South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-05-11
TURKO-TAIiTARS
SEIZE CONTROL.

IN carly April IS were killed in Cairo. and late IN
April fighting began at Nakhitchevan. This fighting is
by itself. During March it was announced that the
Turkish troops were withdrawn from Caucasian Ar
mcnia- This literally was true; but these Turkish
troops were replaced by Tartars, more savage than
the Turks. and the Tartars were directed by Turkish
officers. These Turko-Tartar troops act openly in spite
of the presence of the British troops who are tninly
scattered over the country. The Turkc-Tartars have
established their own government in the Armenian dis
trict OF Kars and other provinces where a great ma
jority of the population is Armenian and the Tartars
have proclaimed tho province as a part OF Azervaid-
jan. Thus the small Armenian Republic, with its cap
ital at Ervain, is entirely surrounded by a Turko-Tartar
Gordon OF governments determined to destroy the re-
public The young Turks are responsible for this stu
alton. They desire two things-first to CIT off eau
casian Armenia from so-called Turkish Armenia and
second to exterminate the race-this outpost Of Chris
tian civilization in the east
In the meantime hundreds Of thousands Of Armenian
refugees have sought shelter in the Caucasses. They
are hemmed in there, rationed by their kindred, and by
American Red Cross relief. They cannot return to
their homes. They cannot go back to till their fields.
The famine is bound TO increase. They are In a noun
t,inotis country. ana even in Clicia. where allied troops
are found, the Turkish administration functions. And
even there thousands Of Armenian orphans and young
girls are still grooming as slaves in Turkish homes anc
in Turkish harems.
ENGLAND MIST GET
OUT OF THE BUSINESS.
England has her own troubles. When she started
to withdraw troops from Titles in April 10 necessary
service IN Cairo. the young Turks began the Armenian
massacres. Yet England feels that Cairo is vital II she
maintains India. and India is necessary II she preserves
later must get out OF the business Of protecting Ar
menia. and even If she stays, the Moslem world knows
that for a time England IS not the old England that
made her word the law in the east. But II America
takes Armenia-trere another element enters. War
will be unnecessary. We have established our record.
But II we do motif we fail TO take the Armenian
mandate-then what? Our missionaries are there by
the thousands. our women are going every day on
food distribution commissions. scores Of charitable
organizations are sending relief TO Armenia, and these
ORGANIZATIONS are administering their affairs chiefly
by women. We may not send soldiers 10 Armenia, be-
cause we are not at war with Turkey; but we are send
ing defenseless women there. As the situation grows
further and further strained we shall find ourselves in
greater and greater Jarger Of war; for America would
force war in spite Of any League of Nations II our wom-
en- were attacked 10y the Turks.
So it is really 4 question whether or not it is wise
20 assume the job Of the good samaritan or TO pass
Armenia by on the Jericho road with the priest and
the Levite and wait until such times as the thieves
return and rob and murder our own flesh and blood
Sooner or later we must act. To act now and TO act
strongly will prevent bloodshed. To. watch and walt
VIII only postpone an evil day
Copyright. 1879