The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-01-26
Armenian Villagers Be-
sieged SO Days.
CHRISTIANS FIGHTING TURKS
Heroic Defense Against Big
Odds Sharpsho0ter 81.
fenced a Battery.
RESCUED BY FRENCH wARsHIP

|
Syria of the heroic defense and mar
row escape of four thousand Ar
menian Christians, besieged for thir-
ty-six days on Mount Moses by dou-
BILE their number of Mohammedans,
and delivered at last by the timely
arrival of French cruiser. The
people of six villages on the slopes
of Monsa Dagh (Nt. Moses), in
keeping with the Turkish policy of
discriminating the Armenians, were
ordered by the Turks TO prepare for
immediate deportation. Some of
the villagers at once gave themselves
up to the soldiers and we're marched
away. The majority however, went
up to the heights Of he mountain.
carrying arms, food, 1ols and their
fiocks of goats and sheep. Here they
were promptly attacked and besieg-
ed. The story of the siege is told by
young Armenian pastor, Dikran
Andreasian:
'The Turkish advance guard was
two hundred regulars, and the cap
tain boosted that he would clear the
mountain in one day. But the Turks
suffered casualties and We're driven
back. Returning for q more general
attack, they dragged up two field
guns, with which they soon secured
the range and wrought havoc among
us. One of our sharpshooters,
lion-hearted young fellow, crept
down among the brushwood and
rocks till within close range of the
guns. With five bullets he picked
off four gunners, without disclosing
his location. The captain threw up
his hands in dismay and retired"
After a good deal of fighting and
some heroic deeds of defense on the
part of the Armenians, the Turks
gathered force of eight thousand
soldiers and civilians and laid siege
to the mountain on lis landward
side. The supply of -four and &C.
reals was speedily exhausted and for
month the people lived on meat,
slaughtering goats and sheep. At
length there was enough food left
for only two weeks more.
Several efforts to get through the
lines with appeals for help having
failed. the Armenians turned toward
the sea as the only hope of escape
Two immense flags We're made, on
one of which We're embroidered in
large. clear letters, Christians in
Distress. Rescue" The other car
ried great red cross. These were
elevated on tall saplings. The story
of the coming of relief is thus told
by Pastor Andreasian:
"One Sunday morning, the thirty
sixth day of our defense, a man
came racing through our encamp-
ment. Pastor. PASTOR" he exclaim-
ed, "a battleship is coming and has
answered our waving! Thank God,
our prayers are heard. They see us
and are coming in nearer shore!'
This proved to be the French
cruiser Guichen. While one of it's
boats was being lowered. some of
our young men raced down to the
shore and We're soon swimming out
to the stately vessel. which seemed
to have been sent to us from God.
Soon an Invitation came from the
captain for delegation to come on
board and narrate the situation
Other French vessels were called |
by wireless. and the whole company,
numbering 4,O5S, was taken off and
carried to Port Said. Egypt, where
they were cared for The pastors
story concludes:
I'VE do not forget that our Sa-
vior was brought in his infancy to
Egypt for safety and shelter And
the brethren of Joseph could not
have been more grateful than We
Tor the corn and wheat provided"