The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-18
LOOT JERUSALEM!
Palestine in ThrOes of Extreme
Turkish Oppression.
Open Campaign of Massacre,
Exploitation, Robbery.
STAMP OUT SUBJECT RACES
"HOIy City" Doomed Unless
British Army Arrives.
Believing War Is Lost, Turks
ReveI in Innocent Blood.
STAMP OUT SUBJECT RACES
(By the Associated Press.)


Cairo. Egypt, Aug. 1S.-The situa-
ton in Palestine this summer is the
most serious since the war began. A
scheme for the looting of Jerusalem is
already being executed and shruout
the countryside the Turk has embark
ed on a calculated policy of plundering
and killing the native inhabitants so
that if they are forced to vacate the
country they will leave behind them
a desert. The only thing that can save
them, the only hope that buoys them
UP, is that the British armies now
hammering at the gates of the Holy
Land may soon drive out the Turks:
Information about conditions IN
Palestine reaches here from many
sources, some more or less direct, but
most of them rather roundabout
The following statement of the present
situation is given to The Associated
Press by an official in touch with all
these sources.
Know Turkey Has Lost War.
1.-The attitude of the young Turks
toward the unfortunate non-TurB1sh
races within their empire has always
been harsh and oppressive. During
the war it has been an open cam
paign of robbery, exploitation and
massacre, for the young Turks, realiz-
ing that the partition of the lands I'M
der their rule is unavoidable. have de-
termined to get as much as they can
out of the inhabitants While they are
in possession.
1.-THE stupendous wickedness of the
determination of the Armenian nation
cannot be dismissed as a mere device
of Oriental state craft, or as partic-
ular measure aimed at one particular
race, for it is the Turkish policy to-
ward not only Armenians but Arabs,
Greeks and Jews, in fact all peoples
who are subjects of the Turk but are
not themselves of Turkish blood.
while there was some prospect of
being able to retain or even enlarge
their empire, the Turks, altho treating
their subject races badly, did not
actually seek to destroy them. Today,
knowing themselves doomed it is their
calculated policy to kill off the bulk OF
the inhabitants of Palestine and extort
the last ounce of money and goods
from them so that if they are forced
to vacate the country they will leave
behind them a desert, poverty
stricken and depopulated land.
Savage Brutality Only Motive.
Their policy is not consistent with
military or economic needs and Is not
supported by even the slenderest pre-
texts for it's necessity. 1t is dictated
solely by a savage brutality. The Turk |
has in the past shown some aptitude
for diplomacy if little for statesman
ship, but the modern young Turk or
the committee of Union and Progress
predecessors and all the native saw
agery and blood lust that are his heri-
tage now find vent in deliberate and
organized crimes. He works untram
melled by diplomatic convention and
reckless of the inevitable conse-
quences. Germany has exercised no
restraining influence and indeed,
shares largely. in the Ottoman guilt.
Palestine is today somewhat cut off
from the world and news of the
dreadful happenings within its borders
reaches civilization slowly. 1t is usual
ly impossible to learn the fate of in
dividuals but good general idea of
the situation is in our hands.
The disaster that befell the Armen-
ian nation is now being melted out
to the mixed non-Turkish population
of Syria and Palestine. Families are
being massacred, towns and territories
evacuated, communities plundel ed
and given over to pillage.
No Women Spared.
The town of GAIA was recently
ordered evacuated. In pursuance of
the order the inha bitants were forced
to set out upon their journey with
nothing but the clothes they wore. All
their belongings were left in their
homes and these were Immediately
delivered over to the Turkish troops
for loot. There were the usual scenes
of wanton destruction and wilful de-
Element; no women were spared the
ish visitation.
GAIA having been pillaged and the
soldier not yet being satisfied, it was
proposed to carry out the same pro-
gram at Jerusalem. The head nota-
bles however, protested that, having
seen the exhibition at GAIA, they pre-
ferred to chance the risks of war to
enduring the certain agony of forced
evacuation.
Destroy All Growing Crops.
This answer and protest displeased
the pasha so much that he promptly
had the deputation transported to
Anatolia and is taking special meas
ures to see that his scheme for looting
Jerusalem is not hindered by organ
lied passive resistance among the in
habitantS.
The system of oppression in Paies-
tine is thoro but it is also stupid and
wasteful. Cavalry horses are allowed
to Craze on such of the scanty crops
as the wretched inhabitants have been
abIe to grow so that there will be
no grain this year in a country which
is already well nigh bare Of corn
"TT"K r