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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.
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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
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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
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American Women Compelled to Deny
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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!'
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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.
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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.
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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