Omaha daily bee., 1917-06-30
Syrians TO Fight for Syria
Bg Frederic j. HGskin

By Frederic j. HGsktn
Washington, June 27.-An army OF Syrians who
| live in America, many OF whom are American
citizens, fighting for the freedom of Syria and for
Arabian nationalism under the French flag is one
of the strangest and most interesting spectacles
which this war OF all nations and races may bring
forth.
Syria is at present land sorely beset. Since
the war began, the Turks whom the Syrians hate
with profound hatred, have been trying in every
possible way to Ottomanize Syria. They. have
priests OF the Syrian Christian churches. They
have put 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.
Recently 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 pro-
tectorate over that country is one thing it hopes
to win in the war, and one of the very best ways
to make that protectorate effective would be to in
wade Syria now and oust the Turks. But France
is low in man power. So it has sent out word
to the Syrians in all parts of the world that if
they will enlist in the cause it will invade Syria
and drive out the Turks. The concentration move
ment has already begun. Thousands of Syrians
gathering on the island of Cyprus in the Medi-
terranean, which is controlled by Great Britain.
Toward that growing camp OF Syrians, bent
on revenge for wrongs that are centuries old and
wrongs that are growing day by day, the thoughts
of all the young Syrians in America are turning
In one little midwestern city that contains l, 100
Syrans, $50 have declared themselves ready to go.
But now that the CONSUMPTION 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
There is reason to believe that special dispen-
saton will be made. Within a week or so dele
CATION of prominent Americans of Syrian descent
are expected to call at Washington and formally
ask of the administration that Syrians Of military
age be allowed to leave this country to fight for
liberty and the rights Of small nations, in Syria,
under the Frech flag. The attitude OF the govern
ment has already been sought by some Syrians
in Washington and New York, and they assert
that it is favorable. They look upon Syrian
army to invade Syria, under the French flag, as
fact almost sure OF accomplishment.
For many years Germany has been striving to
gain the trade of Syria and Mesopotamia by one
Of those systematic campaigns of commerce and
banking which the Germans have reduced to
science. What the Levant means to Germany is
thus expressed by prominent German Oriental
list:
"The Levant Is the only territory in the
world which has not been monopolized by the
great powers.+ If Germany does not miss
its opportunity to seize it before the Cossacks
stretch out their hands in that direction it will
have the best share in the division OF the world.
There are no lands which offer greater
advantages for colonization than Mesopotamia
and Syria"
This learned German goes on to say that al
though there are great opportunities for develop
ment in this country there is no wilderness to
overcome, no pioneering to be done. The ground,
in his own words. has but to be scratched and
planted. He perceives, although he does not say
1t in so many words, that for this reason it is
the German opportunity pre-eminent. For the
Germans are not a pioneering nation like the
Anglo-Saxons. They are not explorers. Their
speciality 10 commercial and industrial exploita-
ton.
Frances political claims to the country are
hardly more valid than those of Germany, but
it has the VITAL though unwritten, claim which
comes from centuries Of welcome influence. In
a treaty dated 1885 between the French monarch
and the sultan Of Turkey, called, the capitula-
Christians in Syria. Ever since then it has main
tanned schools there and built up French cul-
ture. The educated Syrian speaks French and
is, socially and intellectually Frenchman so far
as an Oriental can be-
As to the Syrian himself, he aspires to some
sort of freedom for his country. Many Syrians
are partisans of the Arabian nationalist move
ment which has resulted in widespread revolt
against the Turks. Probably most of them hope
for some kind OF autonomy for their country.
Realizing that in world of land-hungry powers
this autonomy can only be had under some sort
of protectorate, they are willing to accept a
French protectorate, because the French have
treated them well. The greatest object is to
drive out the Turks.
The American Syrians who go to fight for
Syria will be fighting for liberty and for the rights
of small nations and they will be fighting for a
land which they love. They have left that coun-
try for one of larger opportunity, but their i'm
agnations dwell upon it lovingly. They delight
to tell you Of its wonderful climate, Of its rich
fields and orchards and the lonely vastness of
tence Of the Orient in their blood, their faces
darken and they talk hoarsely when telling how
the Turks have starved and wronged their be-
loved land. Something of their feeling, set forth
with the Oriental wealth of imagery, is in this
poem, which was written by a Syrian poet who
lives in America-Amin Mishrik-and translated
by Mary c. Holmes. The poet apostrophizes his
native land:
II shall return soon to defend thee with my
right arm my oppressed beloved one. I shall
come in vengeance upon the spoilers Of the daugh
ters of princes. Thy torn robe is ever before my
eyes Thy blood-stained feet are as thorns in my
breast. | shall come to crush the enc
mics who degrade the daughters OF the mghties.
In my breast hate groweth. I'm my veins ever
lasting rage boileth. | am hell Of retaliation
into whose pillows Of flame thy enemies shalt be
cast.
1--WE shall soon meet o beoved--O place of
my dreams and pivot of my thoushts-O my be-
loved Syria"
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