The Washington herald., 1920-03-01
TURKSBUTCHER
5000 REFUGEES.
DEFEAT FRENCH
lEighty--6ve Armenian Girls
Under American Care
Are Massacred.
FIRE ON u. S. MISSION
Open War Between France
And Turkey Indicated by
Official Dispatches.
FIRE ON u. S. MISSION


house at Marash in Cilicia, Turkey
was reported yesterday to the
State Department.
The massacre took place after
fearful fighting between French and
Turkish forces. The French were
compelled to withdraw and the
Turks descended on the unprotected
city and began their butchery.
Americans in the American College
at Marat were fired upon when they
Offered to mediate between the
Turks and the French. They were
told it was a national and not a
local affair.
Americans Out of Danger.
1t is, believed here that all Amer
leans are out of danger, and they
are understood To, have left Marash
with the French forces.
All the American government
can do under the circumstances is
TO forward a protest to the Otto
man government through Admiral
Mark Bristol, who is the Ameican
High Commissioner to Turkey, and
is stationed at Constantinople.
The only assistance in sight for
the Americans in the new war zone
! is the presence of a few torpedo de-
stroyers in the Eastern Mediterra-
nean.- that are under-the command
of Admiral Bristol. The dispatches
20 the State Department indicate
tween France and Turkey. 1t has
been reported. though not verified
here as yet. that both Great Britain
and France will send large forces
to Asia Minor immediately. II. this
Is not doua,, the French retreat now
in progress may at any moment be
turned into a rout.
Destroyers May be Dispatched.
The nearest point at which succor
could be given the retreating
French forces, together with the
Alexandretta Bay, which lies south
; of Marash. The French forces are
retreating in this direction. The
American destroyers may be sent
there to care for the American citI-
Gems.
The State Departments an
hiph
received from a reliable source re-
garding conditions in Cilicia, Tur-
key. is a graphic account of the
atrocities. 1t follows in full:
THE Turks cut the railroad be-
yond Adana.
Fighting began near Marash on
the 10th between French and Turk
ish troops.
American Car Fired On.
"On the same day an American
rar proceeding to Aintab and hav-
ing five Americans and a French
off1cer as passengers was several
times fired upon by Turks. but no
one was really injured and all six
returned to Marash- On the fol-
lowing day in the city of Marash
a regular battle began between
Turks and French and did not cease
before the 10th. when the French
Withdrew owing to the fact that
they were greatly outnumbered by
the Turks.
prior to the beginning of the
regular fighting between the French
and the Turks. the latter had COM
menced massacring Armenians at
Marash and vfcinities. and before
the eyes of responsible foreigners
at Marash they committed horrible
atrocities. 1t was estimated at
that time that the number of killed
exceeded 5000, and il is feared that
as many have been killed since then.
Some of the mutilated victims sue
cee6ed in escaping. and the tortures
of children and women have been
verified. Turks have destroyed the
Armenian parts of the city, as well
as the churches. and they arc fire.
quently burning the dead in lime
kilns.
Girls Taken From Home.
AT Marash Americans were run
ming a rescue home for Armenian
girls. On the 18th that house was
sacked and eighty-five girls wero
murdered On the same day the
mountain cottage of the mission
aries, as well as the building of the
Near East Farm, were burned.
Americans in the American Col
Iege at Marash were fired upon, and
when they offered to mediate be-
tween the Turks and the French, the
former sent them a letter stating
that this was not a local, but a ma
tional affair, and that the demand of
the commander-in-chie of the
Turkish national army. was that the
French should surrender.
''On the 9th when the French
Withdrew from Marash about 5000
Armenians left with them on foot.
But many Armenians. mostly wom-
en- and children, were unable to
reach their destination as they died
in snow storms during the three
days, journey from Marash to Isla-
hieh. The following Americans left
Marash with them and arrived at
Adana safely on the 18th instant:
MIR. Crathern and Misses Dougherty,
5Effin Powers and Shultz. On the
10th of February a Mr.. Eliot was
lstii1 at lslahieh with the refugees.
with regard to the Johnson-PeF-
ry murder case no details We're
known at Beirut or at Adana.y