The Washington herald., 1921-04-24

We conferred with the Turkish
leaders. and were told not TO take
things too seriously as they were
/ In control of Alexandropol and not
the Bolos. but nevertheless they
thought 1t best under the circum-
stances that our captain should
take as many of his personnel and
supplies 10 Kars as possible. and
with the least delay. 3 The Turks,
therefore assigned us l3 freight
cars and an engine. We loaded sup
plies all night, -four. personal pos
sessions we could pick up at the
last minute. Some of the Amer.
leans. rode In the freight cars.
while others were with the captain
and his family in the two autos
which left Alexandropof In the dead
of the night. The cars themselves
were, driven by, American boys as
our Armenian chauffeurs had turned
Bolshevik over night and refused
to bulge. 1t was with a strong re-
newal Of our feelings in. France
that those of us who remained be-
hind said goodbye to the rest.
Placed Under Arrest. :.
We had little time to think the
situation over. for at 8 o'clock. the
next morning. just two hours ahead
of the time the Russian had set for
his deviltry, there appeared in the
front yard OF our personnel house Q
band of armed rBoisheyiks and we
were placed under arrest Then the
fun commenced. n The Turkish Off
Ger who lives with US Jumped from
the breakfast table, like q shot out
OF a gun. called his eighteen SOL
diers and gave orders for them to
surround our. house and to train
their guns on any Bolo they might
, see. Presently he returned to our
dining room. demanding of these
knights of the revolution what in
the devil they thought they were
doing by intruding- on American
property under Turkish protection.
A loud row ensued in many differ
ent languages, but presently we saw
the BoIos turned out of our house
at the points of Turkish bayonets.
We learned later that 200 Bolos
(civilian) were just outside the
warehouse gates waiting with sacks
to loot our supplies II their raid
proved successful. and furthermore
that we would have been sent to
1 ~NAJSHt - eo"h Oh tht pOEotE ol
Soviet Russia there to be held as
hostages for further supplies from
America. Such were the wild imag-
inings of these crazy revoiutionists.
Party Split Up.
Our work here in Alexandropol
has been divided between two CEN
ters, kazachi Post and Polygon.
about two miles apart and separated
by the town itself. Those of US
who stayed were from Kazachi Post
and not an American was left at
Polygon. with the result that every
thing was looted by Turks, Boil
sheviks and our own Armenian SER
wants. Since eIthen we have salvaged
some of the personal belongings.
The Boios are now operating the
orphanages at Polygon with what
supplies we left. but Kazachi Post Is
still under our control. With the
protection of the Turks we are try
Ing hard to ship. everything by rail
to kars. but there, Is much ammuni-
tion and loot for the conquerors to
take out of the country. and they
send us freight cars in small lots.
Gradually the other Americans have
left for Kars. and now two of US
are in charge of this station all by
our lonesome. Before you worry
too much let us assure you that the
Bolos have seen the folly of their
ways and have since sent us writ
ten assurances of their protection
to our persons and our property as
they realize how little they know
about the running of orphanages,
and how little hope there is of their
getting supplies for the children
without American assistance. After
all the supplies have gone. we
shall pick up our things and move
to kars with the rest. Both the Turks
and Bolsheviks have confiscated
some of our autos and horses. and
have the nerve to come to Kazachi
Post with them for conferences
with us.
Our chauffeurs, now Bolos. are
driving their motor cars, and we
sit by and laugh at the situation.