The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1915-08-27
THE SUFFERERS FROM WAR


Dear Sir
Will you kindly permit us to bring
to the notice of your readers the pres
ent sad condition of the Armenian
people in their native land.
Among the greatest sufferers by the
European war have been the Armen-
ians. Their condition is even worse
il than that of the Belgians. Massacres
by the Kurds and Turks have again
broken out, accompanied by atroci-
ties. A multitude of Armenians
whose homes have been ruined and
burned have fled across the frontiers
from Turkey and Persia into Russia
There are about 100, 900 of these ref
ugees, most of them women and
children. Never in my life have
seen such suffering" writes Tolstoy's
daughter Alexandra, who is serving
with the Red Cross near the frontier
Some of the refugees in her hospital
had had their hands and feet cut off
All were emaciated and in tatters.
They are not only destitute but bro
lkenhearted, many having seen their
husbands and children slaughtered
before their eyes. According to a la
ter dispatch from Tiflis, under date
of August 10th, 255, 900 Armenians
have abandoned their country with
the retreating Russian army, and are
taking refuge in Trans-Caucasia
In Turkey, where every able-bodied
man has been forced into the army,
the condition of the women and chill
dren is even worse, the ravages of
famine being added to those of Kurd-
ish savagery. In one town not grown
person was found, only 500 orphans.
The Armenians of Van were sue
cessful in repulsing the attacks of the
Kurds and Turks until the arrival of
the Russian army. Thus they saved
themselves and upwards of $4,000
helpless men and women with chill
dren, who had focked there from the
surrounding villages. But this heroic
deed caused intense irritation to the
Kurds and Turks, and II cost the lives
of many more thousands of Armen-
) ans in the districts of BitIis, Mardin
and Diarbekir.
Speaking of the Christian popula-
.tion Of these regions, a circular of
the American Board of Foreign Mis-
sions, under date Of August 4 says:
THE suffering among them is beyond
description and the neei of help i'm
mediate and overwhelming.
Most heart-rending is the fate Of
The inhabitants of many towns in Ar
menia and Asia Minor, who have been
exiled wholesale, and whose homes
and lands have been given to Moham-
medan immigrants from Balkan
countries. The men of these fam
lilies have been detained for some I'M
known purpose, and the women and
children sent to distant parts in Meso-
potamia and Konio, to live in UNI
healthy places, or rather to perish,
far from friends and co-religionists.
From under this terrible weight of
woe Armenia appeals to the kind
hearted American people. The Ar
menian colonies established in the
United States and in other parts of
the world have made great efforts to
relieve their people in the mother
country. They have already raised
among themselves, and sent to the
proper agencies for distribution, hun
dreds of thousands of dollars. But
the misery is so great and SO wide
spread that help from other sources
is urgently needed
The American Armenian Retie
Fund committee makes the present
appeal to the American public, in the
firm hone that. moved with humani-
tartan feelings, the men and women
Of this country will extend helping
hand to this unfortunate and long
suffering nation of the east.
Contributions to the American Ar
menian Relief Fund may be sent to
Brown Bros. and company, treasurers,
no Wall street, New York City
Sincerely yours,
GEO. A, ROWELL, Secretary.