New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-11
ARMENIA'S PLIGHT
What the Young Turks and German
Kultur Are Doing.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Through the battle smoke OF the
world-war seldom have we chance to LOOK
nj the unfortunate people of Armenia, so
Icing misgoverned by their Turkish enemies
and so often disappointed by their European
friends Correspondents have OF late de-
scribed most appalling conditions created Tor
the Armenians since the entrance OF turkey
into the European conflict. Unwatched Dy|
the ambassadors and consular agents OF the
great powers, and less responsive thah ever
TO the influence of civilized OPINION the
Young Turk government is now about 10
achieve a success greater than that OF Abdul
Hamid. The Red Sultan contented hlmseit
with slaughtering some 100000 of them, with
view to disposing Of the Armenian ques-
ton. The Young Turks, with the German
virus in their veins, aim at nothing snort OF
TIE uprootng Of the entire Armenian popu-
lation of the empire.
In fact. not only in the regions along the
Turko-Russian battle front, but IN all the
Armenian provinces of Turkey IN ASIA
Minor and in Constantinople, IS raging thiS
row storm of persecution. The Armenian
voung manhood being drafted into the
Turkish armies. the women and children az
left entirely at the mercy OF their hurd'Sn
and Turkish oppressors. Large numbers OF
the elderly men have been thrown into prs
ons or exiled. In Constantinople eighty-hVe
Armenian notables have been hung; IN Ce-I
zaria. twelve. Minor massacres are taxing
place everywhere; in Angora l,oOO oil them
have been slaughtered. Vast territories IN
the vilayets of Btlis and Van have been
horribly devastated. Brussa, the prospective
capital of the Turks, mas been cleared Of its
Armenian element Zeitun, the Armenian
town in Celicia, which had always held her
head high against the Turkish forces, has
been treacherously taken and the entire pop
ulation deported -women and children IN one
direction. the men in another, and driven
hard as herds of stolen sheep. Many women
and babes have expired on the roads. The
government has transpanted Moslems into
Zeitun and baptized it by the new name,
"Suleymanie."
In the face Of these horrors the Katholikos
of all the Armenians has recently twice ap-
pealed by telegram to President WILSON, ask
ing Americas diplomatic good Offices for the
rescue of the Armenians. Ambassador Nor
eenthau, instructed b. the State Department,
exerted himself but with little result, APP
parently.
It is a question why the Young Turks are
behaving themselves so abominably. At the
time of the Turkish revolutio. of 1908 we
believed we saw a sparA OF new spirit in
the Turkish mind, which, unfortunately,
proved illusory or was soon put out by Ger
man Kultur. Far mghtier powers, Russia
and Germany, promise autonomy to Poland,
while Turkey threatens Armenia with utter
destruction. If Enver Pacha and his asso-
ciates are incapable of humane feelings, are
they equally incapable Of developing a grain
of political wisdom? The day of judgment
is approaching, when the powers Of light
and sweetness will call 10 account the powers
Of terribeness, and then the question will
be debated whether the Turkish power should
be altogether abolished or only limited. Now
is the time TO demonstrate that they are no
longer the children of Hamid the Massacrer
and the disciples of William the Terrible.
New York Aug. >. 1915. NJ. S. G..