Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-14

retired, shooting besides all the Ar
menian conscr.pts in their ranks. The
Turks left their own sick ana WOUNDED
in terrible straits. Seventeen were
rescued alive BY the Americans the
survivors declared they had had nei
Their food nor water for four days:
Scores were dead in their beds. largely
Of neglect. .5F
The explanation Of the Turkish re
treat came on May Is in the person
of vartan and 5000 Armenian volun-
teers. followed by a Russian detaeh-
ment.
Realizing that revenge must have
its limits, both Armenian and Russian
commanders delivered Kurdish women
and children to the missionaries, to
the number Of a thousand. The mis-
sionaries, however, were without prop
er medicines or food and were unable
to give these refugees the care they
required. Diseases have been raging
in their narrow quarters.
The defense Of the Armenian resi-
dence quarter was directed mainly by
Armenak Yekarian, q noted partisan.
To the correspondent Of The Associat-
ed Press he related some Of the Incl
dents Of the struggle. Early in the
Siege the Turks fired 10 cannon shot
or shells at a position held by five
Armenians. One was killed and an
other was wounded. Three survivors
and eight more rinemen took a house
held by 230 Turks, killing at least six.
One Of the most menacing Of the
Turkish positions was a barracks in
the edge Of the Armenian residence
quarter. 1t was held by 120 Turks.
Armenian sappers mined and dynamite
ed it and >the fleeing garrison left Il
charred corpses.
Jevdett Bey then sent 500 men
against an Armenian line held by A
rifemen. After a three hours fight
the Turks retreated leaving IS dead
on the field. The Armenians here lost
one killed and two wounded.
The Turks had II cannon, about
half OF modern construction. Two of
the Old smooth bores exploded. The
waste of Turkish ammunition con-
trasted strikingly with the prudence
OF the Armenians. 1t IL estimated that
half million rife shots were fired into
the gardens in a single day.
What the Armenian revolutionary
leaders will do with their opportunity,
remains to he seen. Grave errors have
been committed. Some, not Aram, II
is believed. have engaged almost open
~ In the pillage Of Armenian mer-
chants. OF the stocks that were saved
from the business center. and villagers
OF their remaining flocks. There Is
also murmuring among the democrats
who supplied half the fighting corps,
but have not been allowed any inf1u-
ence in the administration.
Coming from a months wandering
over snow bound passes with Russian
armies. The Associated Press CORE
spondent rejoiced exceedingly at the
sight of the American flag, Hospitality
dlsplayed to guide him into the town,
and was enveloped in the peace Of the
hospitable missionary homes. One
Armenian refugee remarked that it
was her third escape into the same
premises. from massacre Not a year
has passed without diskuietine rumors
of their realization. But the mission
aries have steadily pursued their work,
Though they have guarded their neu-
trality and have helped all classes,
there Is some rejoicing now that the
reign Of the Turk is at an end. They
are taking no sides for or against
Russian annexation. which many Ar
menians prefer to autonomy: thew saw
1t will suffice II the Turk does not re-
turn to SOW discord between the races
and the religions Of Van,