ARMENIAN ATROCITIES

Evening Star, Issue 18033, 29 July 1922, Page 7

ARMENIAN ATROCITIES

HEAR EAST RELIEF. LOCAL APPEAL FOR GIFTS. A terrible and heart-rending picture of the atrocities committed by the Turks upon the Armenians was given to a meeting in the mayor’s room this morning by Dr L. F. Wirt, the representative of the Near East Relief Fund. A hurriedly-arranged civic reception by the mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas) was attended l by about a d'ozcn leading citizens and ministers. Dr Wirt, it was explained, would address an afterchurch rally in the Octagon HaD to-morrow night on ‘Behind the Veil in Turkey.' The Mayor, who presided 1 , extended a cordial welcome to Dr Wirt, and said the citizens had realised how much America was doing in the cause of humanity. It was not so much money that was wanted in the present case as food l and clothing. Auckland, he understood, bad already guaranteed one-third of a shipload to be sent from New Zealand.

Dr Wirt, who spoke with practically no American accent, very soon had' his hearers listening with profound interest. He pointed out that if there had been any hesitancy in response to the appeal anywhere, it was only bec.rtise of a lack of knowledge. A Commission was being appointed by Great Britain to inquire into the position of the Armenians, and the United States had been asked 1 to join. He was glad to say that his country, which had been altogether too backward in international movements, had decided to join. An effort had to be made to stop the bloody hand«f the Turk. If the Armenians could be kept alive for say another year ho hoped that would be sufficient, and , that some great international movement would then put an end to the inhumanity |of the Turk. Dr Wirt showed by means i of a map of the Turkish Empire that a great work was already being done there. The fed crosses marked on it—and) these were in great numbers—indicated hospitals, orphanages, soup kitchens, and other means of relief. The barbarities were j taking place in the cradle of the human race. Other appeals had been made on 'behalf of people who were “nationals"; but the Armenians were a subject race, with no voice, no vote—and slaves. The Armenians belonged to an old race, progressive and fond of education, while the Turks were reactionary. Graphic details of some of the barbarities of the Turks , were given by Dr Wirt. The Turk had : set out to exterminate the Armenians, but had not killed them all before they had tired of it. It took strength and effort to keep on killing people. Those who had not been killed had fled amt were wandering about, starving wretches pursued like rabbits. For a time after the armistice the bloody hand of the Turk bad been . stayed; but because of politics afid bei cause of international jealousy the Turk again saw what he had seen through all the ages: that his existence was necessary to the great nations of the earth. Two great flags of mercy flow there—those of the United States and Great Britain. In spite of all that had been done, there ' was still a great cry for more help. Ho had started on a world tour in support of i the movement, and made an appeal for I gifts of all kinds—flour, wheat, cereals. ■ breakfast foods, blankets, and tinned stuffs. There wore 225 newspapers in ; New Zealand, and if any appeal, went | through them he thought. New Zealand j would not be long in getting 1,000 tons of i Gifts-

Canon Nevill moved that those present form themselves into a committee to forward the appeal.

Professor Davies seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

The matter of appointing a secretary was held over till the next meeting of the committee.