The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1915-07-15
TO FEED R|EHleEEs
Serious Problem Which Greece
is Trying to SoIve.
Al Least One Person IN Fifteen In
Greece Is a Refnsee-countFy
Roads Stream With People
Fleeing From Asia Minor.

MItyIene.-Ot-t the many problems
which beset Greece. that Of the refu-
gees from Asia Minor and Thrace II
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.-
900, It will be seen that practically
one person in fifteen is a refugee.
These poor people are of all classes.
and it fs no uncommon thing to see
child of gentle birth reduced to -egs
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. It must be admitted.
scarcely welcome, guests. Still. they
have to be fed. and Siitylene does its
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 II dificult enough
TO provide this surplus population
with their fixed allowance OF eight
cents per head daily, with certain
reduction for each person in the cas~
of family
When II is remembered that. owing
TO heavy taxation. this country is
sery expensive 10 live in. it will be
seen that much indeed is left to prt
vate charity.
In Mitylene alone the normal popu
iation Of 10000 has been almost
doubled by the arrival OF these ragged
| peasants, and there are about 10000
more In the Tsst of the island. the In
habitan:s OF the whole Of Lesbos
numbering Some 10000 in ordinary
times.
Some Of these people. with . car.
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
throAg ths streets. no more road-mAk-
| ing or other manual work being avail
abba. and send their children into the
poor eating houses and Inns Of ths
| place.
| Along the country ro9d1 they
stream. dependent largely on he gen
erusity Of the passer-by. and resting
nov and fh.n under the olive groves
Of the island. where saphc loved and
yang.
In the Turkish town Of Aivaly there
are stiIi about %. 900 Christians. The
| Turks seem 70 be trying 70 staFve
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 refugeo's story u that Of OH
YER Clarke. who reached here . teu
weeks ago. Clarke. born IN Smyrna.
IL Of English parentage. and British
subject. but nobody who saw the
bearded. hale-broken man who 10
| turned to his wife and three dnugh-
| ters after months OF absence would
have taken him for anything but .
| Turk. Indeed. It was merely on 60
cognr OF bis Oriental dress and knoWi-
edge OF Turkish that Clarke vas sur
fered to exist on . bcggariy wage et
| PerEAmoa-the only Christian for
miles around. He IL q blacksmith BY
trade and, doubtless, proved useful to
his masters In the state Of practical
slavery 70 which he was suhiected-
The story he gave me was vouched
for BY N. EliopQrloA tQTweTly FFisiDs
Yice-eongut a Xlyaly, hImseR fefu'
gee. who has the cause OF his com
patriots ss heart
Clarke WA aent to rergamos In
cart. together with = Frenchman and
his mother. They were escorted By
the governor Of Dikely and gendArmes
| The 'atteg rcsnnnsss. Carl: .ra The sov
ernor Reid hiM 81 his cissretfs
lighter. remarkins that q was TOO
good for \ gendArinS"
On arrival At PsrGamco the S67.
erncr OF that place demanded that The
French lady should sell ali she pos
sessed to pay all debts which he had
invented for the purpose. before she
and her son would b allowed TO 10.
Finally the couple were permitted 70
leave for Smyrna. after tho lady had
rsold" her valuable olive crops-for
e11oi Clarke was brought back to
DlkeIy. where he continued to drudge
for . pittance. EventuAIly he -
eaped to Smyrna. wearing his fea.
Only his Turkish disguise. which had
enabled him to live thoro many
months. provided him with = means Of
escape.