THE SYRIANS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20038, 20 September 1930, Page 11

THE SYRIANS.

A LIFE OF TERROR. THEIR NEEDS TO-DAY. Constantly persecuted and massacred because of their Christian beliefs, ruled by an enemy Government, surrounded by hostile races, living under conditions worse than slavery; such was the lot of the Syrian race for many centuries. ' "The Syrians, and there were about 150,000 of us, have been Christians since the foui tli century," said the Key, David Zadok, a deacon of the Syrian Church, tj a reporter of Ihb Press yesterday. "There has never been a Mohammedan or a Jew among us, and because of this ; we were in constant dread of massacres by the Turks. They tried to convert us to Mohammedanism, but without success. We were completely under the Turks, we were not allowed an army, rifles or ammunition, our mei, our women and our children were killed in thousands, everything we had was taken for taxes, we were worse than 6laves." Lashed to Death. Three times a year a Turkish officer and about a hundred men marched through the Syrian villages to collect the taxes. Each village they came to had to supply them, absolutely without charge, with food, lodging, and transport. The head men in each vil-. lage, the Magistrate and the Mayor; were ministers of religion,, and from them the tare* and food were collected. If, as frequently happened, they were unable to produce these, simply because the villagers did not have them, their boots and were removed, they were bound, and lashed unmercifully on the bottoms of their feet. Many - of them died under this treatment. The taxes were not levied on a percentage basis, the Turks demanded what they wanted. "Mohammedans never practise these cruelties among themselves,"said Mr Zadok. "They did it to us so that we would be converted, but none of us ever were, thank God." Protection Removed. At that time the Syrians received a little protection, from the British, American, and European Consuls at Mosul. When the Turks sent out raiding parties the; consuls ivould make efforts tostop them. When the war : broke out the consuls were forced to leave Mosul, as were the missionaries and whnt little protection the Syrians had was removed. They were then absolutely at the mercy of the Turks.. The religious hatred ofthe Turks culminated in an awful and wholesale massacre. Many thousand Sy rian men, women, and children were killed. The survivors abandoned their homes and everything they had, and escaped to the mountains. The Turkish armies were looting, murdering, andburning, and the Syrians were able to take nothing with them except goats. Besieged on a Mountain. They were pursued to the 'mountains. For defence they had a few old fashioned muzzle loading, rifles.' The Turks had modern rifles, artillery, and machineguns. For five months" the Syrians were surrounded on a high mountain. They, had goats' meat for food and nothiug else, not even salt. They repulsed the Turks by rolling boulders down the mountain side. During the siege on the mountain 15,000 Syrian? died of starvation. Seven of Mr Zadok's near relatives died. There was no shelter; they slept on the ground with no coverings.' Then the Russian Army advanced through Persia and drove the Turks off; allowing the Syrians to escape! They had no homes to which they could return, everything had been burnt, so they went to Northern Persia. and stayed at Lake Urumiya as refugees until 1917, the Allies feeding and clothing them. The Nation Retreats. When the Russian Army broke up the protection was removed and once more the Turks attacked the Syrians, who then had plenty of rifles and ammunition taken ftom the Russians. They fought the Turks day and night for eight months until their ammunition was exhausted, when they retreated towards Bagdad. For a month and a half the whole nation was retreating day and night. Thousands died from thirst and starvation. Mothers were compelled to march on half an hour after the birth of a child; ad they delayed they would have been killed by the Turks, who were In close pursuit. At last they met English troops who were marching to their, help. The English .Government had sent hundreds _ of lorries for the transport of the Syrians. "It was a most wonderful day for the Byrian nation, when we met those Tommies coming to our rescue," said Mr Zadok, living In Irak. Only 85,000 Syrians arrived at Bagdad, and they were put into a refugee camp organised by the British officers. Of all that had died, only 15,000 who died on thie mountain were buried. Thiey -were supplied with food and clothing, and hospitals and schools were at their disposal. For three and a half years they, remained in the camp. There was no hope of returning to their homes as the Turks were there, and they feared more religious massacres. Now the Syrians are starting to settle in Irak, British;. mandated territory, under the protection of the British Government. In Irak the British have made roads, railways, bridges, and have provided electricity, and established schools. British Protection Essential. "Even though we have lost everything we had, thank God we have done away with Turkish Government and are under the Union Jack," said Mr Zadok. "We can never thank the British, nation , for what they have done for us.' They not only- fed us but saved our nation from death or Mohammedanism. The little nation of Syria is ready to die for Britain whenever the need arises. May God grant that the Union Jack will fly forever over the whole world, then there will be no persecutions, no massacres, no strife, tut universal brotherhood. We cannot live without British protection. .If Britain withdraws from Irak we'have made preparations to follow, no matter how far. We cannot hope to express our gratitude to Britain." The Syrians are now almost destitute; they have been given a start but want money to enable them to carry on. Mi Zadok's mission is to explain to New Zealanders, and to his'own countrymen ! in the Dominion,, the- desperate fldeds and position of thie" Syrians "to-day. He will preach at St. Michael's Church to-1 morrow, evening. , j