The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1914-09-30
From Awful Effect OF Eu-
ropean War,
IS REPORT OF MISSIONARIES
Church Affairs Lost Sight OF
Under Fearful C0ndi.
lions Prevailing.
rJoR DRIVEN ~ DESPERATION

Dorts from the Outposts Of the net
work Of missions established
throughout the world By the Presby-
rerian Church. received and made
public here to-day. tell Of the world
aide conditions unparalleled in the
history Of the church There t. no
,-pot Under the sun. according 20
these rcports. where the European
var has failed 70 strike blow al
commerce: no inhabitant Of the civ
ilized world. even 10 the half-ssvage
Indians Of Chile and the wandering
tribes Of Syria. has failed 10 feel its
elects in some degree.
The situation in West Africa is
critical. syria r. engulfed By utter
hopelessness. Persia Is IN chaotic
condition. a. least as far - finances
are concerned. missionaries in India
are shut OF from outside financial
aid. Chile Dr. in a pitiable plight be
cause OF the prostration Of her in
slustries. ana IN Guatemala the poor
arp driven by hunger 10 the point
u eonnscating the foOdstufs Of the
,.zs;rfi7 y---suesi II thu r0mbsr picture
az some Of tbs mission fields reveal
I'd by the Presbyterian Board OF
Foreign Missions. through the Rev.
Dr. A W. Halsey. its secretary.
Il thought had seen the country
restless before. but never have ] i'm
ayined anything like the present dis
rrezs and hopelessness." writes the
Rev. Or. William 5 Nelson. long a
missionary in Syria. from Tripoh
under date Of August q Riding
across the country on Monday and
Tuesday. across three districts, ] did
not SEE a single camel or mule or
horse. and only a few weak donkeys
md very few men All were hiding
from the army draft. and there was
no talk anywhere except Of means
10 evade the encrOaehments OF the
ofhcials.
The draft calls for practically all
fhe able-bOdied men. The list OF
.saek-mules calls for all that are on
the Official Lists. made only d few
days ago. Camels are impressed
wherever found. Cattle and sheep
are demanded as well as the grain
still on the threshing floors. IL
simply means the utter destruction
of the country if carried out and the
impoyerishrsent Of the people If they
Try 70 buy or bride themselves of.
THE cruelty Of the officials try
ing 20 enforce the orders means beat
ing and abuse for the men and des-
trurtion Of household effects in the
villages. One Of the men driven in
vas heard 10 cry out. implOring God
10 hasten them 10 the seat Of war
~ that he should be armed that he
might send his first bullet 10 the
heart Of his officer Others say If
they ever reach the front they will
throw down their arms and go over
10 whatever enemy IL before them in
1he hope Of getting something TO
cat"
Describing conditions al Beirut.
the same missionary wrote:
Orders were announced from the
Ottoman Government for mobiliza-
zion and the calling of all eligible
Tor military CONSUMPTION from the
ages OF nineteen To fOrty-iive years
also the abolition OF all exceptional
privileges ordinarily granted to GER
tain classes OF professional men
rhir resulted IN stampede oi
young and old from Beirut to Leb
anon. when thousands 81 boil
Moslems aud Christians bed viii
aud without their families. At The
same moment came orders TO com
mandeer all horses and mules III fol
transport service
Hundreds OF horses and OF mule
teers were caught in the khans and
carayansaries OF Beirut. while thou
sands Of others escaped by devious
paths in every direction and still
more devious methods OF bribery
because al such a time the hungrl
officials. with salaries in arrears, an'
the certainty OF delayed payments II
The future. are ready enough TO turn
an honest or dishonest penny"
~ West Africa, the board an
nounses. the situation Is critical
Letters from missionaries In Chill
leCite conditions there, according e
the board. as follows:
Chile depends almost exclusively
on her nitrate exports. German!
and France are the principal buyer
in times OF peace, but no freight
can be delivered at present and trad
With Europe Is suppressed. nee'
hardly describe the Decentralization