The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1919-08-07

plows, many hundred wards of cloth,
medical. supplies, etc, landed at
Bardezag, on the upper end of the
gulf of Ismidt. We found this to be
a town that had suffered in the war.
It's original population was $4,000, en-
tirely Armenians. We found but
about 1900 and those in sad condi-
ton. We left our guards with the
goods 1--WE always travel with an
armed guard) until a buffalo train be
procured, and then started out on the
four mile walk to the town. We
passed acres and acres of mulberry
trees uncared for. This town had
been in the hands of the Turks for four
years. 1t originally had been most
prosperous with its silk and lace
making industries. It's inhabitants
returning are making great struggle
to patch up something to live in and
get from the neglected fields some
thing to live on. With them is an
Englishwoman who has been their
friend and teacher for 16 years-Miss
Ne wnham of the lord mayors COM
mittee-a missionary Of wonderful
personality. Through her encourage
ment and inspiration they are begin
ming to weave and plant In order to
live they must first clean up the filth
and debris in streets and houses left
by the Turks, who fled to the noun
tains when the English took control.
It was pitiful sight-those hollow
eyed houses with doorless entrances
in which the Armenians are trying to
live, their own homes, built by them.
Think of returning to such devasta-
tion-not the whole family by any
means perhaps a father with one or
two children, brother and sister,
sole survivors. There are. so many
more men than women in this town
that the men are very discouraged
and say that life is no longer desira-
BILE. They want to die but before they
die they want to kill some Turks.
We organized sanitary board
held some meetings in which they were
taught how best to proceed. I want
to say here that the Armenians are
wonderful people. I have never seen
more exquisite women in my life.
mean among the upper class. These
we. met in their beautiful homes on
the Island Of Pimpipo, one Of the
Princess islands in the sea Of Mar
! mora, where we boarded for two
weeks at one Of the large hotels on
our way here. It seems almost hope
less to try to rebuild such town.
There is talk of a free Armenia and
,, the whole town may go, bag and bag
gage, Miss Newman with them.
A most impressive meeting with
the Turkish governor is one of the
things to be remembered. Through
an interpreter (our members spoke
only Armenian) we told him we came
in a friendly spirit to help all who
had suffered in the war and we wished
his help and protection. He was very
friendly and assured us that he would
do all in his power. He then asked us
if we did not wish him success in his
new work. He had but recently been
appointed governor. We told him we
did and that, being a young man, we
looked to him to deal justly with all
people. We found out that the Eng
fish commandant had just been to see
the governor and had threatened all
sorts of things if any more murders
occurred in his domain. This is why
we found him so affable.
We spent three days in this and
other towns, giving all kinds of relief.
A great many medical cases were very
pitiful. One, little girl of IL very
small for her age-had been in the
hands of the Turkish soldiers during
her exile and was in horrible condi-
ton. We felt our expedition was well
worth while as we gave relief and en-
couragement to many.
In warehouse No. 2, first floor, are
stored quantities of German stores,
carefully guarded by Turkish SOL
diers. Our chief is Lieut.. Colonel
Bryan, an American officer; our
guards are not English but Serbs, still
the British are over all. In the har-
Dor with guns pointing to the shore
are British men-of war, several U
boats and chasers. Is it not mixup
We live strictly under military rule
are not allowed out of the barbed-
wire entanglements without an armed
guard. We had a picnic on a distant
beach yesterday but we were guarded
by half dozen armed sailors.
Since writing the above two DAYS
have passed. am ordered out on
two weeks scouting party to Angora
and other cities along the Bagdad