The Armenian Atrocities.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 8133, 17 January 1895, Page 3

The Armenian Atrocities.

The following letter from an Armenian in Constantinople wasreceived in London early in December. It gives a horrible account of the Turkish proceedings, calculated to arouse sympathy and anger, but it is to be remarked that the writer is notan eye witness. Something, one cannot tell how little or how much, is due to his imagination. And generally none of the accounts of these atrocities appear to have come from eye witnesses. The letter was' begun on November 6th, but was not finished till later. “lam sorry I cannot write at greater length. I have not the heart, as we are allliving in constant terror by reason of the great calamities that surround us. Probably you have heard how atrocities, unheard of since the days of Timor, are being repeated, and that in the neighbourhood of Moosh, the inhabitants of 25 Armenian villages have been ruthlessly massacred, and their housesjbarnt down by the Ha-

midize cavalry. The victims numbered 6000. The inhabitants of 23 villages were compelled to embrace Mahommedanism. Alas! these are authenticated facts, and all the embassies, including the British Embassy, know them. Two days ago the official Turkish papers announced that his Majesty had presented new and magnificent colours to his Hamidize cavalry as a sign of his approval. These are the bare facts, and they require no comment. If feelings of humanity and pity still exist on the earth there is no need of argument to be persuaded that the Armenians are subjected to diabolical wrongs. I entreat you to cry aloud from one end of the United Kingdom to the other the news of these calamities and atrocities The British Government and nation are responsible for our blood and honour. We boldly claim our rights. We are not mendicants. The Turkish cavalry and the regulars have devastated 25 Armenian villages in the plain of Moosh,and killed the men, women, and children in such a barbarous manner, that probably it will not be believed in England, and Turkophiles will cry “ Exaggeration!” My brother, I tell you they have cut open living pregnant women,taken away their unborn babes, and, sticking them on spears, have marched triumphantly through the streets. . . . Does such a thing happen to Africa P To complete our misfortune, when representations are made the Sultan expresses his horror. Yet we see that the commanders are decorated. Now a Commission is ordered to immediately investigate the matter, thus throwing dust in the eyes of Europe. Which of our misfortunes shall we lament ? Our massacred brethren or those left in misery who will be subjected to the most cruel treatment at the hands of the Commission ? Do you understand how desperate our condition is ? My hands tremble and my heart sinks within me. News of these great calamities is widely known, yet none dares to speak or make remark. We Armenians look in each other’s faces and read the sorrow and pain of our hearts. To make an appeal or to take any steps is impossible. Tne appearence of the poor Armenians from Moosh is most pitiable. God only is our help. No one sympathises. . . . I think that probably England’s indifference must be attributed to the difficulty in understanding our deplorable position. If Epglishmen could realise the extent and intensity of our sufferings, and how their honour as a nation is affected, they would be stirred, if they have not lost their old chivalrous feeling and the strong sense of justice of the Anglo-Saxon race.”