quiet and attend to their own
affairs. Hangers On about the Sultan's
palace at ConStantinOple, stated that
Europeans may do what they lixo with
the country after tine Turks have done
with the Armenians but no Armenians
shall profit by reform scheme The re-
form scheme was signed in due form and
handed to the Ambassador. Next day the
Armenian clergy of the city of Erringan
called upon Zeekk Pasha to beg for pro-
lection from the Musslemans, preparing
to massacre them. The Pasha assured
them that they were perfectly safe and
sent them back to their abodes. They
had hardly reached their houses, when
all over the city at once as if acting on a
preconcerted signal, Turks began to kin
Armenians and plunder their houses and
shops. Erzeroum found out what the
empty sacks were wanted for. They Were
wanted to carry the sDoils from the
Armenian quarters of the city to the
Turkish villages of the surrounding
country.
A region 60, 600 square miles in area,
from Trebizond to Diarbeikr. and from
the Russian frontier at Erzeroum to
Siyas. was given up to massacre and
pillage. Only those places like Van, SO
far have been spared, as the Armenians
being in proportion of more than one to
four or five Turks might be expected to
offer resistance to any massacre. Only
meagre returns as yet have come IN. but
the loss of life as far as known is 5000.
The main object of the men who did
this work was rlunder. To the honor of
the Turkish people, be it said, that in
one of the places so far heard from in
detail, cases occurred where Musslemans
shelted Armenians and saved them from
death. Near rrebizond they saved the
entire village. The destitutlon is
described as something fearful to contem-
plate.
A very low estimate of the number re-
duced to absolute want by the loss of all
their movable property is 2O0 600 of whom
three-fourths are wives and children of
ruined traders or farmers.
All trade is broken up. All agriculture
in the devastated districts is blotted out,
and stock has been carried off and imple-
ments generally have been burned
Thousands of wretched creatures, be-
reaved, desperate and despairing now
face the pitiless winter (for on those lofty
highlands of Armenia the winter is pitt
less) and faintest contemplating what
is before them. Great numbers are
dependent on charity for their food. If
Musslemans are found involved in this
vast calamity let them with equal charity
be fed and cared for. Instant action is
demanded by the approach of the long
hard winter
| The American missionaries safety ia
due to the promptness of Minister Terrell
| in asking for protection.