Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-09
.HAPLEss REFUGEES TELL
OF CRUEL PERSECUTION
Greeks, Driven From Asia Minor,
Huddlcd Together on
SalOniki Hills.
FED CROSS LENDS GREAT AID
Forces of Returning Fugitives. After
Five Years OF Dodging In Path Of
Turk and Bulgar, Are mex
pressibly Sad.

SALoNIkI, May 8-(speciaD. -High
up on the hills of this busting Mace
where 10000 Greek refugees. driven
from Asia Minor by the massacres of
~ make their homes; Hundreds OF
other Greeks who were informed by the
BulGarians in Dobrudja during the war
have joined them recently. The houses
In this refugee camp were constructed
by the Greek government. a space
equivalent to large New York fur
nished room is allotted to a family Of
from five to eight.
pretentious name Of THE Quarter Of
the Triumyirate." in honor of Greece's
three great m9dern NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
General Danglais, who. regulating
King CONSTANTINE. espouscd the cause
win over, the Greek army. Many Of
the people have been helped by the
American Red Cross. and speak CRATE
fully OF the United States and its
people.
Expelled by BuIRnrs.
AS the Associated Press correspon-
dent was visiting the village. two OK
carts loaded with Greek refugees who
the villages along the Sea of Marmora
In 1913 and 1914, and who during the
present war were expelled from Mace
donna by the Bulgars made their way
slowly up the steep mountain road. The
refugees had just come from Dobrudja
TO the south Of Roumania, where they
e.
They had been nearly two months on
the way, and virtually all the food and
aid they got came from the American
Red Cross, which has relief posts along
the line leading from Bulgaria into
Macedonia. Many were little tots from
one to five years old. The wonder was
nourished. were able to survive the
long trip by train. motor truck and OK
cart.
The faces of these returning refugees
wore an inexpressibly sad and harassed
look. For FIVE years they were driven
hlther and yon by Turk and Bulgar.
shelter. Under .ihe Bulgars they were
forced to live In the open fields or in
day at hard labor under constant in
limitation was the lot OF some Of them.
Three-hfths OF Mound of black bread
received from the Bulgars. often those
too weak 10 work were beaten by their
ruthless masters.
sixty Deaths Day.
One refugee declared to the corre-
spondent that at one time there were
more than sixty deaths a day among
the refugee colony in Dobrudja from
Im m exhaustion and exposure.
were forced TO live largely on the
rinds of watermelons which the Bull
sa Thn sod soldiers threw in the streets,
suburb" OF Saloniki. most OF whom
had fled from different parts OF Asia
there in 1914. have bitter experiences
70 relate about their treatment; by the
Turks. Some OF these people lived in
Christian population either had been
driven oct or were killed by the Turks
! The women wept as they told abou,
the outrages OF the Moslems The
| worst story was that told by an In.
| teliiEent peasant woman. who declared
| that In butcher shop opposite hel
! n oh H.
take young girl who was considered
| the most attractive In town and cut
| her body into pieces. They hung the
| pieces on meat hooks and offered them
| for public sale. she said. to show the
| Turks contempt for Greek Christians
! What most impresses the eye OF the
| visitor in speaking with these un.
! fortunate people Is their sad, wan
! and furrowed faces. They have been
! driven about by the invading foe until
| they have reached the point almost
! OF despair and distraction.