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K m S M S v W *.*. r 7* > ! . ï ■ I ' : I I ■M. v The appeal to America for relief for the outraged and starv ing people of Armenia and Syria is, without exception, the most heartrending and urgent of any that ha* 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. S 3 s I f It has been assigned to us to carry the appeal to the people of Yamhill 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 Kqwrti ngardtaf the atrocities, deportations and sufferings among the peoples of^Western Asia have been so terrible as almost to challenge belief. Thej do stagger theimagl nation of those who ware not eje witnesses. Personal testimony of many who lived through the earlier period and information famished by American Ambassadors, Consuls, teach ers, physicians, missionaries and business men who have recently returned from Turkey to America confirm the worst Documentary ovidanos of an overwhelming character 1s also abundant At a history making conference held reoently in How York and participated in by 139 representatives of the above the very people who know most about actual conditions in the territory—the following statements were unanimously agreed to as well within the facts: At least 1.000,000 Armenians and Syrians In Turkey have per ished during the pact' two years from massacre, deportation, ex posure, starvation, dUaeass. Over 8,000,000 am now homeless and in dire distress. Thousands of Creeks deported from the sea coast of Asia Hinor am now in danger of starvation. Tour hundred thousand id those in need am 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 tbs 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 czy for help. Relief is wisely and economically administered by absolutely reliable agents, but Is pitiably insufficient. Every dollar contributed goes for relief, non The RED CROSS Is Assisting to the Utmost of Its Ability. Every Humanitarian Agency in Christendom Indorses This Appeal President Wilton Urges Help In an appeal to the American People in which he urges further contributions to the relief of theoe stricken people, President Wilson says: “ Reports indi cate that of orphan* 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 ss to make a special appeal to the sympathies ef all.” From Former Ambassador Oscar Strauss “ I am impressed with the increasing need ss the winter comes on. The cold is severe through ell the region of Asiatie Turkey north of Syria and if these refugees are not aided by relief from America many more will perish.** From Consol Leslie A. D ark “ 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 tb* distress and misery of thousands of homeless and destitute women end 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 eaming'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 sack a wretched and helpless con dition that they cannot long survive if help is not re ceived. Many did die lest winter for lack of food. Present conditions are more critical than ever. “ Arrangements have been made by which funds can continue to be sent there without any risk of loss.** From First Secretary Tarter “ 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 esn have absolute confidence that every dollar given is wisely and effectively used for the saving of life.’4 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 atnofl^ the permanenrinliabitants, irre spective of race or religion, and the deported Chris tiana will be in an absolutely hopeless eonditon with out the funds that have been and must continue to be aent to them. The local relief distributing committee in Aleppo io very trustworthy and all funds forwarded there go to reliable men who are intensely interested in the work in every particular.’* Many other consuls, ambassadors snd 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 -— C U W t PM H Appeal “ America did not realize the hunger that existed in soma parts of Turkey. I can best illustrate it by telling you about a little boy who waa brought to one of the hospitals. Hit condition was such that he eould not eat solid food, but he cried for a piece of bread. When the physicians told him be couldn’t set bread he said he didn’t want to eat it, be jnst wanted to put it under his pillow so that ha eould feel that food waa near.** Men Devour Melon Rind • Perhaps a feint conception of the terrible banger experienced by thousands may be gained from this little incident told by one of the returning consuls: “ I was e< * pieee of melon, be said, “ and was little sttentian to the people around tossed aside the rind when instantly a man pounced upon it like a hungry wolf. * e chewed on it for a few moments and then he in turn tossed it aside. Another naan who had been watching him with the eyes of a hawk picked it up and devoured the rest** Children Eat Dead Camel and Pick Crains 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 eamel 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 past by without helping, having no resources to warrant adding one more to the number already being fed. Missionaries Select Which Mast Starve A bard tank is assigned the missionaries, that of practically signing the death sent ence of children. For example, in one esse there were 430 children with funds suffi cient for only seventy. The missionaries were forced to select the seventy and say no to the equally or possibly more destitute 360. “I’m Hungry! Tm Hungry!' tn So far ss 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 r ’ The children in all tha villages look like old men and women. Children Eat Grape Vines and Leaves In Alcith no grapes are expected because the children have eaten the shoots and young leaves. __ The mulberry orchards were 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 sore. Do not wait to be seen and ashed to give. Do it now. The campaign wmst be carried to every heart and borne, but you help carry it and thus make the work mutual. 7 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 diave survived so far have been kept alive through the 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, ni&l-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 snd then hacked to pieecs. Soldiers boasted of their work with axes, ss being more economical than expensive cartridges 1 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 homes, even burning op the doors and win dows, with their frames. All the fruit snd 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 terraecs that held the fields on the mountain sides were brok en down. The work of centuries of patien« labor by a long suffering people has been completely overthrown. Great 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 snd loved onea Every cent contributed goes wholly to relief work. All expenses are met by spedsi contribu tions given expressly for that purpose. Make aU checks payable to John Larkin, Treasurer. Briug or send aR comtributioms in At Syrian ReKef Committee, Newherg, Oregon. % U. S. G. Miller, Chairman; E. E. Goff, Secretary; John Larkin, Treasurer for North Half of Yamhill County Dr. Fredrick Coem, a IHe long resident of Armenia, and am eye of the res in thut country, wBl speak at hath meetings. MASS MEETINGS AT McMINHVILLB FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND AT NEWBERG FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH 2 2 . TOUR PRESENCE IS NEEDED