Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-28
$4,000 ARMEN|ANS
SLAIN BY TURKS
Asiatic People Suffer at Handing of
Fleeing Forces of Sultan in
Evacuation of Erzerum,

Tif1is, Russian Transcaucasia, March
20.-tCorrespondence of the Associated
Press Fifteen thousand Armenians
were killed by Turks at Mamakhatun
prior to the evacuation of Erzerum,
according to statement prepared for
the Associated Press by Richard Hill,
a local representative of the American
committee for Armenian and Syrian
rellef, OF New York. More than that,
many more, expelled from Erzerum and
surrounding villages, have dropped out
OF sight and it is assumed that most of
them have met a like fate. 1t is esti-
mated that there are 100000 Armenian
refugees in the Caucasus. They are
beginning to return to their homes in
large numbers. By April first it is
thought 10000 will have been repa-
triated. More than $4,000 has been
expended by the American committee
for their relief, $4,000 articles OF
clothing and bedding, several tons of
sugar, tea, soap and kerosene having
been distributed.
Mr.. Hill describes Interestingly the
almost superhurhan achievement of the
Russian soldiers in scaling the heights
around Erzerum, packing heavy guns
piecemeal over the mountain ranges
preparatory to attacking the fortresses
His information was gathered from va
rious officials and army officers who
have returned to Tif1is from Erzerum
THE work of the Russian forces was
nothing short of marvellous" writes Mr.
Hill. They had to fight their way
from their original position near Sari
kamysh clear up to the city itself
over roads that beggar description
The men waded in snow up to their
waists, pushed on through a binding
snowstorm, scaled apparently impos-
sible heights all in weather as intense
and bitter as that of the Arctic circle
Guns were taken apart and carried or
the backs of soldiers, hauled up ply
ropes to the top of cliffs and ther
dropped down the icy slopes and put
together in the clouds from where they
brought terror and CONSERVATION tt
the enemy. Too much praise cannon
be given to the valor and hardwood Of
the Russian soldier. An artillery OIL
Ger who was in the fight from the De
ginning told me that the wonders per
formed and the difficulties overcome
were every whit as great as those
which made Napoleon.s march over the
Alps military classic.
1.-THE city itself is little if any dam
aged, the forts even hardly showing
evidence of severe bombardment
When the fall of the city was imminen
the Turkish soldiers in certain quar-
ters began to loot and burn, but before
much damage was done the inhabitants
were able to prevent the fire iron
spreading. The approach of the Rus
sian soldiers caused the looters to bea
a hastv retreat. A population OF 2o,Oo'
was found in the place, mostly turks
| Some Persians and few Greeks MAD
IN the remainder. Possibly hundred
Armenians had been able to hide viii
friendly Turks and were found in tn
city upon its capture. Apart from theS
there has been found no trace OF othe
Armenians. numbering $4,000, Wh
were taken from the city and sent mt
tine interior in June of last year. ina
is TO saw. no word has come from an
of the men, but Mr.. Stapleton, Amer
| can missionary in Erzerum, has near
indirectly from some of the women de
norted at that time. The whole OF tn
nrovince has been cleared oil Arme
mans with the exception of those lev
who hid in the city. At the same tim
IL 600 were sent away from village
nearby These were taken as far a
Mamakhatun where they were killed
Other groups have been sent OH at oil
ferent times many of them too, n
doubt. sharing the same fate as thos
from Erzerum, although some hope l
entertained that many OF them ma
still be found alive in the region c
Aleppo."
In this connection it is interesting t
learn of an incident occurring JUS
prior to the fall of the city. Taxir
~ 4Lo Wolf II annears had done a