Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-02-09


to escape conscription. The early or,
for religious war was everywhere rid
iculed by Moslems themselves. The
statement that the Christian people
Of Turkey intended rebellion against
the government is not justified by til,
facts. The people as a whole were
loyal They intended to carry their
full share Of responsibility. In the
balkan war no soldiers fought more
bravely than did the Christians of the
Turkish. government.
In spite Of the stories which had
come back to 1.-The people that the
Christians had been shot in the back
by their Turkish comrades there was
no thought of insurrection but only
of fulfilling their obligations.
: In the province of YAM, at the be-
ginning Of the war the Christians
stated to the government by their of.
ficial representatives that it was thejl
intention to support the government
in this war; that the only demand
that they would make would be to
ask guaranty OF fair treatment. No
such guaranty was furnished and
when it became evident that the ex-
termination Of Armenians of Vam was
planned, the Christians barricaded
their quarter of the city and fought
off the Turkish regular troops. The
story of the siege of Yam and its re-
lief by the Russians is one of the
most interesting annals of the war
in the near East.
The Christian soldiers who were
serving in the Turkish army were dis
armed, sent to work upon the roads,
executed and killed in cold blood. In
this way the Turkish government
disposed Of the able bodied men
among the Christians. However, many
of the Christians had at the begin
ming Of the war paid an immunity
tax which released them from further
military service. To deal with this
class, the plan was as follows: these
men were summoned to prison and
charged with crimes CT high treason.
They were tortured and most burtally
treated to extract testimony damaging
to themselves and to others. Under
the severe cruelties, men went mad,
statements were signed which had no
basis in fact, and in one case, due
20 torture, an Armenian gave written
testimony felsifying the citizenship of
an American and further stated that
this American was an Armenian agent
to Revolution.
In our city, there is a fine large
Armenian church suspected Of being
the hiding place Of arms and ammu-
nition- This church was desecrated,
being ransacked from top to bntt ON
by the Turkish poles and gendarmes.
Because Of this desecration services
could not be held until special cere-
rnony had been performed. The bish-
op was hastily summoned to the gov
ernment and told, 'if you do mot be-
gin services at once, we will burn |
Jour beard and will use the church |
ourselves. To burn the beard of a
Christian priest, is the rankest of
insults. The bishop was put in prison
and some days later met his fate. His
fingers were torn off, his teeth were
out by a hammer, his beard
vas burned and two holes were
punched into his temples by iron rods
Kerosene was thrown over his body
md set ablaze. Among our acquaint-
lnces, there are those who suffered
likewise.
At last the prisons were full and
he deportation begun. In our city it
vas carried out in this fashion. Huge
ats floated by inflated goatskins
we're built at some little distance
rom the city. The men were hastily
from prison in the early
avn and were put upon the RATS an
tarted down the river. The figures J
re variously estimated at from 600
o 1000. Their destination was said 7
0 be Mosul. Some two or three
ays from the city they passed thru
wild Turkish region wh ere they were
hot down in cold blood or pushed
ato the river to drown,by their bru- a
al guards and Kurds from the noun +
aims. The fate of exiles from other c
ections was similar. ic
After the disposal of the able !
o~ASN @ASAAS (AAO CdIu0 LIldL
Christians were to prepare for the
)urney. Sometimes a specified time
'ould be given when they must start. ',
ftentImes not more than a single
ours preparation would be allowed :.
'r the journey. Probably it is known ~
lat even under the best conditions
ter careful preparation of food
Id drink, clothing and bedding, with
efficient money and help, journey
ON the interior of Turkey is O.
ing not to be lightly considered. d
hlnk Of these Christians ordered to II
ave their homes, many of them ie
lthout any conveyance and with no e]
|equate preparation for a long Jour-
y, manytimes taking them to the =
It sandy deserts Of Northern Arabia.
one of them were excused because g,
conditions Of illness or age or in -. =.
nifty Sometimes, promises were y, y,
ade that they would be furnished y.
od and conveyances but although
omlses were made they We're not -
filled. Sometimes they were told
at they were to join parties who
d left the city or village, some 10
VS. previous but often before they pe
t the city, reports would come back te
the death and brutality and out th