The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-19
SHOCKING CRIMES OF THE TERRIBLE TURK,

mysteries of Oriental diplomacy and European
indifference.
England alone, of all the powers. has
from time to time when startling facts of
Wholesale robbery and murder have been
brought to her notice demonstrated with
the Sublime Porte, who, with the sublime
dupllclty of an Oriental despot, would in
the same breath promise reform and incite
his minions to further deeds of violence
and viIlalny. Said Mr.. Burnett
To carry out his diabolic policy of extermina-
ton the Sublime Porte found a ready and
willing tool in the wild, savage and blood
and herds in the high mountain pastures and
In winter descend to the lower valleys and
plateaus TO billet themselves on the industrious
ana thrifty ArmenianS, who unarmed and
frlendleSs become their easy prey.
Now the Kurds are brave and warlike peo-
pie, who from prehistoric times have occupied
their mountain businesses and lived by plum
dering the people below them in the lower val
leys and plateaus. They are q people in the
same condition of savagery as our Sioux and
Comanches before they were subdued and
brought on to reservations. To the natural
hatred of savage to civilized people is
added the odium theologicum of a Moslem
fanatic toward q Christian, for the Kurds are
devoted followers OF Islam
The Armenians are variously estimated in
numbers from 100000 TO 1900, 900, living
for the most part in innumerable small vii
| lagos and hamlets scattered among the high
/ mountain valleys ana plat Tea US stretching rom
Lake Van westward and northward TO the
| Black Sea. They are engaged mostly in agri-
! culture in a small way, and in towns and cities
! they form the mechanic and merchant classes.
The Armenian living in cities becomes YER
So tile and accomp liShed. He is q shrewd bust
ness man and knows how to take advantage of
! the markets and the dizziness OF his ne1ghbors.
/ He takes naturally to education, speaks varl-
| Gus languages ana knows how to turn his intel
| lectual attainments to q material profit.
They are devoutly attached to their church,
! the Gregorian, and TO the forms and usages
that have come down TO them from remote
! antiquity
The ruling class Is the Turk. He holds all
! the offices, civil and mill tary. Only Moham-
/ medanS bear arms. The Armenian Christians
| are not permitted to carry arms or to have
! them in their houses. They are, therefore,
utterly defenseless, as sheep among wolves.
| To inaugurate their policy OF determination
the authorities OF Constantiuople enlist the
Kurds. All the horSemep are armed with re-
| peating rifles and wear the Turkish uniform.
They are given to understand that the llyes
| aud possessions OF the Armenian CHRISTIANS are
! in their hands. They may do what they VIII,
rob, plumber, burn, destroy, and no Turkish
authority will call them to account for it.
Armed bands go from village TO village. They
quarter themselves on the inhabitants They
demand forage for their horses and food in ex.
travagant abundance for their hunger, and
perpetrate other horrors too black ana awful
to mention. Ii resistance is made they shoot
down in cold blood all that hinder tnem OF
yield not to their wishes. Wives are dis
mothers are outraged IN the presence of theil
children; young and innocent girls are de
bauched and polluted under the eyes OF theil
parents, who are helpless 10 prevent it. i
complaint is made TO the Turkish authorize:
the complainants are maltreated and cast into
prison, there TO remain, suffering hunger an6
disease and torture until their friends or rela
tives have raised the required sum to secure
their release.
4 common method OF eXtortion is TO ares
the men OF property on some trumped VI
charge, cast them into filthy and lOathsomt
dungeons, subject them to torture and name
less mutilations to eXtort from them the secre
of buried treasure or until the relatives out o
pity sacrificed all their property TO secure thei
release from the horrors of prison and torture
Bands of robbers in Turkish uniform descend
upon the unarmed Armenian villages, rob
pillage, plumber, rape, burn, driving before
them they retreat f1ocks of sheep and herd
of cattle and bevies of Young women and girls
In this way thousands of homes have beer
broken up and thousands of families reduced
TO beggary. 1t seems TO be the fixed purpose
of the Turkish authorities either to destro!
them or drive them out of the country.
Now the Armenian hates the Russian, ant
he knows very well that he has nothing Il
gain politically from the interference of Rus
STA. Nevertheless, so intolerable has his con
dition become under Turkish rule that tens Of