The Washington times., 1916-08-07
HOLY LAND FOLK
FACING STARVATION
War Blockade and Plague Of
Locusts Has Reduced Syria
and Palestine AppaIlinqIy.

The latest appeal made to the Fed.
eral Council Of the Churches OF Christ
In America IL on behalf OF the syrians.
In spite of the strict censorship and
the allied blockade. the Syrian relief
committee has secured information
concerning conditions In Syria which
Is believed to be reliable.
1t is reported that all draft animals
nave been commandeered; all crops
nave been requisitoned. and are reQui-
sit,oned as soon as they are sown: all
se.bodied men have been drafted into
the turkish army. The land 10 barren
as, as result OF the locust plague last
Food has not been allowed TO enter
me country. The allies have blockaded
me. me syrian coast. for fear that some
t tpSi nn ,Snt reach r Turkey and the cen.
syrian coast. Thousands are hungry.
Inc syrian committee condemns no
one. but simply reports the awful corr
dit'ons prevailing in Syria
Hard Times Reported.
The Presbyterian board received q
report from the American missiona rieJ
In Syria at the time Turkey was get
ting ready to enter the war when she
was milking the country"
The report described the hard times l.,
IAN draft animals were commanders
and crops were requisItioncd. All able
bodied men were called to night. with thu
Turkish army. ana no one was lett to
till the fields. The necessities OF life be-
came beyond the reach of the people.
This was the condition over a yea-
ago. Conditions now are twice as bad.
the Presbyterian board learns from It's
by the board a few weeks ago, and it is
our authority for making this state
ment."
News Of the awful locust plague
which visited Palestine and the Lebanon
reached this country last September.
The National Geographical Magazine
pests.
armies Of locusts for more than three
American College of Beirut. In other
letters to his son Prof. Dumit says:
From our vineyard which produces q
ton of grapes under normal conditions
. were gathered, and from a hundred FIG
trees. dozen ripe figs were brought In
after the minutest search
Blockade Bars Food.
The blockade of the coast OF Syria
by the allies and by Turkey Is work.
fng great hardship on the inhabitants
OF Palestine and Mt. Lebanon. Syria
depended on Egypt. France. and Italy
for most Of its food. No food has been
allowed to enter the country since Tur-
key entered the war.
The French government is reported
to be willing to allow food to be landed
At Beirut. provided an American com
mission Is given charge II its distribu-
ton. Naturally the allies must be care
full that no food reach THEN enemies.
The state Department Is expecting an
early concession from Turkey allowing
a commission of Americans to take
charge of relief work In Lebanon ana
Palestine. >.
DR.. James L. Barton. chairman Of
the American committee for Armenian
and Syrian relief. says: .s.-.-
The Syrians OF Turkey are desperate
ly in need of physical relief
DR.. Robert e. Speer, secretary OF the
Presbyterian Board Of Foreign Missions.
says that Need of relief In Syria 10
great and urgent"
Rev. Charles 8. mcfarland, general
secretary Of Federal Council Of the
Churches of Christ In America makes
the following statement:
I'VE must be careful that We DO not
overlook the distressing needs ~ thoee
| peoples remote from US and whose voice
does not reach our land so easily
The American committee for Armen-
ian and Syrian Relief has already sent
gency fund by the missionaries, and re-
ports that every cent of money pre-
viously sent had reached It's destination,
Charles r. Crane, treasurer. at 70 Fifth
| avenue, New York, is receiving con-
| trtbutiOns to this fund.