The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-30
UNDER old GLORY
American Flag Protected Chris
tfans in Turkey.
HOltOn Missionary Tells Story
i'm State Journal Interview.
STARS and STRIPES A REFUGE
Eighteen Thousand Christians
Sheltered in Mission.
Won't Be Free Until War Ends.
Says HOltOn Woman.

Holton, Kan, Oct. 30.-In the re-
cent occupation of the northern strip
OF Persia by the Turks, the American
flag was respected, according to Miss
Lenore Schoebel, a former Holton
school teacher and for the past five
years a missionary in Asia 1t is
generally understood in this country
In view of late reports from Asia
Minor that United States mission
aries and other citizens of this coun-
try are being mistreated by the Turks
and that the stars and stripes form
no protection from the Moslems. III
an interview with a State Journal re-
porter Miss SchoebeI disproyed the
popular belief.
Miss Schoebel has just returned
from Persia and is now at the home of
her parents, Professor and Mrs. o.
M. Schoebel, in Holton. She is on a
leave of absence extending until next
May, but it is not likely that she will
return to Persia until the end of the
war.
Miss Schoebel was stationed at Ur-
mia, near the Turkish border. At the
time she went to Asia, five years ago,
Persia was self-governed with the
national capital at Teheran. Russia,
however, controlled in nearly every
way the northern, and England.
through India, the southern part of
the empire. AT the time the Euro
pean war broke out more than a year
ago peace and quiet reigned in Urmia.
RUSSIAN troops were SCaC1Oned there.
Then Turkey cast her turban into the
ring and Constantinople began look
ing with longing eyes in the direc-
ton of Persia.
Russians Forced to Leave.
At Urmia the Russians were in a
bad predicament, Miss Schoebel says.
On the plains Whereabouts the north
ernerS would have no fair chance
against the Turks as the probability
was strong that the Russian base of
supplies and line of communication
could be cut off in the mountain
Turkish hosts appeared the Russians
left suddenly. A few days later in
poured 10000 or 10000 Turks and
Kurds, the latter a wild race of
the lives of Armenians and other
Christian peoples of Asia Minor.
The Turks and Kurds looted the
homes of the Syrians, who resided
Syrians were killed. Homes were
burned. Food and household goods
were seized by the greedy Turks. The
Syrians fled to the American mission,
toned. and during the winter of 1914
1915 the missionaries took care of
nearly $4,000 people, a large per cent
of whom never left the walls of the
place.
Placed Under Turk Protection.
The plucky band of Americans, Is
in number, undertook the huge job of
feeding and looking after this vast
multitude. Outside were the blood
thirsty Kurds, waiting to massacre
any SyrianS who attempted to leave
the protection of the American flag.
At first the Kurds and Turks were
inSOlent and overbearinS to the
Americans. Then suddenly they I'M
derwent a change. Evidently official
word had come from Constantinople
to protect the interests of American
citizens The commander of the Mos
over the mission, thus announcing to
his men that the buildings were under
his protection.
After that we were not even
threatened" Miss Schoebel told re-
porter. Every once in awhile bands
of Kurds would meet outside our
main gateway. They knew that in
side the walls were treasures of the
Syrians, consisting of the Persian
rugs, the jewelry and silverware of
the well-to-do. 1t would be a rich
haul for them. But when they saw
our American flag and the one of
Turkey they desisted.
"Our physicians and missionaries
went in and out of the mission with
perfect freedom, unmolested by the
intruders. But we had 4 tremendous
job on our hands in feeding the Chris
tians, who were under our care We
might have left this great mass of
even give the idea minutes thought.
At one time last March we averaged
five tons of bread q day"
During the occupation of Urmia
and surrounding country by the Turks,
the Russians were stationed in the
the enemy and it was about an even
draw In Nav the Russians again