Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-02-14
CREEK HEROES IN
TURKISH RANKS
Christians Were Forced Into
SOSI0m Service.
THEY THWART OPpRESSORS

Victims Burn Bridges and Work 9th
or Hindranoes to Advance Of Islam
ites--Latter Put Them on Firing
Line In All 5attIes-otfioers Shoot
Men Under Them.
Greeks who formed large part of
the skirmish lines and the first ranks
Of the Turkish army proved them
selves to be martyrs to the cause Of the
Balkan allies by their brave acts,
which resulted in their own death, ac-
cordlng to Barnoog Alamlan an Ar
menian who served In the Turkish
army as private and who just arriv-
ed in Chicago after desertlng because
of his lack Of sympathy with the Mos
lens. Alamlan, who was found at the
Armenian club in Chicago, told O first
hand story Of the Balkan war to a re.
porter, with the assistance OF an inter
prefer
81 was private in the Ninety ninth
battalion, Fifth brigade, which was at
tached to the Fourth Turkish army
corps, consisting Of first reservists,"
began Alamian. 1--WE were along the
TchatalIa line, which was four miles
long and received the brunt Of every
engagement.
Christian Soldiers In Front.
"Battalions composed Of all Turks
never We're put on the first line. There
were three Nlacedonians, one Armenian
and two of their Greek kindred who
had been forced to enlist to every fifty
Turks, and on the firing line the only
Turks were officers commanding the
others In many instances | saw
Macedonians burn down bridges in or
der that the Turks might be unable to
transport their artillery to points Of ad.
vantage, thus suffering severe losses.
Many OF them were shot down by their
officers before the Bulgarian fire reach
ed them
"The Bulgarian troops were far SUI
perior to the Turks, Their cannonadlng
was so fierce that the Turkish earthen
breastworks along the line were ST.
fenced most Of the time. The Bull
garian infantry also was full of cour-
age and vigor At one time the Bul-
garians tried to flank the Turkish left
wing, and just as they got about half
way around the Moslem battleships in
the harbOr near by shelled them. The
Bulgars were forced to retreat, but It
was done in good order and without
any panic whatever.
Lieutenant Proves Self Hero.
"A lieutenant In our battalion prov.
ed to be hero" continued Alamian,
"when, during one Of the engagements,
we were cut Off from the main body.
The Bulgars Ilanked US in on all sides,
and our loss Of officers was great. A
son Of MalIhtal Pasha, former prime
minister, was In command, and we
were getting the worst Of the fight
when he was shot down, badly wound
ed. The lieutenant stepped to the
front and called to us to stand by the
colors. The position was hot one.
Bullets were raining in on us, and the
constant buzz and swish Of the leaden
missiles Of death kept coming closer
to my head every minute. Comrades
on both sides of me toppled over dead
or wounded, aud the situation was try.
Ing to the best Of us.
"Thc lieutenant raised his sword
above his head, issued an order, and
after picking mp our wounded COM
mander, he led us through the sklrmlsh
lines Of the enemy and back to our
main army. The lieutenant may
add now commands battalion.
"Thc treatment accorded the men IN
the Turkish ranks is the worst ! ever
saw, We received little food, aud snnl
tary conditions were unbcarahle. At
San Stcfano there were 5000 wounded
lying IN valley without any attention
whatever Miles and miles Of trenches
about ten feet wide were dug and
thousands Of bodies were thrown into
them, one on top Of another and COW
cred without first determining whether
or not the Victims were dcad.'