Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-24
THINK FAMILY
AMONG SMYRNA
TURK VICTIMS
Greek Brothers Here Believe
Parents to Have Been
Massacred; Can Get No
Word From Them.

That the aged parents of Theo-
dore and Anthony Pavlantis' local
Greek business men, have met
death at the hands of the Turks at
their home in Smyrna, is the belief
of the Respondent brothers here.
From their knowledge OF past per-
secutions by the Turks they are
ready to believe the worst is pos
sible.
Nothing that the papers can say
about the Turkish violences Is eXag-
gerated," said Theodore Pavlantis
in commenting on the recent upris-
ngs against the Christians. They
have been prosecuting US for years
over there and they will stop at
nothing. Unless our father and
mother could have escaped to some
of the nearby islands orfto Greece
before the massacre began they
have surely been burned to death
| or murdered"
Unable to Get Any Message.
The brothers here are unable to
get any message to their parents.
Since the American consulate has
been burned and the British vice
consul massacred there is no one to
address an inquiry. If any word
should be sent direct to the parents
the Turks would intercept 1t and do
violence to the old couple, it is be-
lieved. Their parents home is in
the European quarter in the lower
part of the city, a few blocks from
the American consulate.
1--WE have suffered under the
Turks before and know what it
means said Mr.. Pavlantis. I'm
I1912, before the Balkan war. they
threatened our father to make US
come back from this country to
serve in the Turkish army. They
Jailed him and later destroyed his
place of business. one brother was
forced to serve in the Turkish army
in 1916"
Local Greeks are greatly agitated
over the massaCres, according to
Mr., PaVlantis. In case the trouble
results in another European war,
the Greeks here are ready to Join
any country which will fight the
Turks and France, which is said to
be backing them. They seem to be
of the opinion that another war will
be the outcome of the present dis
turbanCes.
France is backing the Turkish
army" said MIR. Pavlantis. Their
airplanes, their officers and their
soldiers are helping the Turks right
now. France is doing it in order to
get merchandise from Russia. If
France doesn't do what England
wants her to, it will mean war"
Pasha Is Like villa.
"Kemal Pasha who Is leading the
Gated and he keeps his people in
ignorance about what is going on in
Europe by having the newspapers
censored. Most of the Greeks living
there are subject to the Turks.
1T is hard to say whether it is a
political or a religious war that is
going on. / believe it has become a
holy war, for Renal Pasha could |
only keep his men fighting by CIV
ing them a religious motive. If he |
tells them to so and fight I'm the
name of Mohammed" they are right
off into the battle. The Turkish |
army is strong and can raise large |
numbers in q minutes time.
"Iicy to the East"
"They are after Smyrna because
is the biggest port in Asia Minor.
1t is the Key to the East where all |
the trading ships stop on their way |
o Constantinople. 1t is cheaper
market than Constantinople and |
does big business H. coal, rugs |
igs and other products. But before
he Balkan wars the Turks were too
afraid of the other European pow
RS to do anything"
The Greeks in Smyrna have lived |
n terror Of the Turks for years. The
brothers, as school boys,
were forced to hide their history
exits from the Turkish soldiers lest
they be prosecuted for reading
about the Turkish defeats in the
past. Theodore came to America
IN 1906 and two other brothers, one
Of whom is in Pittsburgh, Pa, fol-
lowed him. They have prospered
and have been able to take care OF
their parents.
A letter was received from the
parents of the Pavlantis brothers
last week. 1t was written on the
day before the massacres began
when all was yet we'll with them
No further word has been heard.