Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-09-07
TURKISH HORDES
LOOT JERUSALEM
Ottoman Butchers Stay Inhabit-
ants, Seeing Their Own
Doom Is Sure.
W0MEN'S FATE is TERRIBLE
Situation in Palestine Most Serious
Since War Began-Germany Ex-
ercises No Restraining Influ-
ence on Her Turk Allies.

CiCloCo NO ncSbidiNltl9
ence on Her Turk Allies.
Cairo, Egypt-Tile situation in Pal
estine is the most serious since the
war began. A scheme for the looting
Of Jerusalem is already being execut-
ed and throughout the country the
Turk has embarked on a calculated
policy of plundenng and killing the
native inhabitants, SO that if they are
forced to vacate the country they will
leave behind them desert. The only
thing that can save them, the only
hope that bouys 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 Pal
estine is received here from many
sources, some more or less direct, but
most of them roundabout. The fol-
| lowing statement of the situation is
given to the Associated Press by an
official in touch with all these sources
'The attitude of the Young Turks
toward the unfortunate non-Turkish
races within their empire has always
been harsh and oppressive. During
the war it has been an open campaign
of robbery, exploitation and massacre,
for the Young Turks, realizing that the
partition of the lands under their rule
is unavoidable, have determined to get
as much as they can out of the in
habitants while they are in posses
sion.
Hate All Subject Races.
1.-THE stupendous wickedness of the
determination of the Armenian ma
ton cannot be dismissed as a mere
device of Oriental statecraft or as
particular measure aimed at one par
ticular race, for it is Turkish policy
towards 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, although
treating their subject races badly, did
not actually seek to destroy them. To-
day, knowing themselves doomed. it is
their calculated policy to kill off the
inhabitantsfOf Palestine and extort the
last ounce of money and goods from
them, so that if they are forced to va
cate the country they will leave be-
hind them desert-a poverty-stricken
and depopulated land.
'Their policy is not Consistent with
military or economic needs and is not
supported by even the slenderest pre-
texts for its necessity. 1t is dictated
solely by a savage brutality. The
Turk has in the past shown some APP
titude for diplomacy, if little for
craftsmanship, but the modern Young
Turk of the committee of union and
progress is an infinitely worse tyrant
than his predecessors, and all the
native savagery and blood lust thar
are his heritage now find vent in
deliberate and organized crimes. He
works untrammeled by diplomatic con.
vention and reckless Of the inevitable
Germany has exercised |
no restraining influence and indeed |
sAldltN ieA -AJ III NLt OtlOAheAA SAA4t-
"Palestins is somewhat cut off from /
the world and news of the dreadful /
within its borders reaches I
slowly. 1t is usually inl-
possible to learn the fate of indlyid- {
uals, but a good general idea of the
situation is in our hands.
'"The disaster that befell the Ar
nenian nation is being melted out 20
he mixed non-Turkish population Of
Syria and Palestine. Families are be-
ng massacred, towns and territories
evacuated, communities plundered and
given over to pillage.
Recently the town of GAIA was or
Tered evacuated. In pursuance of the
rider the inhabitants were forced 10
et out upon their journey with moth
ng but the clothes they wore. All
heir belongings were left in their
ZONES and these were Immediately de
Ivered over TO the Turkish troops for
Dot. There were the usual scenes of
ranton destruction and willful defile-
lent no women were spared the Gus.
Omary accompaniment of a Turkish
isitatiOn.
Looting of Jerusalem Thorough.
"Gaza having been pillaged and the
Oldiers not yet being stated. it was
roposed to carry out the same pro
ram at Jerusalem. The head notabIe<.
owever. protested that, having seen ,
lie exhibition at GAIA. they preferrei
, chance the risks of war to endur-
lg the certain agony Of forced .
,acuation. This answer and protest ,
spleased the pasta so much that he
had the deputatiOn trans
,rted to Anatolia and is taking spe- Il
al measures to see that his scheme O
r looting Jerusalem is not hlndered
organized passive resistance among
e inhabitants. 9
1.-THE system of oppression in Pales- n
le is thorough, but II is also stupid
ID wasteful. Cavalry horses are al
IL