Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-06
Turks Break Up
Orphans Homes;
Kill Directors
Inmates of Armenian Orphan.
ages of Both Sexes Spirited
Away-Near East Orphan.
age Ordered Closed.

Boston, May S.-Armenian Or
phans' homes, both native and for
eign, are being broken up. their in
mates Of both sexes spirited away
and their directors executed by the
Turkish nationalist government At
Angora, it was declared in a letter
from Aleppo, Syria, to the Armenian
National Union Of America, made
public today by the unions secretary,
G. H. Papazian.
The letter mentioned a specific
case at Harpoot, whereN the Turkish
nationalists ordered the near east
workers to close their orphanage.
Constantinople, May 5.-(By A. P.)
-Four American relief workers have
arrived here after having been de-
ported from Khaput, Turkish Ar
menia, so miles northwest OF Diar-
bekr. They are F. B. Yowell Of
Washington, director of the Kharput
unit; DR.. Mark L. Ward of Newton
Center. Mass, chief surgeon; Dr..
Ruth Parmalce of Boston. medical
director. and Miss Isabel Herley Of
Pawtucket, r. l.
Mr.. Vowel. in statement issued
today, charged the Turks with unjust
and unfriendly treatment Of Aineri-
cans, and cruelties and outrages
against Christians in Asia Minor.
"The American deportations were
the elimination OF long series Of
urfriendly acts" he said. "They are
the prelude to fresh Turkish out
RACES against Christians in Asia
Minor. The Turks. encouraged by
the vacillations of the allies during
the post-armistice period, are getting
bolder in their intolerance against
the minorities. Unless outside inter-
ference is forthcoming. the final
chapter in the history OF Christians
will shortly be completed.
State Of Slavery.
"The Armenians in this district are
in state of virtual slavery. They
are not permitted to travel within
the country. and l have had to re-
turn $4,000 to people ii, America
who forwarded it to pay the travel
ing expenses Of relatives desiring to
leave the country. All the property
of Armenians, victims OF deporta-
lions, is confscated by the Turks.
The Armenians are denied the ,:se
Of the courts.
christian women, are forced into
aarems without the right of appea, to
any tribunal.
"The condition of the Greeks is
worse than that of the Armenianc.
rhe sufferings of the Greeks deport-
ID from the districts behind the bat
lie front continues. Of the $4,000
Who left Sivas, 5000 died before
eaching Kharput. One American,
worker saw 1900 dead on the road
o Kharput. Two thousand died IN
lharpuh during the winter and 3,OU
lied on the roads east Of Kharput.
Aided at American Stations.
"The deported people were aided at
he American corn stations located
ifong the road from Sivas to Diar-
,ekr. In the Kharput district relief
vas, given in opposition to the Turks.
rwo-thirds of the deported Greeks
we're women and children. Turks
we're permitted to select women and
iris along the roads.
"Tf American aid is withdrawn the
urvivors will perish. The bodies
trewn along the route are consumed
" dogs, wolves and vultures. The
turks are not burying the dead.
Neither are the deported people
,ermitted to do SO. The chief causes
+ death are starvation, dysentery
nd typhus.
Americans Mistreated.
Il have no personal prejudice /
gainst any religious belief. ! have
efused to be involved in any con-
roversy. Therefore, my statement
; impartial. I
".All the 20 Americans in kharput
ave been treated by the Turkish
fficials with the utmost discourtesy I
nd injustice, notwithstanding their
,ork has been extended to the
Ioslems. Patients were admitted
} the hospitals if the Turks wanted
lem admitted; many Christian ref
gees, terribly i'll, were turned away
, die outside the gates. The hos
ital base was closed by the military
,;thout eyo1o n, tioy,"