Image provided by: Independence Public Library; Independence, OR
About Independence monitor. (Independence, Or.) 1912-19?? | View Entire Issue (March 22, 1918)
SUPPLEMENT TO INDEPENDENCE MONITOR, INDEPENDENCE, OREGON IN HUMANITY'S NAME The appeal to America for relier for the outraged and starv ing people of Armenia and Syria is, without exception, the most heartrending and urgent of any that has come to us since the war began. We have been eager to do our part in giving for the welfare of our sons and brothers in the army, knowing that our best is but a beggarly sacrifice by comparison to theirs. The appeal from Belgium is heartrending, as we know be cause we have learned about it from reliable sources. The situation in Armenia and Syria is worse, appallingly worse, by every comparison, and our information cannot be questioned. Relief work devolves largely on American agencies and is be ing carried on with scrupulous conscience in every detail, but is pitiably insufficient. It has been assigned to us to carry the appeal to the people of Polk county. It must be done with the greatest possible speed and must be met with the utmost generosity. The Tragic Situation in Western Asia Calls for the Immediate Response of the Samaritan Spirit of the World Reports regarding the atrocities, deportations and suffering! among the peoples of Western Asia have been so terrible as almost to challenge belief. They do stagger theimagination of those who were not eye witnesses. Personal testimony of many who lived through the earlier period and information furnished by American Ambassadors, Consuls, teach ers, physicians, missionaries and business men who hare recently returned from Turkey to America confirm the worst. Documentary evidence of an overwhelming character is also abundant. At a history making conference held recently in New York and participated in by 139 representatives of the above classes the very people who know most about actual conditions in the afflicted territory the following statement were unanimously agreed to as well within the facts: At least 1,000,000 Armenians and Syrians in Turkey have per ished during the past two years from massacre, deportation, ex posure, starvation, disease. Over 2,000,000 are now homeless and in dire distress. Thousands of Greeks deported from the sea coast of Asia Minor are now in danger of starvation. Four hundred thousand of those In need are orphans.. Little children scarcely able to feed themselves live absolutely alone in deserted homes. Seventy-five thousand children under 12 years of age are starving in Syria and the Lebanon district alone. Sufferers in the Lebanon district recently were dying at the rate of 1,000 a day Five hundred thousand refugees have fled the Turkish dominions and in their temporary homes cry for help. Relief Is wisely and economically administered by absolutely reliable agents, but is pitiably insufficient. Every dollar contributed goes for relief, none for expenses. The RED CROSS Is Assisting to the Utmost of Its Ability. Every Humanitarian Agency in Christendom Indorses This Appeal President Wilson Urges Help v In an appeal to the American People in which he urges further contributions to the relief of these stricken people, President Wilson says : "Reports indi cate that of orphans alone there are more than 400,000, besides women and other dependent children, reaching a total of more than 2,000,000 destitute survivors. The situation is so distressing as to make a special appeal to the sympathies of all." From Former Ambassador Oscar Strauss "I am impressed with the increasing need as the winter comes on. The cold is severe through all the region of Asiatic Turkey north of Syria and if these refugees are not aided by relief from America many more will perish." From Consul Leslie A. Davis "I believe there is no place in the world where there is greater and more urgent need of relief at the present time than among the surviving Christian population in the Turkish Empire. "I speak from a personal knowledge of the situation, as during the past three years I have been located at Ilarpoot, and there was brought into close contact with the distress and misery of thousands of homeless and destitute women and children who are absolutely de pendent upon charity for their subsistence. "It is to be borne in mind that very few of these people have any way of earning money, as owing to the existing conditions there is no work to be obtained. "The majority of these unfortunate women and children are now in such a wretched and helpless con dition that they cannot long survive if help is not re ceived. Many did die last winter for lack of food. Present conditions are more critical than ever. "Arrangements have been made by which funds cau continue to be sent there without any risk of loss." From First Secretary Tarler "There is no question as to the extreme need. The distress among the stricken people is beyond any power of words to describe. The American public can have absolute confidence that every dollar irivon is wisely and effectively used for the saving of life." From Consul Recently Returned from Aleppo , "The only thing the matter with your statement is that it is not strong enough. The urgency of the de mands are far beyond estimation The 120,000 or so dependent persons in Aleppo and vicinity have no other resource for bread, and once the relief stops these peo ple will disappear from the face of the earth. Disease is rife even among the permanent inhabitants, irre spective of race or religion, and the deported Chris tians will bo in an absolutely hopeless conditon with out tho funds that have been and must continue to be sent to them. The local relief distributing committee in Aleppo is very trustworthy and all funds forwarded there go to reliable men who nro intensely interested in tho work in every particular." Many other consuls, ambassadors and travelers, speaking from personal knowledge, add their testi mony to the great need and to the safety and integrity of the handling of relief work and funds. INCIDENTS OF HUMAN SUFFERING THAT STIR THE SOUL Child's Pitiful Appeal "America did not realize the hunger that existed in some parts of Turkey. I can best illustrate it by telling you about a little boy who was brought to one of the hospitals. His condition was such that he could not eat solid food, but he cried for a piece of bread. When the physicians told him he couldn't eat bread he said he didn't want to eat it, he just wanted to put it under his pillow so that he could feel that food was near." Men Devour Melon Rind Perhaps a faint conception of the terrible hunger experienced by thousands may be gained from this little incident told by one of the returning consuls: "I was eating a piece of melon," he said, "and was paying little attention to the people around me. I tossed aside the rind when instantly a man pounced upon it like a hungry wolf. lie chewed on it for a few moments and then he in turn tossed it aside. Another man who had been watching him with the eyes of a hawk picked it up and devoured the rest." Children Eat Dead Camel and Pick Grains from Dung of Animals in Streets An American doctor coming down the mountain side from the Lebanon noticed in the distance a throng of children and wondered why so many were gathered in one place. Upon coming near he discovered that a camel had died by the roadside and these famished children were, in despera tion picking the last shreds of flesh from the skeleton of the fallen beast. Children eagerly picking grains from the dung of animals in the street have become a com mon sight. American Women Compelled to Deny Appeals of Children Tender-hearted American women have been compelled to steel themselves against the sight of children in the street dying for lack of food to pass by without helping, having no resources to warrant adding one more to the number already being fed. Missionaries Select Which Must Starve A hard task is assigned the missionaries, that of practically signing the death sent ence of children. For example, in one case there were 430 children with funds suffi cient for only seventy. The missionaries were forced to Belect the seventy and say no to the equally or possibly more destitute 3G0. "I'm Hungry! I'm Hungry!" So far as Syria is concerned Beirut, Pal istine and the Lebanon have suffered most. Many villages have become depopulated. An American passing through a village last summer saw only one house open. The people had either migrated or perished. In one doorway sat a little girl, apparently alone in the world. She kept saying over and over, "I'm hungry ! I'm hungry 1" The children in all the villages look like old men and women. Children Eat Grape Vines and Leaves In Aleith no grapes are expected because the children have eaten the shoots and young leaves. The mulberry orchards were planted with wheat but in many cases children have plucked the wheat to eat the seeds clinging to the roots. Generosity of Americans Those who have survived so far have been kept alive through tho generosity of Americans. All money sent from America is received and the distribution of food is effective. In the coming winter the condi tions will become harder than ever, and very few will survive unless adequate, reg ular contributions are sent. What an American Saw An American consular agent reports that in his daily walk from his house to the con sulate he counted as many as twelve bodies of persons who had died of starvation the preceding night. Fifty-five per cent of the population of the Lebanon are reported dead from starvation, mal nutrition and re sultant disease. The scenes are indescribable. They can never be blotted from my memory. I stood beside a trench which was the grave of 2,000 victims. They, too, all surrendered their arms upon implicit promises that they would then be spared. The moment they became defenseless they were compelled at the point of the bayonet to dig the trench, into which they were forced and then hacked to pieces. Soldiers boasted of their work with axes, as being more economical than expensive cartridges! Thousands of Christians have been driv en from their homes in the mountains of Armenia by the Kurds. To prevent their return, if by chance any survive the depor tation, the Kurds have destroyed all their hoines, even burning up the doors and win dows, with their frames. All the fruit and nut trees and the vineyards were de stroyed ; and to make sure that there would be no wood for rebuilding, the trees were cut into lengths too short for boards. Even the terraces that held the field on the mountain sides were brok en down. The work of eenturies of paticn labor by a long suffering people has been completely overthrown. flreat as is the tragedy of massacre, a greater tragedy was the forced deporta tions, 100,000 women and children from one district alone. It is terrible to contem plate their fate after the war. The nations should provide means for searching out and restoring any survivors to their homes and loved ones. The facts terrible, gripping, heartbreaking facts are here. The cry of anguish sobs through them from beginning to end. Let the utmost measure of devotion be swift and sure. Do not wait to be seen and asked to give. Do it now. The campaign must be carried to every heart and home, but you help carry it and thus make the work mutual Every cent contributed goes wholly to relief work. All expenses are met by special contribu tions given expressly for that purpose. Make all checks payable to BES SELLING, and send to MRS. WINNIE BRADEN, Dallas, Oregon. AUSPICES POLK COUNTY COUNCIL OF DEFENSE: W. V. FULLER, Chairman MRS. WINNIE BRADEN, Secretary r'