The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-28
AMERICAN SCHOOLS
IN TURKEY CUT OFF
Suppression Of Capitulatious
Prevents Getting News or
Sending Funds.
STANDARD OIL GIVES AID

For week there has been nothing
heard from the three great American coll
leges In the Ottoman Empire. Robert Col
lese, the American College for Girls and
the American College at Beirut a nd serl.
Gus alarm Is felt by the trustees and
representatives In this country.
L. Walter Roberts. treasurer OF the
Episcopal Board at Boston, who has been
acting for the American missionary soci.
eties since the Turkish Government an
nounced Its withdrawal Of the capitu-
latons, said yesterday that not only IL
all communication with the American
schools In Turkey broken. but that IL has
been Impossible to forward much needed
funds from this country during the last
ten days
after the war began and the various
missionary societies realized that they
could no longer send money to their
workers In Turkey by the usual channels
the STANDARD OIL offered lis services and
undertook TO transfer considerable sums
Tor the relief OF American educational
and religious institutions In that country.
But on Saturday the standard Oh re-
ported to MIR Roberts that II had been
unable for the past week to communicate
with It's representative at Constautuople
and that II was impossible To- give relief.
The uneasintss which this situation
aroused was naturally intensified ytster-
day when II was reported through Rome
that the Ottoman Government, besides
suppress!ng the capitulations had de-
termined % abolish all foreign schools
within the empire Dispatches received
through diplomatic sources from Rome
state that the conditions in CONSTANT
uople arc most serious
Absolutely nothing Is known as 20 the
1NE .t.v.. aloe.
leges In Turkey 1t Is naturally sup
posed. however. that they are beginning
to feel the pinch OF unusual conditions
and possibly 70 be In serious need of
financial help. Besides the big Ameri-
can colleges In Turkey there are nearly
500 smaller schools that are conducted
by religious bodies.
Miss Grace " Dodge. who Is closely
identified with the American College for
Girls above Scutari on the Bosporus,
said yesterday that she had been able to
learn nothing In addition TO the very
meagre reports received through round
about channels nv the press The t1mo
thing was said 10y the Rev. D. wilton
Merle Smith. who Is Interested in Robert
College
Despite the lack Of dlrec' news, how
ever. DR.. Merl"-Smith said that ne didn't
feel much alarm.
Il don't believe" said he. that Turkeys
lions VIII be pressed. The AFFAIR viii
probably be Strengthened out easily enouE 70
after the war Turkey has AWAY. been
Influenced by public opinion and ! think
she will be IN this case. The present
situation is simply one w which Turkry
has taken advantage Of the European u1-
tons being at war
The American Board. which is Congrc-
gational body at Boston. acts In behalf
Of Robert College in this country. At its
New York Office n was said that ali az
tempts to communicate with the heads Of
the college during the last week have
been futile. Tho same was said los the
Presbyterian Foreign Board Mr. Roberts
who has been selected 80 act 'or tine
various denominations that have interests
in Turkey, lie continuing his efforts 10
get some word from Constaut.uoplr and
hopes by to-day that ne viii succeed
Cleveland H. Dodge told THE SuS
yesterday that he didn't believe there viii
be any difficulty experienced hy the
schools and missionaries lu Turkey Ice
cause Of shortage OF fuuIs and added
that he did not believe that the Ottoman
Government has decided TO abolish all for
e!gr schools within the empire. lie states
AZ his reason for this belief that the Cow
eminent would not dare 20 take such ac-
ton, knowing that reprisM would come
very quickly.
Il am sure" said he, that Robert CO..
itGt mas al VIC IlONcy IL UtEts NJ TINS
time. The Standard Oh has been able
20 supply It with money through collec.
tons being made By .t in Turkey"
Mr. Dodge said IN addition that tie las,
letter he had from his son. Bayard. who
Is at Beirut, was dated Sep.s mber ! and
told Of the mobilization OF all able bod ed
( men in the empire.
/ As an indication Of the fact that the Ar
menians In this country are fearful least
trouble come to their relatives In Turk,v
many Of them have made application n
the American Board during the las, wcst
10 have money transferred 20 Turkey II
each case. however. that money has had
10 be refused with the explanation that
the board has no means Of sending T.