New Britain herald., 1918-12-21

prisoners. Even though four thou- sand Christians had been killed lite sheep, and Mar Shimun : had been trcacherously murdered. still their revenge has been taken and these mon have fought single handed after the Russians had been disbanded and nearly 70 officers Stayed with them when the English army wSs one hun dr3d miles away The AsSyrians were cut from every side with the Kurds, Turks and Pcrsans against them Yet the NIoslcms themselves said that God is fighting on the side of the .Ns- syrians. One Mujdahid Ca religious functionary among Moslems) saw in visions that the Moslems have seen the angels spreading their wings over tRe camps of the AssyrianS." This is a triumph for the cross. When at last hard pressed when 1000 of these men went south toward the interior of Persia 10 open the way for the approach of the British cavalry. the .Assyrian civilians eWere frightened and to the mum Der of SO,0OO left their homes at the beginning of August and marched 250 miles to- ward Hamadan and from there an- other 250 miles toward Bagdad, when hundreds of them were killed on the way, or died of exhaustion and desti- tuition. This was of course, whels their ammunition was beginning to give way, and when any further aid from the English seemer to be too late as has often been the case in military campaigns.
 But even before this at the time when the Assyrians took q glorious share under the direction Of Grand Duke Nicholas it was the Assyriars under the leadership Of their own patriarch that stormcd the regions of Omar and the castle of Chal within 50 miles of Mosul.
 The newspa pers all over this couu- try in October 1917 gave credit to the Russians that they were within 50 miles of Mosul, and within short distance of making a junction with the British. It was not the Russians, but the Assyrians who had distin- guished themselves glorious1y on the battle field in defending their cause against the Turks.
 We do not wish that our name should be tarnished by the unworthy example of a handful of men who had been induced to become slackers or by the example of couple of unworthy persons whose hands are said to be taint- cd with the blood money of those who have been induced to run away from this glorious service.
 The writer has nephew in avia- ton in this country, who was wild and did every thing in his power to get his second papers in order to be fit for the service. His brother is working as a volunteer in France at the Y. M C. A.. while his two France. Many other families among the Assvrians all over this country can show the same record. There has been established q home guard in the city of Chicago composed entirely of Assyrians among whom the fight ing spirit has been that of their fore fathers and they have inspired mili- tary spirit among our men here.
 So please let not our people be on account of a few who have given a bad name for the rest but deal justly and rightly with those who have tainted themselves with this kind of business that they may be an example for the rest. This idea of getting money under various kinds of pretences has demoralized our people. and we hope a stop will be put to it.
 Sincerely yours.
 PATTI. SHANNON,
 New York