SYRIANS AND TURKS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 132, 1 December 1914, Page 8

SYRIANS AND TURKS

U» mi IDITOR. Sir,— The cabled news that the Sheik-ol-Islam has proclaimed holy war, and that Turks have already begun to kill Christians, induces me to again refer to the absurd suggestion of some writers to the papers that Syrians, because under Turkish Wile, should be regarded as enemies and treated, as such. I would call the attention of New Zealand people \<o a consideration of historical facts, and to the fact that most, if not all, the Syrians in Now Zealand are Christians from tho^ historic district of Mount Lebanon in the Holy Land. The Syrians so far from fighting for Turkey ha,vo fo generations been fighting against thet massacring Mussulmans. By the late; cable news, you will see that they at* fighting now, tho Turks once more besieging Mount Lebanon. The good people of New Zealand should understand the truth, and a very little study of hiatory will enable them to form their own judgment against mixing up Christian Syrians with Turks. No further back than 1840 they will find the Syrians a few thousand strong battling against hundreds of thousands of Turks, and if it had not been for the Blessed Virgin and St. Georgo tho Syrians would have been wiped out altogether. In 1860 tho Syrians had to fight as desperately against the Turks for their homes and faith as their fellow Christians the Belgians have done and are doing against the Germans. I could tell you of many' horrible cruelties inflicted by Turks upon Christian Syrians— of massacres of men, women, and children; of women being compelled •to carry water to Turkish soldiers over the bodies of theif own wounded and dying brothers and fathers craving for a drop of water ; and of these same women shot down because they stopped to wet the lips of their dying relatives. There is an instance of nearly 3000 Syrians being induced to enter a town for food, when the Turks surrounded and disarmed them, and slaughtered them like sheep. Many stories of terrible wrongs done to Syriah women and children could betold and proved by history } and yet there are people in this country of' New Zealand who class the Syrian with the Turks. It will be found in recent history that allied nations of Franco, Brit* ish, and Russians saved tho people of Lebanon from the Turkish sword, and we have it recorded that when the Syrians were being overpowered, faint and weary, they were cheered by seeing the rescuers coming in a cloud of dust to the westward of the city of Zahli on Mount Lebanon, and word came to the Syrian leaders"-"Cheer up, you Chris* tians of Mount Lebanon. To you we come; for you and your faith we are with you. Best and fear not, for we will fight as you have fought The fight was won, and the Turks chased to Damascus, where many mur^ derers were hanged from the walls of that ancient city With a past like that of the Syrians— a long record of struggle against the tyranny, rapine, and murder of the Turks— how can it be thought that Syrians can sympathise with or fight for the Turk*? As a, matter of fact, most of the Syrians^ in New Zea* land are naturalised British subjects and prepared to shed their blood {or the British flag, which is the emblem of fairness and freedom to all. His Holt« ness the Pope has always assisted the Christian Syrians of Mount Lebanon, their schools and their churches. Iti 1887 and 1893 you will read of France, England, and Belgium assisting Mount Lebanon financially. • In 1898, Prince Edward, afterwards King of England, visited the Patriarch of the East on the River Jordan, and spoke most highly of the Christian brotherhood of the Synahs , of Mount Lebanon. In 1902. the Christian Powers assisted the Syrians to secure more freedom in education and other matters, and as late ns 1912 the Embassies of France. England, Russia, and other Powers endeavoured to secure independence for Mount Lebanon. Queen Victoria had great sympathy for these people ; so had King Edward ; and so will King George have.— l am, etc., NICHOLAS BOU2AID, British subject and nativfe of Mount Lebanon. 30th November, 1914.

Mr. Wilford's m<?etttig at Trentih&,m to* night will begin at 7.30 "'clock, and not at 8, as stated last night. Messrs. K. Johnston and Co. will hold on auction saJe of household furniture and appointments in their rooms. 157, Lambton-quay, to-morrow, commencing at; 1 o'clock shnrp. On Thursday morning:, at 11 o'clock sharp, they will sell furru« ture, etc., blankets nhd shoots, on the promises, No. 140, Dixoh'&treot ; and at 1.30 o'clock they wilt hold an unrcsorved aUC' lion «ftlc of unredeemed }jl«djre* at their 100111*.