Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-09
VICTIMS OF TURK
IN SORRY PLIGHT
Thousands 81 fatherless Children
Among Refugees Near Starys-
tIon-TeiIs OF Horrors.

view iDIh~-i Wfutg ihbuNdAA idLu~
erless children Of Armenian and Syr-
ian refugees IN the Caucasus are IN
need Of immediate aid to save them
from Generalization and starvation, It
was declared here by Rev F. W. Mac
Alum. missionary in Turkey for tine
American board Of commissioners for
foreign missions, just returned from
relief work at Tihis and vicinity. In
the Caucasus, which he described as
mountainous with severe winters, he
said there are 100000 Armenian and
Syrian refugees from Turkey. mostly
women and children. as the men we're
massacred by the Turks
THE Turks made three drives
against Russia. which brought into the
Caucasus. which is Russian, large
numbers Of refugees. he said. In
1914 more than sixty thousand Armen-
ians fed before the Turkish advance,
The next year 10000 more migrated,
THE third drive Is known as the
Alasgert campaign OF July, 1915 The F.
Armenians or the district Of Alaahgert
IN Turkey were by II compelled to fee
10 the Caucasus II also caused the 4
evacuation OF the city Of Van by the +
Russians. This city had been defended I
in April and May by the Armenian
population against a strong Turkish
army. Russian aid had arrived just
in time 10 save il and the Turks ran
away. but when the Russians heard OF
the Turkish advance toward Alashgert,
81 f.yf,4 ha
cut Off. they evacuated Van and re-
treated TO the Caucasus. taking with
them all the ATmenians and Syrians
] there
This was by fer the largest influx Of
refugees They were attacked by
Kurds on the way and 1000 were
killed About twenty thousand died Of
cholera. typhoid and typhus after
reaching Russia The total number Of
refugees from Van and vicinity was
about two hundred thousand. In these
WAYS some three hundred thousand
people came to the Caucasus in great
restitution. after losing large numbers,
especially of men, and all their pos
sessions.
Relief work by the American COM
mittee for Armenian and Syrian relief
began in January, 1915, and is still
going on and growing in extent and
importance. The Russian government
has helped the refugees generously,
having given them up to the present
nearly S10,000,000. This supplied them
with food, paid their rent and made it
possible 20 provide for 5000 orphans,
but owing to the financial difficulties
Of the government this aid is now cut
Off
"The American committee has given
clothing and bedding TO 10000 OF the
most needy refugees and has also pro-
vided large quantities OF tea, sugar,
kerosene and fuel where most needed
During the summer of 1916 the work
of repatriation was undertaken and
hundreds of farmers were returned to
their homes in the province of Van and
supplied with oxen, plows. seed and
so forth This most promising work,
however. was interrupted by the evac-
uation of that region by the Russians
in August 1916, aud the committee has
decided that the time for repatriation
on a large scale will be only after final
victory over the Turks has been won.
Among the refugees are compar-
atively few men as more Of them than
women and children fell in the mas
sacres AS a result there are in the
Caucasus today 10000 fatherless chill
dren in need OF immediate aid OF
these the American committee is al
ready helping 5000 by giving them a
small monthly grant for food in their
homes.
Fifteen thousand more appeal for
similar help but no funds are available
sat present. The committee ia now or
ganizing an orphanage for 300 boys
in Eriyan Boys of good intelligence
and sound physique will be taken IN
with a view to quick training in trades
farming and education. These boys
will be prepared to act as leaders
along these lines and fitted to take the
place Of the artisans, industrial lead
ers and teachers who were killed.
"0f the 100000 refugees in the eau.
casus and the conquered provinces Of
Turkey, 250000 are without employ
ment and dependent on charity. The
committee has begun work in spinning
and weaving, giving employment t
about four thousand, mostly womer
and girls. The moral effects of worl
are very noticeable The life Of ref
ugee with nothing 10 do but stretcl
out his hand for charity is extremel.
demoralizing and discouraging. Man.
of the women to whom the COMMITTEES
Is giving work come ON foot iron
places as distant as ten TO thirteeI
miles and say what they value most 1
not the money they earn but the men
tai and spiritual relief employment
brings them.
Great gratitude is expressed for tn
aid sent from America. 1t seems Z
them very wonderful that a country S
far away and so entirely without an
political aspirations In those region
should make such large contribution
20 relieve their sufferings. The pres
tlge of America has been eHormousi
increased by this disinterested philan
thropy.
THE American committee has at II
time taken up the question OF the 20
litical future Of Armenia, but II til
statesmen who have to deal With thi
question after the war secure for tn
Armenians and Syrians and othe
small nations such a degree of libert
as will insure safety TO life. honor an
property. they will not have done NOR
than simple justice demands"