The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-01-10
THE TURKS.
Statement of a Well Known Span
ish Scholar.
AMERICAN MISSIONARIES BLAMED.

The Armenian Atrocities, He Declares,
Have Been Largely Exaggerated, and the
Teachings of Missionaries Led TO Revolts
Against the Lawful Authority.
LONDON, Jan. 10.-Senor Ximenes,a well
known Spanish traveller, has just returned
here after having completed a geographi-
cal mission for the Turkish government in
Kurdistan and Mesopotamia, which lasted
from March to November last. This gen
tleman happened to be in the Armenian
province of Bitlic at the time of the al
legged Sassoun disturbances, and he de-
clares that he neither saw nor heard any
thing to warrant the sensational stories
told of Kurdish atrocities
Senor Ximenes is disposed TO lay much
of the blame for the disturbed condition
of Armenia on the American Methodist
missions in Asia Minor He says that
they give the Armenians a superficial edu-
cation out of all proportion to the needs of
the community. The pupils of these mis-
sions, he adds, are never satisfied to return
to their homes and work their land. They
continually speak of American liberty. In
nearly every case, says Senior Ximenes,
the Armenian agitators are shown to have
Senior Xrmenes further declares that the
statements that women and children were
tortured and outraged by either the Turk
ish regulars or irregulars, are untrue. The
entire affair, the traveller insists was lin
tied to a local disturbance which was To-
cally suppressed.
After describing the troubles and fights
between Armenians and Kurds early last
g1TOrnpr GaOOr Xirnanaa eavs that tbR A r.
menians gathered in large numbers in the
valley of Talari, near Sassoun At the re-
quest of the governor of Bitlis orders were
sent to Zekhi Pasha to mobilize troops and
restore order. Consequently four bat
talions, about 1,200 men, were sent to dis
perse them. When their surrender was
demanded the Armenians, who numbered
3,0O0 pelted the troops with stones and
fired several shots at them. The latter re-
piled with volley
The Armenians then fed and reasse1n-
bled in narrow valley, where the pursu-
ing troops overlook them. The Turkish
official in command, in a conciliatory
speech, advised them to disperse. Some
obeyed, but many refused to do 80 and the
troops fired a second volley. In all 300
Armenians were killed. This, according
| to Senor Ximenes, was the only serious af-
fray Of the whole affair Many prisoners
were taken, it is true, but they were after
wards released.
The Armenians themselves the traveller
claims, said that they had been deluded
| by an agitator named Bohazian, alias
Momah, "a former pupil of an American
mission, and implicated in the disturb
ances of Kounkapo, for which he was
| condemned TO penal seryitude and later
| pardoned by the sultan.
| BOSTON, jan. 10.--Secretary James L.
Barton, of the American board of com
missioners for foreign missions, referring
to the statement of Senior Ximenes, said
"The statement of Senior Ximenes is, upoI
the face of it, the utterance of the Turkisl
| government and is given out to stay the
rising tide Of public opinion against the
misrule of the Ottoman empire. The
American board of commissioners for for
| eign missions state that all of their schools
are kept scrupulously free from politics o
| every kind. Students who have showI
any tendency to revolt have been summa
rily expelled. 1t is not true, either, tina
the education is beyond the needs Of tn,
country"