SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPRINGFIELD NEW3, MARCH 21, 1918
IN HUMANITY'S NAME
The appeal to America for relief for the outraged and
starving people of Armenia and Syria is, without exception, the
most heart-rending 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 wel
fare 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 heart-rending, 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
being 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 Lane 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 suf
ferings among the peoples of Western Asia have been so
terrible as aliaost to challcngo belief. They do stagger the
imagination of those who wcro not eye witnesses.
Personal testimony of many who lived through the ear
lier period and information furnished by American Ambas
sadors, Consuls, teachers, physicians, missionaries and bus
iness men who have recently returned from Turkey to
America coflrm the worst. Documentary evidence of an
overwhelming character is also abundant.
At a history malting conference held recently in Now
York and participated in by 139 representatives of the above
classes the very people who know most about actual con
ditions in the afflicted territory the following statements
were unanimously agreed to as well within the facts :
At least 1,000,000 Armenians and Syrians in Turkey
have perished during the, past two years from massacre,
deportation, exposure, 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 abso
lutely alone in deserted homes. Seventy-five thousand chil
dren 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 abso
lutely 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 Human
itarian Agency In Christendom Indorses This Appeal
President Wilson Urges Help
In an appeal to tho American people in
which ho urges further contributions to the
relief of these stricken people, President Wil
son says: "Reports indicate that of orphans
nlono there are moro than' 400,000, besides
women and other dependent children, reach
ing a total of more than 2,000,000 'Jestitute
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.- Tho cold is severe
through all tho region of Asiatic Turkey
north of Syrin, and if these refugees are not
aided by relief from America many moro 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 tho present time than among the
surviving Christian population in the Turk
ish Empire.
"I speak from a personal knowledge of the
situation, as during the past three years, I
have been located at Harpoot, and there was
brought into close contact with the distress
and misery of thousands of homeless and des
titute women and children who are absolute
ly dependent upon charity -for their subsis
tence. "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.
"Tho majority of these unfortunate wo
men and children are now in such a wretched
and helpless condition that they cannot long
survive if help is not received. Many did die
last winter for lack of food. Present condi
tions 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 Tarler
"There is no question as to the extreme
need. The distress among the stricken peo
ple is beyond any power of words to describe.
The American public can have absolute con
fidence that every dollar given is wisely and
effectively used for the saving of life."
From Consul Recently Returned
From Aleppo
"The only thing the matter with your state
ment is that it is not strong enough. The ur
gency of the demands are far beyond estima
tion. The 120,000 or so dependent persons
in Aleppo and vicinity have no other-resource
for bread, and once the relief stops these
people will disappear from the face of the
earth. - Disease is rife even among the per
manent inhabitants, irrespective of race or
religion, and, the deported Christians will be
in an absolutely hopeless condition without
the funds that have been and must continue
to be sent to them.
"The local relief destributing committee in
Aleppo is very trustworthy and all funds for
warded there , go to reliable men who are in
tensely interested in the work in every par
ticular." Many other consuls, ambassadors and trav
elers, speaking from personal knowledge, add
their testimony 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 hun
ger 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 tho hospitals.
His condition was such that ho
couhl not cat solid food, but he
cried for a piece of bread. When
tho physicians told him ho could
not eat bread ho said ho didn't want
to eat it, ho just wanted to put it
under his pillow so that ho could
feel that food was near."
Men Devour Melon Rind '
Perhaps a faint concoption of
the torriblo hunger experienced by
thousands may bo gained from this
littlo incident told by ono of tho re
turning consuls: "I was eating a
piece of melon," ho said, "and was
paying littlo attention to tho peo
ple around me. I tossed aside tho
rind, when instantly a man
pounced upon it like a hungry wolf.
Ho chewed ori it for a few moments
and then ho in turn tossed it aside.
Another man who had been watch
ing 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 tho mountain side from the
Lebanon noticed in the distance a
throng of children and wondered
why so many were gathered in ono
place. Upon coming near he dis
covered that a camel had died by
the roadside and these famished
children were in desperation pick
ing tho last shreds of flesh from
tho skeleton of tho fallen beast.
Children eagerly picking grains
from the dung of animals in the
street have become a common
sight."
American Women Com
pelled to Deny Ap
peals of Children
Tender-hearted American wo
men have been compelled to steel
themselves against tho sight of
children in tho street dying from
lack of food to pass by without
helping, having no resources to
warrant adding one moro to tho
number already being fed.
Missionaries Select which
Must Starve
A hard task is assigned the mis
sionaries, that of practically sign
ing the death sentence of children.
For example, in pne case there
were 430 children.'with funds suf
ficient for only seventy. The mis
sionaries were forced to select the
seventy and say no to the equally
or possibly moro destitute 360.
I'm Hungry! Fm Hungry!
So far as Syria is concerned, Bei
rut, Palestine and- the Lebanon
have suffered most. Many villages
have become depopulated. An
American passing through a vil
ligo last summer saw only one
house open. The people had either
migrated or perished. In one door
way sat a littlo girl, apparently
alone in the world. She kept say
ing 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 expect
ed because the children have eaten
tho shoots and young leaves. Tho
mulberry orchards were planted
with wheat, but in many cases chil
dren 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 the
generosity of . Americans. All
money sent from America is re
ceived and the distribution of food
is effective. In the coming winter
tho conditions will be harder than
ever, and very few will survive un
less adequate, regular contribu
tions are sent.
What an American Saw
An American consular agent re
ports that in his daily walk from
his house to the consulate he count
ed as many as twelve bodies of per
sons who had died of starvation
tho preceding night. Fifty-five
per cent of the population of the
Lebanon are reported dead from
starvation, mal-nutrition and re
sultant diseases.
The scenes are indescribable.
They can never be blotted from my
memory. I stood beside a trench
which was the grave of 2,000 vic
tims. They, too, all surrendered
their arms upon implicit promises
that they would then be spaced.
Tho moment they became defense
less 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 ex
pensive cartridges!
Thousands of Christians have
been driven from 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 up
the doors and windows, with their
frames. All the fruit and nut trees
and the vineyards were destroyed ;
and to make sure that there would
be no wood for rebuilding, the
trees were cut into lengths too
short for boards. Even the ter
races that held the fields on the
mountain sides were broken down.
The work of centuries of patient
labor by a long suffering people
has been completely overthrown.
Great as is the tragedy of mas
sacre, a greater tragedy was the
forced deportations, 100,000 wo
men and children from one district
alone. It is terrible to contemplate
their fate after the war. The na
tions should provide means for
searching out and restoring any
survivors to their homes and loved
ones.
her
end.
The facts terrible, gripping, heartbreaking facts are
e. The cry of anguish sobs through them from beginning to
Let the utmost measure of devotion be swilt and sure,
Every cent contributed goes wholly to relief work. All ex
es are met by special contributions given expressly for
penses
that purpose
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.
Make all checks payable to F. N. McAlister, Treasurer.
Bring or send all contributions to Armenian-Syrian Relief Com
mittee, Chamber of Commerce, Eugene, Oregon. Phone 702,
LANE COUNTY COMMITTEE
Jos. H. Koke, Chairman, Andrew Fish, L. L. Lewis, B. B. Brundage, R. S. Bryson, A. L, Crim, F. E. Kreatz, F. G. Stickels, W. F. Gilstrap
V. T. Motschenbacher, A. R. Gray, G. H. Parkinson, W. M. Case, Geo. N. McLean
MASS MEETINGS THROUGHOUT LANE COUNTY DURING THE CAMPAIGN