New-York tribune., 1920-03-06
Relief W orkers Shut JJnin
Marash While French.
Aided by Armenians,
Fight for Possession
10000 Ar1nenians
Are Reported Slai n
Clergyman Describes Out
RACES and Atrocities
Committed by Troops

ADANA, Asia Minor, Feb. 20 (By The
Associated Press) (delayed) Since the
siege of Peking foreigners have under
gone no more nerve-wracking expert
ence than seventeen relief workers OF
the American Committee for Relief in
the Near East, shut up for twenty-five
days without outside communication in
mission compound at Marash They
were under a constraint of lead, while
French troops, aided by Armenians, bat
tied with Turkish Nationalists for pos
session of the city, more than half of
which was burned during the engage.
ment, which brought about a terrible
loss of life
The story is told IN the diary Of the
Rev. c. T. S. Crathern, a Boston Y. M
c. A secretary, who went through the
siege and arrived at Adana on Febru.
ary Is.
The Rev. Mr.. Crathern, Paul Sny-
der, Miss Helen Schultz. of Reading
Pa; French lieutenant and two Ar
menians attempted to leave Marash by
automobile for Aintab, on January 90
but were driven back to Marash by a
fusillade of bullets, Notwithstanding the
fact that Mr.. Crathern displayed the
American flag.
Turks Resent Occupation
The Turks had been resenting French
occupation of Marash and other Gill
clan cities for many weeks. Mr.. Crath-
ern reports, and Algerian troops were
engaged in skirmish with Turkish
bandits when an American automobl
appeared and drew fire from the Turks.
Mr.. Crathern's diary says on January
Fl he found Marash with its bazaars
and shops closed and the Turks
engaged in talking in small groups
throughout the city.
At noon shots were heard by the
relief workers, indicating that the long
threatened clash in the city had start
ed. French officials arrested several
important Turkish officials, which, it
was presumed, precipitated a clash at
Of the city. A French sentinel guard
ing an American hospital was killed
and another French soldier was
wounded.
Shipping continued throughout the
night, and the Americans were awak-
ened on the 22d by the sound of guns
and flashes from exploding shells. An
attack was made on the American hos
pital, the doctors and nurses having
a narrow escape.
Armenians Flee Through Streets
Fighting continued on the 23d, and
through his field glasses Mr.. Crathern
said he could see Armenians fleeing
through the streets before the Turks,
who shot them down, while the Turk
sh snipers on the hills about the city
shot at Armenians attempting to leave
Marash. The diary says "it was pitiful
to see them throw up their hands and
scream while attempting to escape. We
watched them fleeing over the hills
until they reached our compound,
some dropping wounded and others stag
gering into the mission grounds with
wild eyes and purple faces, telling of
the awful massacre just beginning."
On the Oath the Armenians con-
ferred with the French General Que
rette and told him stories the refugees
brought of horrors. He said he would
try to correct the situation, but efforts
to negotiate a cessation of hostilities
failed and heavy bombardment be-
gan in the afternoon. The French fired
upon certain sections from which Turks
were sniping.
"At night the city is in total dark
ness,' the diary continues. "When-
ever we go from one compound to an
other we creep along walls to escape