DISTRESS IN ARMENIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 172, 22 July 1922, Page 5

DISTRESS IN ARMENIA.

APPEAL TO NEW ZEALAND. 'EMISSARY IN AUCKLAND. A number of representative citizens who had been called together by invitation of the Mayor met Dr. L. Lincoln Wirt, American Emissary of the Near East Relief Commission, at the Council Chambers yesterday afternoon, and heard a stirring appeal by him advocating a special effort on the part of New Zealand to help the Armenian race, which was being systematically exterminated by the Turks, to the accompaniment of horrible atrocities. Because they were Christians in the land of Islam, the Armenians had heen deprived of their lauds and maltreated for many years by the fanatical Moslems, the speaker recalled, but on the outbreak of the Great War they had been offered autonomy and the chance of .becoming leaders in the land if they would fight on the side of Turkey and Germany, i Armenia refused, stating that the ideals of Britain, France, and America were their ideals, and it was history that the gallant stand made early in the war t>y them had saved the situation for the Allies on the Eastern front, and the declaration w_ts made that the Allies would never forget that assistance. The Turks had not forgotten, and a people of four million had been reduced by them to two million already. Men were put to the sword, and women and girls | were seized for the harems, the result being that the Armenians had been reduced t*ince tho armistice to a most pitiable plight as a race of hunted fugitives. Britain, America and Canada had undertaken relief work and had established orphanage homes, hospitals and relief stations, where the flags of these nations afforded the Armenians the only sanctuaries they could get from their oppressors. There were 100,000 children in the 229 orphanages, including 25,000 girls saved from the Turks; 148,000 sick people passed every month through the 63 hospitals; and 1,400,000 people were being fed at soup kitchens and relief stations. Yet there were thousands more that could not be helped. America had sent 140 ships of food and clothing to Russia, and 27 ships to Armenia, but the electric wires of relief from there could caxry no more, and the work was languishing. The only hope wn« the nationalisation of the effort. In Hawaii. Japan, the Philippines, and Australia he had hopeful support. Personal workers, food, old clothing, blankets, hides, wool—almost anything of a non-perishable nature was what was wanted, more than gold. One small shipload of such goods from New Zealand was his aim at present, and he felt that if the organisation were set tip this could be attained with scarcely any effort of sacrifice almost from the boys and girls of the country, with just enough money from others to pay the overhead expenses. After having heard the appeal, the meeting decided to form themselves into a citizens' committee, and adjourned till next Thursday afternoon, when other representative citizens, and any who may ibe moved to help, will be invited to take steps to properly shape and launch the appeal through effective I organisation. Tt was stated that Dr. Wirt's itinerary did not permit him time to give a public address, but members were appointed to confer with him as to organisation and the particular form of contributions required, and to make arrangements for Government endorsement of tne effort.