Evening journal., 1896-01-29
GRIMES OF THE TURKS
Proved by the Bluebook on the
Armenian Outrages.
THE sAssoUN COMMISSIONS REPORT

An Impartial and Dispnssionate Investi-
cation FULLY Justihes Every Denuncia-
tion Yet Published Of the suItan-Ex-
termination Of Armenians was Intended.
LONDON, Jan. Bluebooks have been
issued containing all the official dispatch
es relative to Armenia between July "a,
1894, and Oct. l6, 1885, and the reports OF
the consular delegates attached to the Sas
soun commission.
Tho report gives the history Of the Ar
menian agitation for several years and re-
cords tho obstacles thrown in the way Of
the commission by the Turkish delegates.
IL also acquits the Armenians of the
charge brought against them Of burning
their own property TO incite an outbreak
among their people adding that the facts
ELECTED failed TO prove that the Armenians
were in revolt, but show that the agitator
Murnd instignted several Armenian out
RACES on Kurds The latter then retaliat-
cd, and the Armenians fled TO their viii
lages.
The conflicts between the Armenians
and Kurds followed, and the government
did nothing to arrive at a peaceful settle
mont or TO protect women and children.
The delegates are compelled to believe,
the report says, that all the Armenians
who fell into the hands of the soldiers the
Kurds or the Zaptiehs were either killed
or wounded, and that, with the exception
of the II villagers of Talori, not a single
prisoner was taken.
The report shows that the number Of
killed has been grossly exaggerated, but
admits that it is impossible even approx
mately to fix tho number Of victims.
There is appended, however, TO the report
tabulatod list of all the evidence tender
cd to the commission.
The six villages mentioned show a total
of 2d5 victims, distributed as follows.
Shenik, iii; Scmal, 90; Ghelleguzan, the
scene of the story of the great pit, which
was filed TO overfowing with massacred
victims, 40; Agpi, %; spagank, 10; Ta-
lori, IA.
These villages were all burned, and the
inhabitants were scattered.
Delegate shipley's Memorandum.
The British delegate, Shipley, in
memorandum attached TO the joint report,
from the evidence gathered by Consul
| Hampson during his tour, estimates the
total number of victims I'm the Sassoun dis
/ tricb, including deaths from starvation, at
about 800. One of the worst cases of cold
bloodod cruelty, Delegate Shipley says,
was the murder of prisoners in the camp
at Ghelleguzan undor a promise of safe
conduct. But the number of those so
murdered was only 40 OF 90 and not hun
dreds, as has been stated.
Delegate Shipley, while admitting that
there was violation of women, asserts that
the alleged wholesale butchery of women
was not confirmed.
He complains of the ooncoction and sup
preston of evidence before the commission
by Turkish officials as not calculated to
advance the interests of the truth.
Mr. Shipley further declares that the
| Annenians were hunted like wild beasts,
and If the slaughter was not greater it
was solely owing to the vastness of the
| mountain ranges, which facilitated the es
cape Of the Armcnians. He was con
WINGED that the Turks aimed at the COM
plcte determination of the Armenians in
the Ghclleguzan and Talori districts
Without desiring to appear partial to the
Armenians Mr.. Shipley emphasizes the
fact that they were exposed to the rapacity
Of government officials and to the cXac-
ti0ns of the l(urds, who would have burn
ed their houses and stolen their cattle un
less they had paid their demands. 1t is
easy 10 understand, Mr.. Shipley continues,
that the Armonians could not pay taxes
and satisfy the Kurds and as the govern
ment did nothing to keep the Kurds in
order one cannot be surprised that the Ar
menians were discontented.
Consul Hampson also attaches a report
Of the inadequacy Of and the obstacles to
the distribution of relief.
Among tho official dispatches is one
from Mr.. G. NJ Hallwnrd the British
vico consul at Van, written in November,
1894, which describes a horrible butchery
by the Kurds at Sassoun, when men were
burned alive, a Ghelleguzan priest was
tossed on hayOnets, and go girls were driy
en- TO a church and the soldiers then or
dered 10 dispose of them as they liked and
then 20 massacre them. Mr. Shipley
doubts this story
The editorials in the morning papers up
on the Armenian bluebook mostly COM
ment ON the fact that they only picture
the overture TO a long tale of massacre,
and that the careful report of the delegates
has justified every denunciation yet pub
| liehp1 of the Sultan