The daily progressive-miner., 1918-10-08
AND THE WAR
Sore Plight of Assyrians in Persia; What Assyrians in America Have Done For
 Democracy

One of the most deplorable stories or me war comes 10 us from north. western Persia. that portion which is the homeland Of the Assyrian people. A band of no less than 45.000. refu gees, driven out of the city ot Uramia oy the Turks and kurds, are making their way across the plateau of Iran. toward Hamadan. where they hope 10 find safety within the British lines Perhaps 2 third Of this number are lighting men. The rest are women. children. and old men. When the Turks made their first attack upon them in Uramia, a month ago, they slaughtered abou. 15.0o0 Now they are pursuing the others with incredible fury, killing all that they can lay hands on, burning villages. destroy. ing crops. and devastating the coun. try
 But the Turk is not the only en. emy with which these refugees have 10 contend. There is the unhealthy climate. the risks Of sleeping out-ot- doors through the damp nights, lack ot food and clothing. and the foul drinking water. Recently an epiden- ic Of cholera swept through the little army and wiped out a great number. One of those who died was an Amert- can, Dr. William A. Shedd, president or the American college in Uramia.
 Previous Turkish Massaeres
 This forced flight is not the frs. outrage pe-petrared by the Turks in Assyria since the beginning Of the var Early in 1915, they began a ser les os systematic massacres. About 2v,o0o were put to the knife within a few days, and 30,000 were thrown into prison. from which they were later released by Russian troops. There Tas second reign Of terror in 1917. and a third during the month Of March, 1918 when the attacking O,to- mans were led by German officers. It was during the March atrocities that Mar Shimon, patriarch Of the Nestor. ians was slain by Turkish soldiers.
 The purpose behind this campaign Of blood is characteristic Of the Turk The Turks have long detested the Assyrians because they are Christians and because, from the start Of this war, they have been very pro-AIly. The Persians, who are Mohammedans. have been spared. They are suppos- edly neutral, and Ahmed Shah, their ruler, has constantly advised them 10 remain so. But it is well known that German influences have been busy among them
 Persia has managed 10 remain self-governing state for centuries. in spite 0f the longing looks cast in her direction by Turkey and the Czar of Russia. In fact. she managed to re- main independent because the powers who wanted her played oil agains, each other. When the Turks started 10 invade Persia, the Cars armies came 10 her rescue and drove them back IL was not that the Czar wanted Persia any the less, but tha, he hated the Turks more
 IssJrians Immierate to America
 There are now thousands Of Assyr- ian people in the United States and Canada. They did not come here as political refugees, but because they iok upon America as q great center 0s education and commerce The American missionaries carried this news to Assyria more than s years ago. and great interest in the United States has spread from the colleges at Cramia, founded abou. zG years ago of which the late Dr. Shedd was pres dent
 The Assyrian-American colonies are i1 Chicago. Philadelphia, Yonkers, Sew Britain. Conn, Worcester. Mass, Hartford, Boston, Los Angeles, and