Exterminating Armenian Christians

One of the outstanding horrors of the great European war is the opportunity it has afforded Turkey to give free rein to Moslem fanatacisim and hate to exterminate its Christian subjects in Armenia.

Since last March the work of destruction has been carried on with redoubled vigor and increasing fury; the nations of Europe to whom these helpless subjects of the sultan in the past relied upon for protection being now too busily engaged in their own hostilities to save them from the butchery and tortures to which they are being subjected.

In a statement just given out in New York by Samuel T. _____ secretary of the committee on Armenian atrocities, which was formed for the purpose of investigating the facts regarding these massacred and their relation to American interests and also to ascertain whether anything can be done to relieve the situation, occurs this language.

“The statements examined cover hundred of towns and cities in which in many instances all of the Armenians have been killed outright, often after horrible torture, or sent to the desert to die of starvation, and that too with diabolical cruelty.  The ostensible deportation of men, women and children toward Mesopotamia is usually but a form of marching those starving, helpless and frequently naked refugees out into the mountains to be outraged and butchered. . . . Evidence seems to prove that probably 500,000 Armenians already have been murdered or forced to the desert, where only death awaits them unless relief is secured at once.  And all this has taken place since March and is now at the height of its gruesome fury.”

Associated Press dispatches from time to time from the scene amply bear out the above statement of the widespread campaign of destruction that is being carried on for what is apparently a plea on the part of the Turkish government to effect the complete extermination of these Christian subjects to gratify Moslem hate, which has gained fury by being partially held in restraint in the past.

There was at the outbreak of the present war a population of approximately 2,500,000 in Turkish Armenia, mostly of the Christian faith.  At the rate at which they are now being butchered, it is easily to be foreseen that there will not be many of them left at the close of the present war, unless neutral powers interpose and put a stop to the massacres.  

Upon the United States more than any other power under present conditions, it seems to us, rests the responsibility to intervene with all the force that may be necessary to put a stop to these horrible massacres.  It is not warfare that is being waged against these helpless people, for they are not in armed rebellion against their government, but it is religious fanaticism turned loose to wreak savage vengeance upon a hated race.