The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-26
ISLAND H0SP|CE
FOR REFUGEES
Of ASIA MINOR
PORTE, REFUSING TO YIELD TO
GRECIAN OWNERSHIP, MASSES
MUHAMMADANS IN SUR
ROUNDINGS.

| The Island of Mitylene, Greece.
| July 25.--One Of the most interesting
spots In the Orient today Is the beau
tiful fertile island OF Mitylene, in
| terecting not only because Its posses
sion by Greece Is challenged by Tur-
key, but BECAUSE nearly $4,000 Hell
| lenes who have been driven from
their fields and homes in Asia Minor
have there sought refuge.
| At this stage. when the Turkish
minister at Athens presents himself
| daily at the Greek foreign office and
| submits list OF the measures taken
! by his government to suppress the
| persecution. and when the Vail fgov-
| ernor-genera1). OF Smyrna has issued
note to his officials informing them
| that the excuses committed against
the Greeks are calculated to drag
their country into a new war, 1t Is
perhaps idle to attempt to prove the
| completely of the Porte In the disor-
ders But 1t Is significant that the
sufferings OF the Christian population
have been limited to Thrace and those
| parts of the Asiatic mainland which
are face to face with the coveted is
| lands.
| Tho object is plain. In Thrace. the
| Turks seek to install a compact Mu-
| Mammalian population between Bull
garia and Constantinople: in Asia
Minor they similarly wish to have the
shores opposite the Greek islands
| lined with a people OF undoubted 10y
atty. From a military point of view
| the scheme Is perfectly logical. but
| one must again protest loudly against
/ the methods adopted TO insure its
success
1 Refugees Concentrated.
More than $4,000 refugees are con-
centrated IN the island Of Mitylene.
| 10000 of them are in tho town IT.
I self. The churches, schools and fac
tories are full: thousands are sleep
| ing IN the gardens, streets or caiques
/ In one hospital there are ninety who
have been wounded by the Turks;
| the number OF slightly wounded re-
| ceiving outside attention Is consider
! able Among these was priest
named Papa Nicola from Old Phokea,
who was attacked In church during
service. Seventy people were massa-
cred at Old Phokea
PilIage has obviously been general,
! for the refugees are absolutely desu-
tute All their farms and properties
have been seized. including that Of
II. Leopoulos, the British vice-consul
at Avail. Added to all this. when
/ the homeless arrived at the coast af-
kish gendarmes extorted sums of
| money from them, before allowing
| them to embark The situation at
Avail Ia critical. The Turkish Off
cials have sent their families Into tho
| interior and the Muhammadans are
! forming themselves into bands under
command OF the famous brtgand chief.
! Chackan Ahmed. They are being
armed with military Mausern, 500 OF
these arms having already been dis
/ tributed-
English Giving Aid.
1t goes without saying that the pre-
vaiiing distress is heartrending- An
i English lady, Mics Robinson. heads
A committee who are distributing
| clothes and food With funds provided
| by the government. Hundreds or
| once rich families are now penniless,
| their fortunes and stocks having been
| confiscated An English engineer
| who has returned from Asia Minor
! states that the sack Of the country
| side has gone on without distinction
Of nationality In addition to the
| British vice-consul at Avail, whose
| losses amount to 10000 pounds. two
Frenchman possessing large farms at
| Dikeli were driven out with the rest
Mines have been closed down, and
| industry. and agriculture are para
| lyxed.
This IL, perhapsthe first trustwor-
| thy report published Of the situation.
| and II casts a iurid light upon Turkish
methods. Fortunately, the deter
mined attitude adopted by the Greek
government and the present impo-
tenoe OF the Turkish fleet have