TURKISH MASSACRES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 August 1916, Page 7

TURKISH MASSACRES.

SLAUGHTER THOUSANDS OF ARMENIANS. I Bucharest. 'June A. Since the entry of the Russian troops into Trebizond it has become impossible to lift tho veil of mystery that has hitherto shrouded the fate of the Armenian population in that once prosperous port. The Russians on their arrival found all the Armenian houses plundered and for the most part in ruins. Doors, windows, shutters and all woodwork had been carried away. There was 110 opposition to the plundering on the part of the Turkish authorities.

The deportation of the Armenians, which began in June, was carried out there as elsewhere in accordance with instructions from Constantinople. The leading families of the city were the first to suller. Some 300 of these received the order to prepare for emigration, and purchased a number of waggons for the transport of their property, but four days after their departure all the waggons wore brought back to the town. The emigrants hud been massacred and their property confiscated. Other groups, each of several hundred families, followed. The process went 011 for some time, but eventually new methods were adopted. • The police entered the houses of the remaining Armenians, forcibly expelled them, drove them through the streets, and locked up the houses. The whole Armenian population of Trebizond, numbering some 10,(100 souls, was thus exterminated. It is hoped, however, that some hundreds of .persons may yet lie found hidden in the villages in the neighborhood. At Erzerum, where the Armenian population was considerably greater, being estimated at 35,000, practically the same programme was carried out. The •proceedings, which began in the middle of May, were.inaugurated'by t'he arrest and imprisonment of 400 young Armenians.

Many families, after being expelled from their houses, wers kept waiting for several days in the streets before being taken to their fate. At the entrance of the town the, procession of exiles encountered tax-gatherers, who insisted oil the payment of arrears of taxation, although the unfortunate people had left all. their property behind them. Only a few artisans, who were required to work for the army, were allowed to remain in the town. By the beginning of August the whole Armenian population had disappeared from Erzeruni. Only the Bithop remained. On August 5 two police officers appeared at his house and communicated the ordel' of departure. The Bishop 'had taken precautions to obtain some horses for the transport of his efl'ects, Init these had been stolen. He tried to purchase others, but at the last moment he was informed that 'ho was not allowed to take anything with him. 'He was then removed to an unknown destination. German officers stationed in the town and the German Consul, it is. said, manifested open approval of these proceedings.