Evening star., 1920-02-03
STIRRING APPEALS
MADE ARMENIA
Horrors of Turkish Atrocities
Pictured at Mass MEETING
in Liberty Hut.

| The campaign for funds for near
east relief was opened officially last
night at mass meeting held at Lib
erty Hut under auspices of the local
committee. headed by DR.. Harvey w
Wiley. A great crowd attended the
meeting, listened to the reports OF
Armenian suffering. and then con-
! tributed to the fund.
Henry B. F. Macfarland, who pre-
sided at the mass meeting, announced
! at its conclusion that more than $780,
600 already had been raised toward
the s150,000 which the National Cap
, ital is expected to raise toward the
near east relief. Mr.. Macfarland said
that he had not the slightest doubt,
in view of Washington's past per
formances. that the city will do its
full share and care for the $4,000
/ orphans allotted it.
Headquarters Opened.
Headquarters of the local campaign
are open today at S19 18th street
northwest, where contribution may
be made toward the worthy cause
which was outlined last night by DIR.
Wiley. Mr.. Macfarland. Gen. Andranik.
the George Washington of Armenia"
DR.. Frederick Fl, keppel and Capt:
George Hyde of the Red Cross, and
DIR. James l.. Barton, high commits
sioner of the allied powers for re-
lief in the near east and chairman
OF the near east relief
Capt. George Hyde held the large
gathering tense with recitals of the
isufferings of the Armenian women and
children, Every Armenian is In dan
ger from death by hunger or mur-
der. he said. and the $4,000, 600 de-
sired by the committee for near east
relief will be contributed because it
is needed.
Opposes Map With Turkey ON Ii.
They say the map of the world is
going to be made over" declared Capt
Hyde. NO map of the world can be
big enough to have room on il for the
! told Of atrocities committed by the "un-
speakable Turk" moving the audience
with stories of Armenian girls torn from
their betrothed sweethearts to live in
Turkish harens.
Capt. Hyde told of one Turk who COL
lected zoo Armenian girls between the
ages of ten and fifteen years, stripped
them. and forced them to parade through
the streets. led by a band. the Turk fol-
lowing in the rear of this parade shout
ing: Where is your Christian God"'
1T IS not only a question of star
vation." Capt. Hyde said, significantly.
Two hundred and fifty thousand Chris
tian women ask that America come over
and rescue them"
DR.. keppel Of the American Red
Cross declared that he was able to
bear witness to the conditions exist
ing In the near east. especially among
the Armenians. He explained the
agreement that has been enterd into
between his organization and the COM
! mittee FOR relief in the near east
whereby the committee has assumed
responsibility for the lives of the des-
tItute peoples Of this region. DR..
keppel said that the Red Cross, how
ever. has fifty nurses working in Ar
men1a at present under direction Of
the near east relief.
DR.. Barton, chairman Of the near
east relief, told of the wandering
children of Armenia, many of them
without clothes, children who light
for a crust of bread when it is thrown
among them much as q crowd Of
pennies in play.
100000 Girls Who Appeal
DIR. Barton asked the audience tn
one of the Armenian girls there upon
the platform of Liberty Hut beside
him, and cried:
IF some brute should ATTEMPT to
harm her, there is not a one Of You
IN the audience who would not spring
to her defense, and, if need be, give
your life to save her. Do you know
that there are 100000 OF those ifttie
girls who appeal to you tonight iust
as strongly from afs.r as they would
here? Will these children be saved?
Shall these women be freed?"
Expresses Armenians' CBatitule.
Gen. Andranik, speaking through an
interpreter. extended the gratitude of
the Armenian people to the American
people. Armenia has been faithful
to Christianity and civilization" he
said. simply. The orphans Of his
country, he declared, cry, America.
America! America!"
the history Of the heroic Armenian
army. which fought throughout the
war and Is still in arms The an
pearance of the white-haired. officer
on the platform was the signal for
a great outburst Of cheers from his
countrymen throughout the audience.
Flags were awarded the Curtis
School and the Miner Normal school
for raising the largest contributions
to the near east relief in the public
schools. A third flag Is to be awarded
to the parochial school Of WASHINGTON
obtaining the largest number of con-
tributions to the fund.
Armenian Soprano Sings.
Nine. Zabelfe Panossian. Armenian
coforatura soprano sang several Sc
lections. Miss Lucy Breckenstein was
accompanist
The Navy Yard Band. led by c. Ben
ter, conductor played the sextet from
Lucia" southern rhapsody and a
descriptive fantasie. The Death Of
Custer"
Mgr. Thomas of st. Patrick's Church
pronounced the invocation. A letter
was read from Secretary Baker, who
was unable to be present at the meet
ing as presiding officer. Mr.. Baker
said that IF the remnant of these har-
dy people is to be saved It mtst be
done this winter" Cables from the
near east were read to show the ne
cessity for the relief work, and a mes.
sage from Herbert Hoover was read to
the audience.