New Britain herald., 1917-11-17
TO AID SUFFERERS
 IN THE NEAR EAST
Campaign for Funds for Armen-
 ianS and Syrians

| LAo1E oALAANAOA IS uOL SUCH A C0HOI0 possibility. Their women and chill dren are starving. Their men are being slain outright or allowed to die in agony after horrible mutilation. This is not an imaginary statement. It is true description of a situation that exists in the twentieth century.
 Friends of the Armenians and Syr- ians, whose sense of humanity has 1 been shocked and aroused by the 1 pitiful fate of these two peoples, have decided on nationwide campaign for funds for their relief. The big drive will come on November "A and 25 and while everyone has been asked to contribute to other worthy causes, the public is asked not to overlook the unhappy millions in the Near East.
 President Wilson has become inter- ested in the project and has issued | the following:
 "One year ago, in compliance with resolutions passed by the senate and by the house of representatives. l ap- | pointed days upon which the people of the United States might make such SAAOAGAOAS eS kA0y 10AI OASQOS0O AOI the aid of the stricken Armenian and Syrian peoples.
 American diplomatic and consul lar representatives and other Ameri- can residents recently returned from Western Asia. assure me that many thousands of lives were saved from starvation by the gifts of the Ameri- can people last winter. They also bring full assurance of the continued effective distribution of relief and re- port that the suffering and death from exposure and starvation will inevitably be very much greater this winter than last unless the survivors can be helped by further contributions from America.
 Reports indicate that of orphans alone there are more than 400, 900, besides women and other dependent children, reaching a total of more than 100000 destitute survivors. The situation Is so distressing as to make a special appeal to the sympathies of all
 "In view of the urgent need I call again upon the people of the United States to make such further contri- buttons as they feel disposed, in their sympathy and generosity for the aid of these suffering peoples. Contribu- t1ons may be made through the Amer ican Red Cross, Washington, D. C.. or direct to the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, CleVe- land H. Dodge, treasurer, One Madi- son avenue. New York City,
 (Signed)
 WOODROW WILSON.
 Extracts from Recent CahlcgrAm~.
 Cable from Urumiah, Persia, vi;l American Consulate, Titiis, Russia, october 9:
 eff what l saw today in Sunni Mosque, Urumiah, could be trans planted ten hours westward to Mad1- son Square, New York. every news paper in America would ring With story of most abject spectacle in world at war, and millions for relief would follow straight way. Refugees from mountain villages driven from ripening crops, living unsheltered on stones, indescrlbable rags starvation, sickness and filth, human beings in state of oriental street dogs with whom they compete for offal Work already done by Americans for Ar menians, Syrians and Assyrians Is na- tional triumph, but vastness of con- tinuing need Is overwhelming. Turk ish-speaking endorsements and field congratulations on larger scale neces- sary Congregational Presbyterian Mission Turkey, Persia vindicated by brilliant present service of Americans and trained helpers.
 (signed) ELLIS s-BEURY." (William T. Ellis and Charles H. Beury are the commissioners our committee sent at their own expense to investigate conditions in Persia and the Russian Caucasus.)
 Cable from Genevia, October 4: Reports just at hand from our dis tributing agents show late cessation grants for relief caused great dis tress and mortality. This demon strates we had been reaching needy and no other agency takes our place. Recent grants from fund are most timely, saving many lives and greatly encouraging workers. Newly received funds largely employed for purChas ing supplies, food from newly har- vested crops before same is cornered with resulting increase in prices All people remaining reported we'll and greatly uplifted and cheered by re- sumption of relief credits. Express | determination to see it through Fac l ing winter conditions hopefully.
 (Signed wv. w. PEET." Cable from AleppO via Switzer- | land:
 "Fur ctlicacious help we need great | sums The last amounts for the or ! phanage were quite insufficient. For
 lack of bread it is impossible to help any longer eight hundred children in Armenian churches. Probably to-
 morrow we will be obliged to send
 them away"
 When I left Constantinople owing to the breaking of diplomatic rela- tions with Turkey, the work of relief
 carried on by the American Commit
 tee for Armenian and Syrian Relief