Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-12-21
MILLIONS SEEK NEW HOMES.
Great Masses OF People Migrate In
Stricken Near East.

"
The greatest migration in centu-
ries is now in progress in the Near
East, with more than million hu-
man beings seeking new homes. The
movement i'res' LIS some Of the ,.a.-
est problems OF relief, adjustment and
reestablishment ever known in the
time of peace. 1t is said that more
than 1 million Greeks alone are flee
ing from Asia Minor and eas.eru
Thrsce into Greece proper, parts of
the two former countries now passing
back to Turkish power. ....
An additional 100000 Greeks must
move westward and southwark into
southern Thrace' and Macedonia AZ
der the decision OF the Lausanne
| conference, recently reached This to-
! tai OF 10000 men, women and chill
dren does not include the hundreds
OF thousands OF Armenians WHO, ,,n
the theory apparently reached ny the
conference that it is impossible for
Armenian and iu~k to dwell SIDE .y
side in peace, must move on" but
where, the conference did nc. appear
to have clear idea.
The inevitable solution of this mod
ern problem of mass migration,
which recalls the great migrations OF
history, was conceived by statesmen
Oh all hands within the disturbed
area, to be the United States, hitherto
the greatest absorber OF immigrants
in the world. But the barrier estab-
lished by the percentage quota inter-
fered with these calculations.
In addition to these movements
from Asia Minor into Europe and
from Constantinople westward,
heavy movement, including hundreds
Of thousands of Bulgarians, is under
way from western Macedonia ~
southern Thrace into Bulgaria, al
ready seriously harassed by 0uecey-
sive influxes Of refugees from Mace
donia and Eodrudja. In addition, half
million Turks are on their way
from Greece, southern Thrace and
Macedonia. The problem of rehabil-
itating the peoples involved in this
great movement affects vitality at
least three governments, Greece,
Turkey and Bulgaria.
Most Of the people to be repatri-
ated are to be distributed through
on Anatolia, to till the fields that are
being abandoned by Greeks and Ar
meniaris. For Greece the problem is
much more difficult, amounting TO
critical situation. The depleted con-
dition of the Greek treasury after q
crushing military defeat at he hands;
pf fhn Frr.r rlr, f, IL l..
the situation. ...@..-
To meet this situation In part,
Greece is expatriating thousands Of
Bulgarian farmers who have lived In
Macedonia and southern Thrace for
centuries. The Greek pressure upon
the Bulgarians, like the Turkish pres
sure on the Greeks, is reacting tragi-
cally upon Bulgaria. -.
1t is estimated that at the end Of
tho second Balkan war Bulgaria. with
It's population of a little more than
about 100000 refugees from Greek and
ahcut 100000 refugees from Greek and
Serbian Macedonia. Bulgaria had
hardly absorbed that first influx OF
immigrants OF her. own race when the
intrance of the Greek armies into wes-
tern Thrace sent another wave of
immigration fleeing across the eastern
frontier.
AS in the case Of migrations of
olden days, when great numbers fled
before approaching conquerors, the
present day migrations- is a story
of death, starvation and suffering.
Little children and aged men and
women in particular are the victims
to the greatest extent. Added to the
horrors Of disease, pestilence and
starvation is the fact thas many fam
lilies were broken up before the wan-
dering began.