South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-03
Idolized King of Assyrians Dies,
Fate of Race Hangs in Balance

Mar Shimun. the King Albert or
the Assyrian people. IL dead and
the fate or his race IL being weigh
ed in the balance
For years Mar Schimun has
been the idolized leader OF the As
syrians. filling at once the role OF
civil ruler over the little highland
state and Catholics or Patriarch OF
the Assyrian Christian church At
the age or 10 he was elected sue
cessor to his uncle Ruwel- Reuben
Mar Shimun and no crown prince
vas ever better prepared 10 assume
his regal duties than was he The
national character OF Assyria has
been maintained for centuries
through the unity OF her church
alone so that TO the Assyrians the
Catholics is virtually king. But
no king at large, could surpass in
education or character this priest
IS monarch or the eastern high
lands
Taught From Childhood.
From early childhood ne was
taught the wisdom OF ancient seers.
the poetry OF the east and the sci
ence OF the west. the technique OF
the present day and the religion OF
the Nazarites OF old In the begin
ming, native teachers jealousy
guided the boys mind. but in later
years he came under the influence
OF members OF the mission estab-
lished by Archbishop Benson OF
kurdistan Persia. the patriarch hal
seat.
In 1903 his study was interrupted
by the call Of his people. and ne be
came the 13sth Catholics OF the
east Consecrated from both 20 the
service or God. like the ancient
&ians Mar ShimUn never ate meat
lie always observed Lent by keeping
rigid 4o-dsy fast Sundays in
Guided. Christlike. the sanity pa
triarch taught his people the bless
edness OF peace, yet he died fight
ing
Turks start Fight
Early in 1915 the Turks were let
loose Germany. busy elsewhere.
turned her back on the Orient.
while her Turkish ally. a connois-
seUr IN Oriental warfare. began 10
prepare for the future an easy road
through Asia for her Prussian
chum II was a welcome work the
Moslems were gwen 10 do-once
more a cha nee for ma ssacre and
. loot, and a promise OF utter annihi-
lation TO her hated Christian sub
lects and their near neighbors. Her
American subjects suffered terribly
CIVILIZED minds cannot conceive OF
+ the tortures endured by that mar
tyred race. tortures to be continued
and extended II the heroic resist
ance OF Armenians in the Caucasu
cannot hold
Not content with murder within
her gates. Turkey intruded her
crime east OF her borders into
Persia. In June, 1915. a wild band
OF Turks and Kurds swept up the
/ narrow valley where the Assyria n
I Christians make their mountain
home. But they soon met with re
I sistance. Assyria knew the fate OF
\ Armenia. Then $4,000 Assyrian
highlanders were called together by
Mar Shimun and right valiantly
they defended their valley The
Turks. however. had them out num-
bered and the Assyrians. taken un-
awares soon found themselves in a
state OF siege Every ancient castle
and sacred church was battered
down by Turkish guns before Mar
( Shimun advised his men TO retreat
70 their mountain Businesses Here
was al least a temporary refuge for
their women and children.
Goes For Help.
All went well until their supplies
gave out. The Russian lines al that
time extended as far south and west
in Persia as Salinas. With a hand
/ full OF his men Mar Shimun made
\ the dangerous way 20 this point 10
ask for assistance The Russians.
I however were In dire straits them
: selves and could send no aid. The
brave little group returned 10 give
I the sad news 10 the defenders Of the
mountains. There was nothing 10 do
\ but abandon their homes and re-
/ treat 10 comparative safety. Dur
ing the winter Of 1856 they wan
I dered over the plains of Salinas and
I Urumia. trying somehow 10 gain a
\ livlihood But IL was a bitter win
ter and there was war in the poor