Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-07
ARMENIAN MASSACRES
VERIFIED BY NEWSPAPER
PUBLISHED NEAR SCENE.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Correspondence Associated Press.]
London, Sept. IS. Details of the
siege Of Van and the massacre Of Ar
menians by the Turks are given in the
current issue of the Near East, which
fixes the responsibility for the crime on
Jevded Pasha It was on Jevded Pasha
also that the refugee American mis-
sionaries. IN the story of their suffer-
ings recounted to the Associated Press
correspondent at Petrograd this week.
laid the guilt. Jevded is the supreme
commander of the Turkish army oper-
atins in this province.
Van, the ancient capital Of the Ar
menian Ardzruni dynasty. was occu-
pied by the Russian army in it's adj
vance in the Caucasus during the first
week of last May. The Russian COM
mander, General Oganesov, who is an
Armenian, was assisted by six Armen-
ian volunteer regiments under the Ar
menian revolutionary, Andranig, who
had fought with the Bulgarians
against the Turks in the first Balkan
war. But long before Van fell to the
Russians, Jevdid PAsha started the
work Of massacring the Armenia pop
ulation.
The massacre began at Shadokh. a
large and isolated village, where not
a man was spared except those over
80 years of age. Of the women, the
more comely were carried away by
Jevded's soldiers and Kurd tribesmen.
The massacre was carried out sys-
:eHical!y IL the entire province OF Van
beginning with the outlying village.
Great care was taken to prevent
rumors Of this from reaching the CAPT.
tai.
There was living in Van city at that
time Prince 1shkham, an Armenian
who had formerly been useful to the
government In settling troubles be-
tween the Turks and the Armenians
He was asked by Jevded to go to the
villages and try to reconcile the con-
tending parties. Jevdid addressed the
prince in a letter as his dear friend"
The prince. unaware Of the plot,
started out with number Of advisers.
The entire party was slaughtered by
party Of Jevded's horsemen while
taking lunch at a coffee house.
At this time also there was III Van
an Armenian member OF the Turkish
parliament by the name OF Vramian,
who was invited by Jevded to call on
him at headquarters. On arrival at
headquarters Nramian was arrested, a
large stone was tied to his feet and he
was thrown into lake and drowned.
The Russians We're now reported on
the advance Talaat Bay published
warning against the Armenians par
ticipating on penalty of dire punish
ment But the story of the massacre
in the isolated parts was carried by
survivors, and the Armenians prepared
TO sell themselves as dearly as posi-
BILE, the peaceful element as well as the
revolutionaries. Jevded then called on
the AruleIiiaTi bishop &c visit him. The
bishop refused. Thereupon Jevdid de-
scended upon the "rebellious" city Of
Van with an army Of 5000 Turks and
Kurds and called on the people to lay
down their arms, surrender without
conditions and trust to the clemency Of
the sultan. This offer was made thru
the Italian consul
OF the $4,000 Armenians in Van, only
$50 were armed-25O with rifles and
the rest with revolvers. For twenty
nine days this handful defended the
city. On the thirtieth day, General
Oganesov arrived with his Armenian
voluntcers and Russian regulars and
the Turks retreated.
Conditions were at that time fright
full, as the Only doctor in the city to
look after the sick and wounded had
been Dr. Allen, an American mission
ary But WITT the Russians came help,
and doctors and nurses soon arrived
from Tiflis. Committees We're APP
pointed to aid the sufferers, and the
peasants started to till the fields and
rebuild their homes.