Great Falls daily tribune., 1919-12-07

,idont in the following graphic 0eSpdtcH
Of the Armenian republic.
let pass the rear automobiles and took
a note which he said he would deliver
when they came.
After warm leave taking the auto
mobile proceeded to higher ground and
a wider valley. when the glistening SHOWS
Of Aratrat came suddenly in full sight.
The party had come on Sabbath, the
first day of the week, near the place
of tabled flood where the human race
had been preserved by Nnah's Ark land
ing until the waters cleared.
At Ruin Of KuIp.
Next the saddened ruins of kulp were
reached As the party swung through
the picturesque spot, a short halt was
made to speak to startled horde Of
Moslems. thronging with their rifles
about the machine. while hundreds OF
their women and children sprang up in
the rear. staring curiously. They told
a brief story of having no bread, Of be
irg hunted by the Armenians, Of having
had their homes destroyed, and Of hay
ing destroyed the Armenian village Of
kulp in retaliation.
The two forward machines. the first
carrying Generals Harhord and Moseley
went 20 miles further. climbing out upon
the bare. homeless brown plain above
which Aararat now shone in sunset
splcndor. the creeping shadows Of cop
per vaguely remaindful Of the delicate
beauties Of Venice's green church domes.
As this was again Armenian territory,
cavalry squadron came out to greet
General Harbord and then went away,
finding he was striking camp beside the
river instead of going to their village for
the night After waiting an hour with
out the truck arriving, General Harbord
sent back in their automobile Major II.
w. Clark. together with Mr.. Poland,
Hussein Bey. Turkish interpreter and
professor of history at Roberts college.
Constantinople. and The Associated
Press correspondent to find it.
Drives Tribemen Back
When the machine returned to kulp,
its streaming lights announced its ar
rival In a moment the valley resound-
ed with rifle shots. cries in the darkness
from hundreds of men. and dozens of
fierce figures lcaped about the machine
as it stopped. Hussein Bey. being the
only one who spoke Turkish, sprang
from the machine and walked courage
ously toward the tribesmen with his right
udEiU Dit HIS SuulLltlS 1 td1t. VIC
are friends"
Soon came up a short Turk, after
ward known as Ria, whip in hand,
driving back his fellows lashing them
mercilessly with short whip; next an
old crippled chieftain. Alexander by
name, and a quieter chieftain, Shami
Beg. It developed that the truck with
its three men. one of whom was the
p8rty's chief, Monsieur Lutard. formerly
with General Petain IN France. was be
ing held until the American general
would return and voueh for it as Ameri-
can. The members Of the searching
party were also informed that they too
must remain until the general had vouch-
ed for them. 1t was explained that the
precarions military situation Of the band
made this necessary, though it was sus-
pected to be a subterfuge to get posses
sion Of the person Of General Harbord
Chiefs Return With Auto.
After much wrangling and argument,
with many differences of opinion. it was
agreed that Chiefs Alexander and Ria
would return with the automobile to the
camping place Of General Harbord and
ascertain for themselves then that the
party had come for the purpose Of in
vestigating the political difficulties in
Armenia and other neighboring coun-
tries.
When they had gotten in the machine.
voice out of the darkness denounced
Hussein Bev as an Armenian. and the
argument was begun anew. Finally the
two leaders departed. saw General Har-
bord, told him their wrongs, and pleaded
with him to have the Americans settle
the troubles of the land. and left pro
missing to free the prisoners and let pass
the other four machines, which had as
yet not arrived.
Meanwhile Shamil Bey took the pri-
soners to the center Of his camp. had
spread rugs for them to sit upon, 4 fire
built. and sheep killed in their honor
Then he entertained them with stories
of the life of his band of the troubles
growing out Of the war, and declared the
only wat to bring peace to Asia Minor
was through strong foreign hand.
All Theirs, He Says.
More than this, he promised protection
for the party. and volunteered to rescue
the other machines from the kurds
I'VE are all thieves, we must be to
i've" he said, with sorrowful smile.
And remember this, neither we nor the
Armenians arc fit for self governmet and
We won't be for many long years Be
sides. we hate each other too much to
rule together"
Short, darkeye determined. vet
pontc, Shamll Beg sat through the night
guarding the party against his own rob
bers. The party BY the fira was broken
up when the lights Of machines had a
terrible story 10 tell. They had just
missed death. Before coming to the
friendly Kurds, they had been suddenly
attacked from all sides by rifle fire
Captain Loring's machine had run for
it and escaped, Loring received II
slight wound. The machines behind had
been stopped by huge houIdcrs across the
road, and all had received several vol
leys until the machines halted.
Chief Never Came
When the chief Of the tribe had fully
persuaded himself that the automobiles
were American and not part Of an
Armenian attacking party, be restored
their belongings and let them pass to the
friendly kuris who were beside them
selves with rage at this treatment
The problem Of getting away from
kulp was not easy. Shamil Beg said the
party must spend the night or else be
robbed Of their rifles by his own un-
controllable men along the road after
leaving the camp. But at dawn he gave
the signal for the party to proceed The
automobiles started, ShamiI Beg riding
in the lead to guarantee safe passage
He had planned to ride to the camp
Of General Harbord, riding on horse
back. but he never came Was he Kill