South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-05-14
GREECE OVERRUN
BY REF UGEES WHO
. COME FROM ASIA
Estimate Number at 100000
or One to Every IS People
Country Taxed to Care for
Them.

MITYLENE. May 14.-Of the many
problems which beset Greece. that Of
the refugees from Asia Minor and
Thrace is not the least pressing. Al
together there are nearly 100000 Of
these unfortunate people in Greece
and the formerly Turkish ISLANDS.
Estimating the population or the
country at 5000. 600. it viii be seen
that practically one person IN 10 Is
a refugee. These poor people are OF
al classes. and il Is no uncommon
thing To see "a child OF gentle birth
reduced TO rags and the acceptance
OF the casual charity available in a
third-rate cafe.
probably more than any other
part OF Greek territory this island
shows the sad effects Of the advent
Of these unlimited and it must be ad-
rnitted scarcely welcome, guests.
Still, they have 10 be fed, and Nifty
lene does its best.
The present war has affected the
trade Of the island considerably. and
with IT the spending capacity OF the
people. quite apart from the fact that
the state funds find IT difficult
enough TO provide this surplus popu-
lation with their fixed allowance OF
eight cents per head daily. with GER
tain reduction for each person In the
case of a family.
When il is remem bered that owing
10 heavy taxation this country Is very
expensive TO live in. it will be seen
that much indeed is left to private
charity.
In Mitylene alone the normal
population OF 10000 has been almost
doubled by the arrival Of these rag
ged peasants, and there are about
10000 more in the rest Of the island,
the inhabitants of the whole OF Les
hos numbering some 140, coo in ordi-
nary times.
Some OF these people, with a Ger
tain poetic justice. are quartered in
the houses vacated by Turks who
have returned TO the country of their
origin during the last few troubled
years. but these houses are quite in
adequate, and in many cases 10 peo-
pie are crowded in one room.
Beggars Throng Streets.
In all parts of the interior of Asia
Minor and the clearly visible coast
line opposite they have voyaged to
these islands and the mainland Of
Greece for months past. Beggars
throng the streets. no more road
making or other manual work being
available, and send their children in
10 the poor eating houses and inns of
the place.
Along the country roads they
stream, dependent largely on the
generosity OF the passer-by, and rest
ing now and then under the olive
groves OF the island, where burning
Sapho loved and sang"
In the Turkish town of Away there
IRE still about 10000 Christians The
Turks seem to be trying TO starve
them out by preventing the food be-
n nj n Nnhn
fhe town To look after property on
the outskirts without grave danger Of
being killed.
A curious and in many respects
typical refugees story is that of
oliver Clarke. who reached here a
few weeks ago. Clarke, born in
Smyrna, is of English parentage. and
"A British subject, but nobody who
saw the bearded. half-broken man
who returned to his wife and three
daughters after months of absence
would have taken him for anything
but n Turk. Indeed. il was merely
on account OF his oriental dress and
knowledge Of Turkish that Clarke
was suffered TO exist on "A beggarly
ton for miles around He is a black
smith by trade, and. doubtless, proved
aSeful 10 his masters in the state Of
practical slavery 10 which he was
subjected
Story is Confirmed.
The story he gave me is vouched
for by NJ. Ehopoulos, formerly Brit
ssh vice consul at Aivaly, himself a
refugee, who has the cause Of his
CompatriOts much at heart
Clarke was sent to Pergamos. in n
cart together with a Frenchman and
his mother. They were escorted by
the governor OF Dikely and gen
darmes. The latter robbed Clarke
and the governor relieved him Of his
cigaret lighter. remarking that IL was
TOO good for a gendarme."
on arrival at Peramos the governor
OF that place demanded that the
French lady should sell all she pos
sessed to pay all debts which he in
vented for the purpose. before she
and her son would be allowed TO go.
Finally. the couple were permitted to
leave for Smyrna, after the lady had
sold her valuable olive crops-for
SIPS. Clarke was brought back to
Dikely. where he continued to drudge
for a pitfance Eventually he es-
capped 20 Smyrna, wearing his fez
ONLY his Turkish disguise. which had
enabled him To live there many
months. provided him with a means
Of escape.