The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-01
THE BAKU WASSACRES.
The Guilty Turks EndeaVOrlnE 10 Throw
Blame for the AtrOclty Upon Russia.


To The EpIToR OF THIS suN Sir; The last
mail news from the rranscaucasus by way
OF Constantinople throws so sinister light
on the conduct OF some Of the Russian officials
there in connection with the Baku massa-
cres that the impression left, after reading
the accounts, Is that they were inspired
from COnstAntinOple rather than from st,
Petersburg. The reason for this IL that the
victims were Armenians. and the murderers
Tatars belonging 20 the Sunni or Turkish
branch Of the MohRmmedan religion. OF
which the Sultan Abdul Hamd II. In the
head. The PersiAns. who belong TO the Shah
section Of the Mussulrnan faith and are
numerous in the Transcaucasus, had no part
in the a1air.
Tn order 10 make tho matter quite clear. II Ia
necessary 20 describe tho distribution OF tho
population in that part OF Russia. The In
hAbitants number close upon six millions,
about half being Georgians and Armenians
In nearly equal proportions, and there are
some 900, 900 Russians. OF whom the largest
number belong TO the colonies OF eKiles known
as MolokAni. and others who have been ex-
pAtriated for political reasons. The re-
mainder IL made up Of a medley Of Tatars.
Perslsns. Turks, Grcassians and kurds be-
longing to one or other OF the two sections OF
MohammsdAnism, and OF about 100, 900 GER
man Mennonites, Jews and Poles.
For = long time after the RUSSIAN conquest
there was bitter enmity between the Georgian
and Armenian populations, which was dill
gently fostered by the majority Of the Cars
tieutenants in the Cancasus, as the uoeroys
brother OF the Emperor Alexander u the
Grand Duke Michael Under his admins
sHn to az ou sraSn s G and 9R Ra
country was rapidly becoming united and
prosperous This was the last thing desired
and as a result Of a visit OF the reactionary
Emperor Alexander III 70 the Iranscaucasus
the Grand Duke Michael was removed from
the viceroyalty and. so TO say. eIied 20 the
country OF his birth from the land Of hls
adoption, because he WAS suspected OF plan
ming 20 make II an independent country with
The irst blow ct the Armenians occurred
soon after the war commenced, when an at
tempt was made TO create new eumity between
them and the Georgiaus through the agency
Of Georgian hirelinRs In the RUSSIAN service.
Conspicuous among these appears 20 have
been Nakachidze, the Governor OF Baku, and
one or two others who we're killed In different
places during the last six months. was
Nakachidze who authorized the issue OF some
five hundred licenses 70 bear arms 20 Tatars
shortly before the massacres and when he
had let them loose on the Armenians, refused
TO these latter and the Georgians who applied
the same permission to carry arms. The re-
suit was the killing at Bak u Of nearly one
Tatars from the nsighborhood and the noun
talns. who we're allow wed 20 pass through the
Gordon Of troops and Rendarmcs. while help
driven hack. II IL Credtable to the Tatars
Of the city itself that numbers 81 them gave
shelter N the ATmenians aud their families
and did their best to stop the savage and ON
cially melted proceedings OF their Fellow
Countrymen.
At Tinis. the capital. on Sunday. Feb q.
after the full extent OF the massacres At Baku
became known, funeral services were held in
all the Armenian churches, at which Georgian
PRIESTS Of the Eastern rite and Mussulmau
Molahs were present 20 indicate their SYM
pathv But most remarkable OF all was the
action OF the principal Mollah OF 1ifis. who
rose during the service in the Armenian
Cathedral and deli vered a short address. al
the end OF which he said: We Christians and
MussulmRns OF the Caucasus, instead Of muir
deriug each other. should league together
gainst the enemy. against our common OPP
pTessOr.
Moah in a Christian church the more styik-
ing Is, a. learn from an entirely Independent
source, a Persian Of the Caucasus. that soon
after the war broke out. word was sent from
COnstAntinople by order OF the Sultan 70 the
Mussulmans 10 Russia that. as the Gar was his
friend and ally, they must be faithful 10 the
Russian Government In everything.
NEw YORK March 20. PERA.