New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-09
USE TURKS BLOOD
In RESCUE CROSS
Exiled Armenians Saved
by Stained Banner of
Undergarments.

Forty-fve Armenian refugees, driven
from their homes on Mount Moses,
near Antioch, by the Turks last Au-
gust and hunted for months through
the mountain wilderness, arrived here
yesterday on the Italian steamship
America They owed their escape, they
said. to . gigantic Red Cross Aag
which the women made from their
undergarments.
This banner. its cross made partly
from clothes dipped in the blood OF
slaughtered Turks, was hung from the
tallest tree on Mount Moses, where 1t
could be seen far out IN the Medlter-
ranean. 1t attracted French cruiser
which took about 1000 refugees TO
Port Said.
The trials Of Turkish persecution in
the land where the Apostle Paul o! &c
preached were related by an Armenian
woman Of seventy-three, Mrs. Achsah
Saklemian. Her son, s. G.. Saklem, OF
Newcastle, Penn. Che dropped the suf-
fix from his name to Americanize it,
went down on the revenue cutter TO
meet the ship Besides his mother,
sixteen members of his Immediate
family were aboard.
Although not allowed on board last
evening, because the Health Officers
examination delayed the ship until it
was too late to dock her, Mr.. Saklem
confirmed his mothers letter in a
shouted conversation with some OF the
refugees from the cutters deck. This
is the story:
Until last August the reverberations
of Europe's death struggle had not been
felt in the quiet villages Of Of Habat-
lee and Batyas. at the foot OF Mount
Moses. Their 10000 inhabitants tend
cd their hocks. untouched by the con-
fict At the end Of the month came
an order from the Turks driving them
10 the deserts and seizing their young
men for the Turkish army.
Driven 10 desperation By the order,
hundreds Of shepherds fed to the
mountains with their families. The
band Of refugees numbered finally about
1000. For their protection they had
only 1875 rifles, but they made this
small armament suffice to rout the
first force OF 500 Turks who came in
their pursuit. From them they capt
ured more rifles and ammunition.
Then came rumors Of a force ten
times greater. Driving their hocks
before them, the hunted Armenians re-
treated still further up the mountain
valleys. But the Turkish horde was
not TO be shaken OF, and the Armenian
fighters decided on surprise attach'
They chose dark night, when the
Turkish soldiers we're IN camp ana =
heavy rain had deadened all SOUNDS OF
approacb. Like Gideon's band, who
-. 4. -. 49, Midiapitcq thcV stole
IN 10 the Turkish camp and fel upon
il with such fury that the Turks, ne,
lioyinp themselves outnumbered, hed
in great disorder, leaving many dead
and wounded and losing large quanti-
ties Of arms and ammunition. Inc
Armenian loss was only seventeen :,
Knoving they would be eventually
siarvcd out. the Armenians turned Tor
helm "a the French cruisers patroliing
tho Mcditerrancan. The women inaue
n huge white banner from thelr uhdet-
garments and in the centre fashioned a
eross Of red. Some Of the garments IN
this red field. the refugees said, were
dyed with the blood OF their sia'1
enemies.
tsll tree on the mountains summit
waa stripped of It's branches ana Inc
Gay Of distress fastened 20 It's top. ne
refugees had not long 20 wait Tor help.
French cruiser sent boats ashore 70
investigate, the Turkish force was az
persed and the refugees taken 10 fort
! Said. A.
There they were cared for by the
American Committee Tor hrmenlnn o,'''
syrian Relief. Many will be brough'
here. The party on the America ~ '"e
GlGt delegation.