Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1916-10-18

A CRUSHING BLOW has fallen
uon the Armenians and Syrians in
Turkey. Persia. Syria and Palestine.
Amid all the terrible Accomplishments
OF the European War there is none
more hsaFtrendIng than this.
Absorbing TO the most reliable re-
porte about $4,000 have persisted by
Enassacre. disease. and hardship.
Two million survivors. each with a
story tragic enough to break the hard
est heart. are in dire distress. Many
are remote from their homes, without
shelter. clothing or food. their hearts
filled with despair.
America Is the only nation that can
meet their need. Extraordinary finan-
cial prosperity. impossible but for the
war abounds here. Shall this nation
fatten because of Europes demand for
our goods and forget the sorrows in
the war zones?
The suffering cry out in their an
guish.
VIII We hear and heed their appeal?
a Tragic History
For twenty-five centuries. between
the Black and Caspian Seas. in West
eFn Asia, the Armenians have had
home. Suffering has been their lot,
perhaps beyond any other race that
has ever lived
One after another-Assyrian Per
alan. Parhian, Roman. Turk-has
come 10 Cypress OF exploit or perse-
cute. Today their land is divided be-
tween Turkey. Persia and Russia.
Only yesterday they were the best edu-
Gated, most skillful. most industrious,
and most valuable people in the Tur
kish Empire.
The Blow That Fell.
"Only yesterday" Those are fate
fui wordsl Modern history began Au.
gust /, 1914, when Europe and Asia
caught fire. The flower OF Armenian
manhood was called to the colors,
ieaying only a few men with the aged
and tnfirm or tender youth with wo-
men and children to carry on the daily
business as best they could.
In April. 1915. continuing through
November. the indescrbably terrible
blow fell--the most tragic hour Ia all
their tragic history came. Then began
the systematic and relentlessly cruel
process Of crushing the Armenian race
BY massacre and deportation. Men
were led away in groups outside their
villages and killed with clubs and axes
The cmsui of one or the European
nations IN Turkey reported that on one
occasion 10000 Armenians were taken
out In boats, batteries of artillery
trained on the boats az targets. and
the entire company killed.
Schools and churches-the fruition
81 many years of toll and tears-were
broken up, the students killed or scat.
tered.
Girls and women were reserved for
an indescribable fate in terrible
marches. In harems. or in the houses
of officials. or In the huts OF the wild
tribes.
villages and towns by the hundred
were destroyed. The whole Armenian
population of large sections was dc.
ported. or one caravan Of 600 people
the Arabs killed 500. Many thousands
died of disease, torture. terror, exhaus.
ton. hunger
or $50 from one village only one wo.
man lives. She saw her husband and
three sons tied together and shot with
one bullet, to save ammunition she
saw her daughters outraged and then
killed. She was carried away by
Kurd but escaped at night, naked. and
after terrible suffering fell in with
some refugees.
The blow fell heaviest upon those
least able TO bear 1.-THE aged, the
women, especially mothers or those
about 10 become mothers. little chill.
dren. Hundreds, thousands, persisted
In the first few days. The figures
mount 10 sickening proportions, until
they reach a total OF more than half |
million that have perished.
Present Conditions.
In the early months OF 1916, America
vas shocked by the widely published
statement that the Armenians were
living upon grass Later reports say
hat The grass Is now dried up The
'eopie kili ana cat the street dogs.
They fight for the clotted blood OF
Tiled animals; they gnaw the bones
'bIeb they find on the ding hills;