The Sun. — 1860-07-26 (London, England)

COTTERILL, ESQ., Secretary. 78, Lombard-street, E.C.  TILE MASSACRES IN SYRIA  eer from nwdn ainFoLarocti of se razr• ciz adinhtact tC:hsofeetrnao4tunith. s I thel:2Jesuit oeisoi uhpublishesiettom 1i populations as,oi missionary ai rri in oiletternflst‘ number, all Christians, twice repelled an attack of the Druses; but on a third attempt the latter had recourse to a stratagem, which succeeded. Knowing that the Christians expected reinforcements, they prepared banners bearing the Cross, and placed them at the head of a band of 2,000 men, who, in disguise, marched towards Zahle, singing the patriotic songs of the Christians. The inhabitants of the town, deceived by the trick, advanced to meet them, but the Druses received them with a volley of musketry, after which, rushing on with drawn swords, they slaughtered many and put the rest to flight. Some days previously to this the women and children retired into the mountains, so that the massacre was not so great as it had been in other towns. But it was most afflicting to all of us, and especially to me, for I lost Father Billotet, who belongs to the Franc-Comtois, as I do. Three of our holy brethren were murdered near him, as were also a great many other persons who had sought refuge in our house, thinking that they would find a safe asylum under the flag of France. Twenty-one nuns are stated to have been dishonoured by the Turkish soldiers and the Druses in a house in which they had assembled. I cannot, however, positively guarantee this fact, as I ,do the others. Two of the nuns were killed. But what caused the greate4 terror to the inhabitants of Zahle, and compelled-them to take flight was, that the Turkish soldiers fired cannon against the town and reduced it to ruins. Rachaia and Jedaidi, tawns lathe Anti-Lebanon, have undergone the same fate in consequence of the treason and bad faith of the governors. A great number of the Christians, after the destruction of the towns and villages in which they resided, sought shelter in the caverns and woods of the mountains ; but the Druses, to prevent any from escaping, hunted them out with large dogs. Having found about 100 in ono spot, they tied their hands behind their backs, and then proceded to put them to death in a most cruel manner, first cutting off arms or hands, or tearing of pieces of flesh. or pulling out their eyes. Some they even burnt alive. Beyrout, notwithstanding the presence of the Consuls-General and of more than 20 vessels of war in the port, is neitber safe nor tranquil. The Turks there have been on the point of rising, and on the slightest alarm the Christians would be massacred. This the latter know, and accordingly a great many of them have left for Alexandria or Marseilles. At Saida the same fears are justly entertained, and the principal families have departed. In this town everything was prepared for massacre and pillage, and the very day and night were designated. The Turkish Governor and Mufti wore on the point of giving the signal when the French Admiral at Beyrout, having been informed of the dangers which menaced us, sent in great haste one of the vessels under his orders. The commander of the vessel on arriving went to the Governor, to ask if he would answer for the security of the town. I cannot do so for an hour,' was the reply which he received. The officer then disembarked on a little island about 100 of his men, and returned to Beyrout in his vessel to give the Admiral an account of his mission. The Admiral immediately came here with two vessels of war, two English vessels accompanying him. The arrival of these forces intimidated the Druses and the Turks, and they made no attempt against the Christians. The Pasha of Beyrout has also arrived, but he has decorated the chief of the Druses apparently as a recompense for having allowed more than 2,000 Christians to be massacred, and more than 80 villages to be burnt. The French Admiral having obtained from the civil and military authorities a promise to protect the city, has returned to Beyrout, leaving us, however, one of his vessels to keep the Turks and Druses in check. Nevertheless, fears are increasing, and danger appears to become each day more menacing. If France does not hasten to our help we shall fare the same fate as the other sacked towns. The Druses announce that the number of Christians they have massacred in the mountains of Lebanon is 22,000, but the Christians do not believe that it exceeds 15,000."