Foreign.

Manawatu Herald, 20 November 1894, Page 2

Foreign.

The Chief of the Russian prison administration, after a prolonged tour in Siberia and Sughalieq, has reported in favour of settling sections of convicts as farmers, and completely transforming their treatment. Dreadful atrocities have been committed in Armenia by the Turks, i Owing to the refusal of they people to pay taxes, the Turkish tooopg fired on the people, killing thousands, and destroyed 25 villages. ' : The Turkish commander accuses the British Consul at Van, Jwho reported this massacre, of having incited the populace to reyolt. v • > The Armenian Patriotic Association is sending a memorial to Earl Kimberley, British Minister for Foreign Affairs, urging that the decree of the Berlin Conference j should be amended, and an end be put to the Turkish regtme. It is alleged that the Turkish Government directly instigated violence. ; The details of the atrocities are appalling. From six to ten thousand people were slaughtered regardless of.6geor* sex. ' ■■■■.. * — i

Nine hundred women, after being outraged, were hacked to pieces. The American press declare that some of the most attractive women were offered their live 3if they abjured their faith, but that they declined to do so and were killed. ■, The authorities here declare that the real explanation of the matter is that Armenian brigands, with* insurgent Kurds, outraged Mussulmans and Christians, and that it-was only by means of the regulars that order was restored.