The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-04-03
''Old Glory Sayes
Lives Of 10000
AFmenians

Colege In that city, the most famous
educational institution in Asia Minor
under American control. was present
at the services at the First Presby-
terian church Sunday evening, and
thanked the people of Canon City and
Fremont county for their very gener-
GUS financial contributions to the re.
cent nationa' drive for the relief of the
war sufferers in Armenia. Persia and
the Far East. Affer expressing his
appreciation Of the assistance extend.
ed by the people Of the United States
to the oppressed and destitute :nhab.
itants in that part OF the world during
the war. he related remarkable Incl
dent of Turkish respect for the Amer
ican flag that caused thrill of pride
in every membe- of the audience
that they were citizens of the great re
public. AS the story is new and has
not hitherto been published. II will be
told as nearly as the VIZ ter can re-
member It:
In 1915 an offensive and defc nsiye
a lance was formed between Turkey
and Germany and the former country
threw its military and naval resources
into the war with the Central empires.
German officers were paced in com
mand OF the Turkish armies and. to
some extent in the Turkish navy. I'm
der their leadership racial and reii-
g'ous hatred of the Armenians and
Persians was encouraged with view
of invading their lands in a campaign
for the conquest of Egypt. the capture
of the Suez canal and the foment'n no
of discord and insurrection in India
The atrocities committed BY the
Turks under German Indictment were
unspeakable. Many thousands o.
these non-combatant people. who had
no interest in the war. were butchered
in the most inhuman fashion. and
o her thousands wee d-ivcn into the
desert to die OF thirst and stayation.
h was one of the tragedies OF the
ages. and will not be forgotten as iong
as men live and their conscsences cry
out for revenge and reparation.
ON the borders OF Persia was
fourishing American miss on .of tie
PTesbyfe ian church and around 1t the
Armenlans and Persians gathered for
safety from tier enemies The ms
sionasy in charge had lived there for
moe than 40 years and stood high In
the esteem of the native people Under
his preaching and that Of his assist-
ants more than 10000 converts TO the
Christian re igion had been made and
they placed themselves undfr his pro
lection from the Turk and Kurdist
forces. One day word was brough
to the mission that Turkish army of
10000 men was on its wav to destroy
it with Gre and sword 7. e mission.
ary assembled his 10000 conye Is ir
the town where he was at ON d in an
effort to save them ON the fury OF
the Mos EN- hosts. He was unable
rro,ect them from tie Turks BY force
II arms. but hored that some way
could be found to accomplish II by
o her means
When the news was brous hi 10 him
that the Turkish force was bat few
miles away a prayer meeting was held
for de.Ive-snce At It's conclusion TIE
aged miss .onary took the American
flag and fastened 1t over the gates
aC sCW AStAoit oEblnnint - OOui
baidnent Of the place was ordered the
Turkilh commander asked for a pa
ley with the authorities. The mis-
s onsry went out to meet him and tr,
to arrange some plan by which the
town would be spared and the lives
Of tie helples IS people within It's wal
saved from death. The Turkish gen
e-al demanded to know what banner
1t was that was posted ove- the gates
and was told that II was TIE nag or
the United States. and that to violate
II would mean war with a great people
beyond the seas TIE missionary
was told by the Turkish general that
the lives OF Americans in the town
would not be harmed BY his army. but
that all Armenians and Pers ans that
had taken refuge within II rust
be Immediately surrendered. The
missionary ref-~ed 10 iu-n over HIS
profegees to Mos'em fanactIcisn. and
said that rather than surrender,
Americans and all would perish to.
gelher. TIE Turkish commander was
wa ned that an attack on the town
would br ng down upon bis country
the wrath Of the American government
and that punsshT ept OF the more dire
su' n,anncr would be metcd out to It II
hosti tiles were commenced The
Turkish general hesitated and took
the matter under deiiberation for an
hour o. more when he ordered re-
| treat and tie mission and IT'S 10000
refugees wee left unharmed
Af'er the Turkish army had passed
out of sitht the Americans and Per-
SANS were overcome with graf tude