Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-05-26
WORD FROM MISSION FIELDS.

are undisturbed, Notwithstanding tht
unsettled state of affairs because fol
the war. This announcement Ets sio1
especial interest to Manchester and
Hopkinton people because Of the
fact that DR.. and Mrs. Floyd Smith
are engaged In mission. work in Tur:
key. Mrs. Smith was formerly Miss
Bessie Heath, and she and her hus.
band are both graduates Of Lenox
college. Following is the letter:
Boston, Mass, May, 20, 1915.
To Friends Of Missionaries in Turk
r., ey:
K Since the last bulletin was issued
under date of April 3 a large num-
Der Of letters have been received by
the American Board from different
stations in Turkey covering nearly
every station, the communications
coming directly through over the
signature of some missionary. From
Utmost no station have we received
less than two communications in thai
|Reriod and from some. as many as
five or six. These letters do not
show any marked change in the
general situation, except that poverty
and distress throughout the country
are upon the increase and in the
eastern section Of the country where
the larger number of troops are con-
gregated. there has been much ty-
phoid and typhus. The, death Iate
from this dread disease has been
high. The mission hospitals at Mar.
din, Van, (Harpoot,) Erzroom and
LSiyas have taken In soldiers In large
numbers, both wounded and Ill, and
are rendering a large service which
is much appreciated $50 1862
The principal difficulties which
the missionaries in Turkey seem to
be facing just now are the 'uprisings
against the Armenians in the Vilay'
ct Of Van and the effort on the part
Of the government to get posses
sion of the missionary school build
ings in Harpoot, with a tendency IN
that direction at Sivas and Marsovan
e, A dispatch has just been received
from the State Department at Wash
ington reporting cable, from the
Ambassador at Constantinople an
nouncing that the Minister of the
Interior had. just sent in his pres
ence. a telegram to the Governor
at Van ordering him to see tnat an
Americans and American interests
were amply protected from danger.
There is an apparent feelng on
the part of many of the popuiatlohs
in the Interior Of Turkey that the
relation Of Germany to Turkey mas
mot been and is now for the gocd
Of. Turkey. The German missionar-
les at Harpoot have made request
from the German Ambassador at
Constantinople that they be put un-
der the American Consul at Har-
poot for protection. There is some
Indication that in case Erzroom, the
fortified town on the Russian IRON
tier should fall that a second line
sof defence will be established along
ftbe macadamized rosd leading from
.Samsoun through Marsovan and 81
vas TO Harpoot. That would ac-
count. for the massing of troops alons
line nuf1 foE, the eagerness OF
ths al ffefals to secure possession rs, Or
fha buildings Of stheaAmericani Board.
: Reports from the, Central Turkey
Mission speak Of all parts OF the
country as generally quiet, but let.
ters from all over Turkey speak OF
the great distress and the need OF
money for relief both for the sick
and the wounded, and the orphans
and the widows. Missionaries are
remaining unflinchingly at their
nosts. making no complaint and ex-
nrassinp no consciousness Of personal
danger, although everybody recog7
nizes, that the whole status OF the
Turkish Empire is in q most auncer-
tain condition. The fact that the
have been und1sturned
in their work hitherto Is an unques-
toned demonstration of the lrlendiy
attitude Of all classes OF people III
During the period covered, letters
have been received from the west
ern Turkey Mission, from Constan,
tinople, dated as. late as the 26th OF
April. Mr.. Riggs the Secretary OF
the Mission, writes that one would
hardly know in Constantinopleo that
Turkey was involved In any conflict
everything was so quiet and peace
full. From Smyrna, n letters have
come bearing date as late as the
10Th of April; from Marsovan the
16th: from Bardizag the 18th; from
Talas the 9Th; from Alton Kara His.
sar the 10TH From the Central
Turkey Mission we have letters
from iAdana, dated as late as the 7th
of April from Aleppo the 9th; 1rcan
Aintab the 23rd of March: from Ma
rash the, 18th of April; and from
Tarsus the 18th of April. From the
eastern Turkey Mission, from Har-
moot April IA; from Bitlis, March
is: from Van, April, S; from Mar
din April q; and from Erzroom,
March nth. 1t should be borne In
mind that only the latest dates are
given in the above enumeratlon' w
not infreQuently more than one iet
ter was received, written at the
same time, and that there were sew
eral preceding letters, all showing
that the mail communication was
open, There Is no difficulty IN get
ting money to all of our stations.
The American Board has already
sent over 100000 made up OF smail
gifts from individual Armenians to
their friends in different parts OF
Turkey.
The American Board is keeping
i- close touch with the situation,
with the State Department at Wash
ington, and with the Embassy at
Constantinople. The State Depart
ment is most courteous. and. prompt IN
cabling instructions and In reporting
replies, and the American Ambassa.
dor at Constantinople is; doing all
that can be done by any man fcr
the ample protection. OF American
interests. -EsT% e
- Sincerely yours.
F .a 75s.E JAMES L.. BARTON.
w, +, GROSSMAN CHOSEN CAP
... TAIN OF COMPANY D.
= At an election of the members or
Lald on NhlIrsdaY " even: