Evening star., 1917-01-07
MORE THAN $4,000
FACE STARVATION
Appeal Made for Relief of the
Suffering Syrians and
ArmenianS.
DISTRESS is WIDESPREAD

Food and clothing for more than
50. 900 persons in the Bible lands who
are facing starvation is sought by the
American committee for Armenian and
Syrian relief, with headquarters at 40
5th avenue. New York.
America is asked to send this humane
gift in time for the oriental Christmas
which falls on January 49,
Christmas is coming in Armenia and
Palestine, not only without the usual
evidences of holiday cheer, but WITH
out bread, clothing or shelter in thou
sands of cases. Cablegrams Indicate
that women and orphaned children are
diving by the score from starvation
disease and the hardships of winter
Funds to Be Cabled. !
Funds contributed in this country
early in January will be cabled through
the relief committee in time for the
purchase of food and clothing on or be-
fore January 10.
In issuing its appeal, the committee
has made public a cablegram from the
American ambassador at Constantine
ple in which he states that the recent
temporary suspension OF approprla-
tions has caused great distress at
Aleppo. He reports that deported Ar
menians are starving and helpless IN
the regions south, east and west OF
that city.
Relief needs at Aintab are greatly
increased. since apparently many refu-
gees are escaping from the desert ana
arriving at that place. The cablegram
states that this is critical time. and
that the pressure brought upon the
refugees to compel them to embrace
the Mohammedan religion continues in
the interior. this being especially true
outside of the relief centers.
Sufferings of Refugees.
The committee has received from an
witness a remarkable statement of
the sufferings of the Armenian refu-
gees exiIed to northern Syria and Ara
bia. Describing conditions at Mes
kene which Is one of the concentra-
witness says: They arrive there by
the thousands. but the majority leave
there their bones. Nearly $4,000 Ar
menians are buried there. carried off
by intestinal diseases and resultant
typhus. AS far as the eye can reach
mounds are seen containing 200 or 900
corpses buried in the ground. pell nell,
women. children and old people be-
longing to different families.
AT 1abou Herrera, a small locality north
of Meskene. on the bank of the
Euphrates. saw 240 Armenians under
the surveiliance Of two gendarmes without |
pity. who leave them to die Of hunger in
the most atroeioas sufferinSs / gave them |
eorne bread They threw themselves on
It like dogs dying Of hunger; took II
vor1ciously into their mouths with hic-
cups and epileptical tremblings. Tney
were mostly women and children, but
there were about dozen old people
The statement contains account Of
conditions at large number Of towns.
and says that Of the 10000 Armenians
who were dispersed along the Chabour.
flowing into the Euphrafes, a great many
are dead and the rest will soon follow.
Armenians Scattered.
In conclusion, ii says:
81 believe there are some $1,000 Ar
mehians scattered about all along the
Euphrates between Meskene and Der-i-
Zor, passing through Rekka. AS have
already said. these unfortunate people.
abandoned. ill-treated by the authorities