The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-21
THE GALLANT ARMENIAEs.
A Defence OF Them AGAINST Cempnriso.
with the Greeks and Cretars.

To THE EDfToR OF THE SUN-Sir: In n
recent cable despatch in THE SuS contrast
was drawn between the conduct OF tho Greeks
and Cretans in the present crisis and the sup
posed inactivity and lack Of courage or tho
Arnenians under similar or worse provocation.
The comparison was made to the disadvantage
of the latter IN point OF the spirit necessary to
self-defence or the exhibition OF race hcrolsm.
I would submit, from n knowledge OF the his
tory of the Armenian people aud q thorough
study, from original sources. Of the occurrences
OF the past few years. that the two cases are not
at all parallel. and that the facts In no way re-
fleet upon the race courage of the Armcnians.
The history OF that people for two thousand
years shows that they are naturally brave
resourceful race. Under conditions Of extreme
difficulty they have shaken OFT the yokcs OF
powerful oonuuerors, and moro often kept at
bay the enemies Of their rational inue pondence
They were the most useful allies Of the Cru.
saders In the great wara OF the middle ages but
when the tide OF European armies swept back,
the Armehlens, being Christians and always
holding to the faith with utmost persistence
were LEFT In the midst OF hordes ~ their natural
and Imnacablc cncinies; They we're rub'nerscd
by the mighty tide OF Tartar invasion. AS was
Constantinopie and Europe Itself escaped tho
same calamity only US by hairs breadth
systematically disarmed and vsrborne by
superior numbers. Moreover, the Armenian
the EsFH %ma nFf p %Sch The sRs
cause OF the success of the Greek revolution
and the achievement OF Independence from the
Bosnia. The Armenians, too. are scattered
Though m immense territory: they have
prac,irsbio In a military, sense; they can be
reached by land by large bodies Of the regular
Turkish army. and are surrounded by the
mountain tribes OF hostile Kurds. In other
words. they are ns,rpetually In the heart OF the
Notwith standing oil these disad vantagrs. tho
Arineninns have performed some truly heroic
feats. The men OF Sassoun. where tho hrst OF
Turkish army and the Kurds for days; IN fact.
they defeated the better armed Kurds. and were
only overcome by the combined forces OF their
enemies. the Turks using heavy artillery.
Need say anything or Iei,oun more gal
ish soldIcry occupied n fort, overlooking and
commanding the town. A bnnh OF Ieitounlis
attacked the fort. captured II. and held the gar
r!-on prisoners for three months. a great TURK
preston in any Of their attacks. Fipaliy the
tee Of safety. the Armenians surrendered to the
powers. Even this they refused to do until
' Tie .sianr ~ The Ottoman Bank for tho pur-
pose Of compelling intervention Ivy the powers
was an act brave to the point OF mainess: II
Armenians and In its final results led To tho
present attitude of the powers. the erreement
To present II Anal plan of reform to the Sultan,
and to use force II not accepted.
would not attcmpt to take away one grain
a " ~ tRs ' cretans and ' Gteess but surely
the insular position OF the Cretes gives them an
advantage when compared with the Arine-
mans. This is shown by tho fact that the
Turkish Government has not hcen able to
land single soldier on the island even after an
! act OF war by Greece. The proximity OF Greece
has been n point OF immense strength Ia tho
| CretRn-. whereas tho Armen ans are surrounded
by their enemies are accessible on all sides, and
| Russia under recent conditions will not help
| them. Moreover. the Artnen!hns have hal the
| treaty assurances OF protect on hy all Europe
In hA ka N N n
Cretans; hut let US not be unjust to II brave and
noble people.
The Armenlaus in the past and the present
! have proved their courage In war; they
| have for centuries sacrificed life and oil things
| for their faith. The true towards ars the sci.
| fish and perndious statesmen OF Europe.
NEW YORK. Feb. Is. JOHN j. ROONEY.