Evening star., 1916-07-30

xx
Shortly after the Russians began
their campaign in the Caucasus. a
movement which
Million Reported to at first gave
Have Been Slain. ins little trn;t
the Turkish forces dispatched to meet
the Slavs are declared to have opened
their campaign of slaughter against
the Armenians, occupying, as they were
forced to do. some of the thickest
populated regions of the Armenian
country. Some reports have placed
the number of natives slain by the
Moslems at 100000. but more conser-
lvative estimates. based on close in
vestigations. declare that the number
is no more than SOC, 900, but the num-
Der of Armenians exiled by the Turks
is declared to have been 250.000. a
greater portion of which have died
from privation and hunger.
As the Turkish armies moved east
ward to meet the Russians they invaded
vfliayet after villayet, pillaging, burn
ing and staying right and left The
humble homes of these natives, whose
only sin was disbelief, were Ievelled
with the torch. Men, women and chill
dren were herded into public places,
where. it is declared. whole regiments
their ranks. Bodies of these afflicted
people were piled high. The sanctity
Of womanhood was naught to the
-Moslem soldiers. Tens of thousands
are declared to have taken their own
lives rather than meet a worse fate at
the hands of the fanatical common
enemy. Men were driven to points
outside the various .villayets. where it
= 4
their ranks. their swords soon dripping
red Women. young girls, boys and
infants in arms here assembled into
pubic meeting places. doors locked
and buildings saturated with oil and
the brand applied. the Moslem soldiers
nocking as the agonized screams of
the, helpless were heard above the
cracking of the flames. Those who
told to fee. The Turks are declared
to have seized all their foodstuffs and
the most of their clothes. Death Law
In wait for those SO driven forth into
the then snow clad Cacasus regions
When the Russians began to press
inward. and thereby lessened the ter
rible suffer
Find Natives in ings of thou
Mutilated Condition. 1san,a ~ " Ar r.
the towns and regions occupied by
them. they found scores of men, women
! and children with arms severed and
bodies marked by living Goals Chill
dren were Guizzed. but they could not
answer - their tongues had been
clipped from their mouths. Many were
without ears; others blinded by instru-
ments Of torture. Russians were made
TO cringe at the constant sight of the
| most excruciating suffering. They
vowed to avenge the Armenians and
everlasting1y retrieve this afflicted sec
ton that there should be no repetition
OF the orgies Of murder and persecution
ErzinYau is the last large fortified
base for the Turkish forces in Armenia
Following the fan of Erzerun and
Trenizond. on the Black sea coast and
after tho Russians began to press west
ward with astonishing success the
Turks set about to place an insur-
mountabL stumbling block in their
path al Erzingan, it being openly ad-
Hctttec b. Petrograd that the eventual
goal Of I'll. Russian armies was Siyas
%hich hes l3V miles to the west. The
Turks not only erected fortifications OF
considerable strength. but located large
munitions works at this point in order
that the Noslem armies might receive
adequate supplies of munitions on shor,
notice. While these preparations of de.
fense- were proceeding several arm Y
corps were drawn from other sections
and dispatched TO the battle grounds OF
the ne4ghss 10 the east Of ErIingan
frofa which points strenuous counter.
oEeb&ISe actions were directed agains,
tjIe Russians. These succeeded for =
ti':le, bat the Russians in their most re.
cent offensive have been able to sweeI
the enemy before them, take Erzinean
and. from all accounts. are giving the
fleeing Turkish forces rest. So hast,
Is the Tiirkish fight, large stores are
being abandoned.
-
The position of the Turks in this re-
Sion at the present Juncture is any
thing but envi.
Position of Turks able There ar.
few natural de.