Evening star., 1919-10-12
MRS. STEVENS APPEALS
FOR AID FOR ARMEN|ANS
Quotes Letter From Sergt. Magill
as Inspiration to Other Sol
diers to Help Sufferers.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
| Some little time ago L received a
letter from Sergt. Robert B., MagilI
Q. M. c.. Camp Humphreys. Va, con-
cerning his subscription to relief in
the near east. 1t has been suggested
that other soldiers" in khaki or mufti
| may be touched and follow suit If they
had the opportunity to read his letter.
sergt. Magill says:
TT is almost two months ago since
l heard you call for money at Polls
Theater. The Lady who came out and
made the appeal did not receive much
response at first till buddie, who had
been crippled Il speak Of him as q
buddie because they are all buddies
or pals of mine), who was sitting in a
box. raised his hand as wishing a $40
bond. That very incident made me
feel very little, and resolved to help
him, SO later on during the show 1
went back to one of the yeomanettes
and gave her my name.
MY mother has always been interest
ed IN the Armenians and ! have come
to feel the same way. / am always
sorry that / cannot do more for any
such good causes, but hope that my
small bit will help.
the subscriptions, would appreciate
it very much to receive mine. You
might send it to mother, SO she can
keep 1t for me at home"
OF course. the precious bond" was
sent to our buddie's mother, and a
special one to him as a souvenir. An
other soldier has given up smoking
for one year In order to support one
orphan. and that "buddie" ia SUPPORT
ing wife and baby of his own. too!
Another soldier said: Blast me, but
why don't I get a chance to fight
them Turks, when they wouldn't let
me get a chance at the Hun? Sure
we want massacres to wipe q nation
OFF the earth?" Is 1t to be said by our
mothers, Did we give our sons In
vain when the oppressed and small
nations they went to help save and
make independent. protected by US
and the allies. are still being op-
pressed and slaughteredr Why
should not American officers lead Ar
menian troops to protect American
relief workers. keep open transporta-
tion for American supplies and drive
back the Turks and Tsrtafs ofiicered
pften byfGerma4s2 -
The Industrial relief is, the most
promising and effective form of re-
lief in the near east. 1t makes each
dollar do double duty and avoids the
danger. Of pauperizing q race natu-
rally Independent and thrifty. Ar
menians are not beggars. Work to
fill empty hands once busy, work to
keep minds from broodins over ter
rible memories-that Is what they
crave. what our committee plans to
supply. by sending materials and
teachers whereby the people can be
employed during the winter to pro-
duce something and be ultimately
but how can this be
done II at any moment Turk and Tar
tar may swoop down upon them un-
prevented, while the nations able to
protect sit back in parliamentary or
senatorial chairs and listen to argu-
ments for and against ''mandatories" /?
Is this the hour to discuss manda-
tories when what is need is tenn
porary protection and help until a
Christian state can establish itself on
Its own land-a state which shall
stand as buiWark between western
Christian civilization and heathen-
dom? What has become of the prin-
ctple OF good Samaritanism"? How
dare We sleep one night when thou
sands die whom we might save?
Crucified Armenia cries out to
America as her savior as loudly as did
besieged Belgium. Should we deny
Armenia our moral, military and
financial assistance when we gave so
lavishly to Belgium and the cause Of
liberty and humanity? War is not
won till wounds Of war are healedi
MRS. CABOT STEVENS,
Honorary Director for Washington,
Near East Relief