Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-30
sYRIANs TO FIGHT FOR sYR
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN

WASHINGTON. June os.-An army
OF Syrians who live In America. many
OF whom are American citizens. fight
Ing for the freedom of Syria and for
Arabian nationalism under the French
nag Is one Of the strangcst and most
interesting spectacles which this war
OF all nations and races may bring
forth.
Syria is at present land sorely
oeset. Since the war began. the Turks,
whom the Syrians, hate with profound
hatred. have been trying in every
they have executed tho Syrian leaders
ana tntellectuals the priests OF the
Syrian Christian churches. They have
cut off the flow of foodstuffs to Syria.
and especially to Lebanon. Women
and children in Syria are dying OF
hunger although there is Abundance
close at hand.
Now the Syrians In America are
american citizens of the most loyal
sort They explain that If America
were being attacked at home-if this
were war to repel invasion-nothinE
could keep them from fighting under
the American colors. But we are fight
ing to make the world safe for de-
mocracy, to uphold the rights OF small
states. There is no small state whose
rtshts are more In need of unfolding
than those of Syria, and nearly every
American Syrian has relatives and
friends in that country who are being
starved and abused by the Turks. who
are his enemies by circumstance and
by the heredity Of many generations.
Recently a chance to fight for Syria
has been tentatively offered to Syrians
all over the world. France is the
European nation which has been most
Interested in Syria. a very thorough
protectorate over that country Is one
thing she hopes to win in the war.
M hos
make that protectorate effective would
be to invade Syria now and Dust the
Turks But France is low in man
power. So she has sent out word to
the Syrians in all parts OF the world
that II they will enlist in the cause
she will invade Syria and drive out
the Turks. The concentration move
inent has already begun. Thousands
of Syrians are gathering on the island
OF Cyprus. in the Mediterranean. which
is controlled by Great Britain.
Toward that growing camp OF
Syrians. bent on revenge for wrongs
that are centuries old and wrongs that
arc growing day by day. the thoughts
of all the young Syrians In America
are turning. In one little midwestern
city that contains LOO Syrians, $50
have declared themselves ready to go.
But now that the conscripion bill has
passed. they are all potential recruits
for the American army, and could not
obtain passports to leave the country
except by special dispensation.
Expect to Get Privilege.
There is reason to believe that spc-
cial disrenSation will be made. Within
week or so IL delegation OF promi
nent Americans Of Syrian descent are
expected to call at Washington and
formally ask OF the Administrations
that Syrians Of military age be al
lowed to leave this country to fight
nations In Syria under the French flag
The attitude Of the government has
already been sought by some Syrians
In Washington and New York. and they
assert that II is favorable. They look
upon Syrian army to invade Syria
under the French flag as 4 fact al
most sure Of accomplishment.
The position of Syria and. indeed. OF
all Arabia in this great war is
strange and complicated one. Syria
and Mesopotamia are rich countries.
capable OF much developmc For CEN
turtles Syria has been under the poll
teal control of the Ottoman Empire
under the social and educational in
huence OF France. and under the COW
ctous eye and commercial influence of
Germany. When the European war
broke out. Germany consented to the
seizure OF all this territory by III.
Turks. because Germany knew she had
political and military neckhold on
Turkey
For many years Germany has been
striving to gain the trade Of SYRIA and
Mesorotama by one of those svs-
ienlatic campaigns Of commerce and
banking, which the Germans hav. re-
duced to a science. What the Levant
means TO Germany Is thus expressed
by a prominent German Oricntalisi:
Not Monoroiized Yet.
The Levant is the only territory in
the world hi:h has not been monopo-
lizcd by the great powers. II Ger
many does not miss her opportunity