Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-01
TURKS MASSACRE TEN
THOUSAND ARMEN|ANs
Sack American Mission and Murder
Young Girl Students Under
Charge OF Missionaries.
MANY VICTIMS OF SLAUGHTER
Fire Upon Inmates of American
College and Are Refused Right of
Mediation Between French and
Turkish Forces at Marash.
IBy Un've. a, Service.


WASHINGToS, Feb. 2s.-The most
brutal OF all Turkish atroci,ics-the
massacre of 10000 Armenians and the
inmpaer m,n er OIL eight elShtF,hve ny, AR; Armenian girls
of an American mission house at
Maraeh. in ci!cla. Turkey-was re-
ported today 10 the State Department
The massacre took place after fear
full hghtinr between French and
Turkish forces. The French were
J5ompelied to withdraw, and the Turks
and began their butchery. Americans
in the American college at Marat
were fired upon when they offered 10
mediate between the Turks and the
'french. They were told Il was a
national and not local affair.
1t rs believed here that all Amer lea Ms
are out OF danger. and they are under
stood TO have left AIarash with the
French forces
All the American government can do
under tho c!rcums;anccs Is TO forward
4 protest lo the ottoman government
thronsh Admifal Hark Bristol, who Is
Iurk:y, and II stationed at Constants
noplc.
state Department Bulletin.
FTnc State Departments announce
mcnt today. which. II declared, was
received from a reliable source, re-
FardinS conditions in Cilicia, Turkey,
Is a graphic account OF the atrocities.
1T follows in full:
The Turks cut the railroad beyond
Adnna O''>'
Fighting began near Marash on the
2oth ultimq between French and Turk
iSh troops. On the same day an Amer
lean car proceeding to Aintab, and hav-
ing tive Americans and French Of
iiccr as passenger. was several times
nred upon by Turks: but no one was
really injured and all six returned 10
Marash. on the following day, in the
city OF Marash. regular battle began
between Turks and French and did
~ t.Ht trr htg.
the French withdrew owing 10 the
tact that they were greatly outnum-
pered by the Turks.
Turks Commit Atrocities.
Pr!or TO the beginning of the reg
itar ignting between the French and
tac Turks. the latter had commenced
massacring Armenians at Marash and
otaer vleinities, and before the eyes
they committed horrible atrocities.
IL vas estimated at that time that
ahc lumber Of killed exceeded 5000.
and II is feared that as many have
been. Killed since then. Some OF the
mutiiattd victims succeeded in cscap-
ing. and the tortures of children and
women have been verified. Turks have
DESTROYED the Armenian parts o. the
city as vel as the churches, and they
are frcqueatiy burning the dead in
lime kilns.
n rescue home for Armenian girls. On
the 9TH instant that house was sacked
and eishty-nvS. girls were murdered.
On the same da* the mountain cottage
OF the missionaTl'e as we'll as the
building OF the NcdH East faf tn were
burned. |i$
americans in the Americap5 college
at Marash were fired upon, Hid when
they offered to mediate between the
Turks and the F-cuch. the former sent
them letter stating, that this was
not n local, but a national affair, and
that the demand of the commandcr-in-
chief of the Turkish national army was
that the French shnuld surrender"