Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-06-04
Serious Problem Which Greece
Is Trying to Solve.
At Least One Person In Fifteen In
Greece Is Refu9ee-Country
Roads Stream With People
Fleeing From Asia Minor.


which beset Greece, that of the refu-
gees from Asia Minor and Thrace is
not the least pressing Altogether
there are nearly 100000 of these un-
fortunate people in Greece and the
formerly Turkish islands. Estimating
the population of the country at 6,O00,-
000 1t will be seen that practically
one person in fifteen Is a refugee.
These poor people are of all classes,
and 1t Is no uncommon thing to see
child of gentle birth reduced to rags
and the acceptance of the casual char
ity available in 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, 1t must be admitted.
scarcely welcome, guests. Still, they
have to be fed, and Mitylene does it's
best.
The present war has affected the
trade OF the islands considerably, and
with it the spending capacity Of the
people, quite apart from the fact that
the state funds find it diff cult enough
to provide this surplus population
with their fixed allowance Of eight
cents per head daily, with certain
reduction for each person in the case
OF family.
When 1t is remembered that, owing
to heavy taxation, this country is
very expensive to live in, it will be
seen that much indeed is left to pri-
vate charity.
In Mitylene alone the normal popu-
lation Of 10000 has been almost
doubled by the arrival Of these ragged
peasants, and there are about 10000
more in the rest of the island, the in
habitants of the whole of Lesbos
numbering some. 100000 in ordinary
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 years, but
these houses are quite inadequate,
and in many cases ten people are
crowded in one room.
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-mak.
ing or other manual work being avail
able, and send their children into the
poor eating houses and inns Of the
place.
Along the country roads they
stream, dependent largely on the gen.
crosby Of the passer-by, and resting
now and then under the olive groves
Of the island, where Sapho loved and
sang.
In the Turkish town Of Away there
are still about 10000 Christians. The
Turks seem to be trying to starve
them out by preventing food being
sent to them. Nobody can leave the
town to look after property on the
outskirts without grave danger of be-
ing killed.
A curious, and in many respects
typical refugees story Is that OF OH.
YER Clarke, who reached here few
weeks ago. Clarke, born in Smyrna,
is Of English parentage, and British |!
subject, but nobody who saw the
bearded, half-broken man who re-
turned to his wife and three daugh.
tiers after months Of absence would
have taken him for anything but a
Turk. Indeed, it was merely on &C.
count OF his Oriental dress and knowl-
edge OF Turkish that Clarke was SUI.
fered to exist on beggarly wage at
Pergamos-the only Christian for
miles around. He is a blacksmith by
trade and, doubtless, proved useful to
his masters in the state of practical
slavery to which he was subjected.
The story he gave me was vouched
for by M. Eliopoulos, formerly British
at Aivaly, himself refu-
geo. who has the cause of his com.
patriots at heart.
Clarke was sent to Pergamos in a
cart, together with Frenchman and
MS mother. They were escorted by
The governor Of Dikely and gendarmes.
The latter robbed Clarke, and the gov.
ernor relieved him Of his cigarette
lighter, remarking that 1t. was too
good for a gendarme"
On arrival at porpamoo tho oov
ernor Of that place demanded that the
French lady should sell all she pos.
PAYS FOR HIS "SINEllI AcTv