The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-03
ARMENIAN WARRIOR TELLS OF NEEDS 0F
 WAR TORN COUNTRY
Failure of America to Sign Peace Treaty Disastrous to Hopes of Armenians.
 Independence Sought

"Yes. we need bread. But more than we need bread we need independence Life would not be worth living if we did not have our independence. Why did the United States leave the Euro- rean council of peace? Why did it not cid in behalf of Poland, of Bohemia and of other smaller nations who are now independent? If the treaty of peace had been signed in time and Washington would have stayed In there would be different story now to tell for Armenia"
 It was Gen. Mezrop Newton Azgape- tan, the Armenian warrior who beat back the Turks from the walls of t.rivan, the capital of the new Armen- ian republic. who fought them valiant lv on many battlefields. who uttered these sentiments before an audience of Birmingham men and women at the Hillman hotel ballroom yesterday aft ernoon.
 About fifty prominent church and civic workers had gathered in the in terests of the Near East relief cam paign. which will begin actively in Birmingham with luncheon of the workers today at the Hillman hotel and when an effort will be made to get the campaign for $4e.000 for Bir- mingham well under way.
 At the speakers table sat with Gen. eral Azgapetian his wife. Lady Anne and their little baby son. Victor. as well as II. T. McBroom state secretary of the Near East relief organizat ton; Mrs. s. l.. Ledbetter. city chairman, womens organization; Mrs. Neil R. Wallace. assistant chairman. women's s organization; Mrs. Ida Adams, chair man for the women's organization of Jefferson county outside of Birming Iio.. -s~ fa4 ot,A l city chairman.
 VALIANT SERVICE Bearing medals and crosses of the | highest rank and distinction as well as showing valiant service on many | battlefields on his breast. General Az gapetian presents a remarkable figure and his delivery shows him also to be a thorough scholar and possessing a 1 fine command of English although na- tive Armenian.
 l We are not the easy going lot of people which we have been pictured he declared. Before the war We were a nation of 5.000.00 and because we l cast our lot with the allies and did not | listen to the tempting promises of the Turk and the Germans. 100000 of oul women ard children and old men were mastered and whole sections devas tated. while 250,000 of our young mel l lOuSHC NdiidHtiN WllH LAc diliSS.
 "We do not ask you that you hell us out of pity. but we declare that, al though Europes great nations hav' seen fit to conceal the part which w
 have played in the war. we are enti
 tied to just as much admiration a
 Belgium. which first held back tn
 German hordes and gave England am l France time to gather their forces 10 the onslaught
 STAND OF ARMENIANS
 "The truth is gradually coming out and even the German leading general
 now admit that it was the stand of tn Armenians which lost for them tn ipetroleum field of Bakhu. which the so badly needed. as well as other 'ad vantages. We are now paying tn |, price for standing by the allies, an I ask you now. Is 1t not fair that yo
 now stand by us%'
 Lady Anne. the wife of the genera
 preceded him with a striking address , also showing a fine command of tn , English as well as considerable force
 and as she pictured what the peopl
 had endured and some of the scene
 she herself had witnessed and the suf
 ferings and privations of her people
 there were many tears in the eyes o
 her listeners.
 "Oh, you Americans. who are so goo
 and tender hearted that you even hay
 laws for the protection of your dog ] and societies for the prevention
 cruelty to animals, tell me why is that year after year you allow tn Turks to slaughter menians?' sh f asked with great emphasis. 'Only las
 week 1000 were slaughtered.
 "The women of Armenia pray ever 2 hour of the day that God bless yo , Americans. and with them I say Ma : God bless and prosper America forever f more.'"