TURKISH ATROCITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 4 February 1926, Page 2

TURKISH ATROCITIES

FURTHER DISCLOSURES. ASTOUNDING REIGN OF TERROR[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.! LONDON, Feb. 3. An astounding narrative about a reign of terror in the northern zone of the Mosul Province is published in the “Daily Chronicle” from Mr Martin Donogluie (the Chronicle’s' special correspondent), whose first article was cabled on Fob. 2nd.

Mr Donoglme has taken the evidence of eye witnesses, on oath. One Turkish soldier, according to a witness, confessed that there were orders to exterminate all the Christians. Gawarkis Ibrihim, Priest of the Village Billo. described liow a party of Turks came, saying: “There is going to he a war with the English. I'heioforc. we must deport you. The Turks arrested 250 men. women and children, and marched them eastward. After three days the priest escaped. He says; “I saw the Turks bayonet and kiil fifteen women who were lagging behind. I also saw them prod and kill four children. Some of the mothers we no whipped to make them walk faster.’’

Gawarkis Ibrihim also stated that other mothers were forced to abandon the children whom they could carry no longer. Then the soldiers killed the little ones on the roadside. Each night the soldiers, having separated the men from the women, selected girls and abused, them. " Avoub Mansur, the Head Man of the village of Piillo, said that fifty soldiers arrived there and collected one hundred Turkish gold pounds, under a threat of death, saving that they wanted to buy aeroplanes to fight the English. Later a larger party from the same regiment arrived at night time. They said: “AA’e are going to deport you. because you are in the war zone.” The men protested and the women cried. The soldiers fired, killing a woman and a child. That night a soldier forcibly took four women for the use of the 1 urkish offi-

Ayonb said; “These women were afterwards outraged and then killed.’ Their names were given. Next day he said, the soldiers took a large party of men and women to the mountains. Some of the girls, who had been abused were unable to walk. They fell by the roadside, where they were prodded with bayonets. Being unable to rise, they were killed. “At Buijo.” said Ayouh. “Lieut. Saitn EfiVndi took a fancy to my wife, aged 20 years, who was carrying a child eighteen months old. Becoming terrified, she handed the baby to me. A\ T e wen? warned of an opportunity and she ran away. When the soldiers found that she was gone, they became furious, and they said: “If you do not find your wife, wo will kill your child.” Unheeding my prayers, a soldier look the child hv the legs and dashed out its brains on the ground before mv eyes.”

Ayouh said: “I thought T should have gone mad. I tried to kill the brute, and another struck me down. The, following night I managed to escape. Previously I saw women servants who had fallen exhausted,“killed hv the Turks.”

AA'nrda Hunnii. married, aged 24, said : “I was taken during a march by a soldier who kept me in a tent all night long. AVlien I begged for bread for my child, he beat tiv? with a stick, saying; ‘ft is no good your shouting to your God Ho is only a Kaffir.’ The journey to Alkai took eight days. Every night the soldiers took myself and other women and abused u.s shamefully. I saw many women and children before I escaped.”