Evening Star Newspaper, January 28, 1923, Page 37

‘RULE OF THE MUST BE NEAR EAST DETERMINED Murkish-British Friction Will Continue Indefinitely With Seemingly, BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN. Shall. Great Britain maintain - its dominion over three-fourths of the Mohammedan peoples of the world, .or shall Turkey make such inroads as to bazard the British Empire. Fundamentally this is the question of the hour in any discussion of the near east problem. It is the issue, which, from all appearances, both Britain and Turkey are anxious to have settled for all time. Britain is sure of her power. The Turks flushed by victory and apparent willingness of European nations to temporize with them as evidenced during the delibera- tions of the Lausanne conference, wish fo remove Britain's influence and in the perpetuation of nationalistic purpose, form a bloc of peoples which shall domi- nate forever the near east free of foreign Influence. Advance Under British. No matter how the British have planned advancement of the economic and financial interests of the empire through control of the Mohammedan reaches, it nevertheless remains a fact that in the face of prejudicial antagon- 1sms peoples under British control have advanced greater lengths than have those who have been left to the ex- ploitation of unscrupulous Turkish regimes. Great Britain has made pledges to Dpeoples separated from the old Turkey under the treaties of peace, the core of these promises being that they shall forever be free of the free-boot- ing Turk, who has ground down piti- lessly at the least provocation. Great Britaln has said they shall take their places among advancing peoples through continued maintenance of settled order and economic develop- ment, and Britain intends to see this realized. There are latent riches to be had By the nation winning contentions In regard to the Irak and other man- dated territories once under Turkish domination. But these riches wiil not - be gained except mree of order velopment. The British, in so far as Mosul is concerned, have acceded to the policy of the open door advanced by the United States. The Turk, on the other hand, would take the Mosul region, with its fortune in it. and exploit it to the sole interest of Turk officialdom, which has ever been known to ignore private for so-called govern- mental rights, rights only limited by the imaginations of grasping cliques kneeling before official hearthstone. - insuring proper de- May Determine Breakdown. The question of Mosul, according to all dispatches, is to be the chief, rock upon which the Lausanne conference founders. True, other questions suf- ficient {n themselves to disrupt Lau- sanne deliberations, remain to be set- tled, but it would appear that the tuture of the wilayet of Mosul is to be the determining factor. = The question has been brought up again and again in the Lausanne conterence only to be shunted aside because of its extremely vexatious character, but the crisis has arrived at last, and Lord Curzon, sgainst the wishes of the Turks, will have lhe' whole question of the Mosul region | 1aid before the league of nations with the request that the league council} take action. The Turks. opposing this move, state that they would seriously ob- Ject to arbitration of the issue, and that it should be left to a plebiscite, The British oppose, not so much as they are against a plebiscite if it Were conducted honestly, but because The British are disinclined to disturb mandated areas in which the larger Powers have gone to great lengths to mtroduce order where chaos once reigned and where cconomic advance been furthered. ha hey rate, the Turks will be given opportunity to be heard before the Teague council if they so desire, and if they consent to.arbitration by the | league, the whole issue will be one, Jess upon which the rival powers will | have o agree. The Turks insist, however, that they will retain the Fight to reject arbitral awards in case hey are against the interests of the Turks. If the Turks take this stand Jittle is to be gained, save by a decis- jon favorable to the Turks, as the rontest between the British and the furks will continue. This, even fhough the league sustain its decree by an economic boycott of Turkey. iches Clear-Cut Test. Th:,::l-u.allon is one which the British, Turks and other powers long have recognized—one rapidly ap- proaching a clear-cut test of strength, politica}, and possibly military, as between the British and the national- ists of Turkey. The Mosul region, with its poten- tially tremendous oil ol;:vl:t. irl :‘:; richest o e xploitation purposes. Likewise he Britieh, It cannot be denied. 5 SRR B aonted” " | Rential Doscor Sathomets How Railroads Have Made Good Despite Handicap of Strikes Have the railroads met the demand for sérvice during 1922, the year In which they were called upon to face the heaviest demands for freight hauling in their history? Have the roads, in the facg of a shopmen's strike lasting more tham three months, in which more than 200,000 men were out of service, falled in the crisis, or have they met the test and made up their deficiency in men with an increase in equipment efficigncy and in seneral cAv;ctllz“:gr doing a al D ve questlone, the Assoclation of Raflway Executives says, from the latest statistics for 1923, covering e and locomotive shortage ince the shop- strike began, n’ nd the railroads sl the class 1 group, ap- 3":&‘32..".% 200 major roads, admit There has been & shortage of cars; but this shortaxe is practically impossible of reduction because of the fact that trafic on American railroads has its peak during two months of the year, general merchandise, farm products and oosl joining in producing the Peak movement of rail-borne com- moditles during October and Novem- ber. tive loadings of freight in m'.""fl'-'nw year 1922 on class 1 railroads in the United States, the association says, will show a reduc- tion of less than one-half of 1 per cent over the peak year of 1920, when the carried more freight than over before or since in their history. Freight loadings for 1932 totaled 43,- 713,319 cars, compared with 48,118,472 ocars 1920 and 39,325,168 cars in 1931 More u;l‘.v’a’rc loaded 'll:h farm products than ever be- fore In the history of the railroads, while at the same time an unprece-: through some de- ! { i out Test, Which, Is at Hand. But _the peoples of the Mosul re- glon now share to some measure In application of the self definition of in that they have repeatedly expressed their desire for and are now incorporated in the kingdom of Irak under the rule of King Feisal. The Mosul region long has been identified historically ‘and politically with the Arabs who have dominated Bagdad. In the vilayet of Mosul there are 450,000 Kurds, 185 Arabs, 65.000 Turkomans, 62,000 Christians, 30.000 Yeszides and 15,000 Jews. The Kurds never have worked fn unison with the Turks, despising them heartily. Even in the war when the British were campalgning against the Turks, the Kurds were comparatively passive and except in rare instances where they were forced under the banners of the Turks for expediency sake. gave little comfort to® the sultan's government. The Arab element of the Population naturally leans toward contlnuation of the age-old dream of a separate Arab kingdom, while the Christian population resents any scheme dcsigned to throw the vilayet once more in the hands of the Turks. Under present conditions the whole Mesopotamia reglon is prospering as 1it never prospered before, commer- clally and otherwise, and extensive projects have been instituted, which will make the valley of the Tigres and Euphrates bloom once more. Many Conflicting Currents. | Notwithstanding its advance under British tutelage, there are So mamy | conflicting currents politically, racial- {1y and religlously that the future can- not be even sketched with any de- gree of accuracy. = It is known that soviet emissarles _have been working diligently in re- cent months - to mould sentiment among all Mohammedan peoples to- ward resistance to British influence. The natlonalist regime in Angora already has. established large forces of troops in the direction of Irak with the hope of infiaming the populations to a point of resistance citing the, fact that chiefly, England desires to exploit the peoples of Mesopatamia with the object of self gain. In manysectionssurrounding the Irak British forces have had trouble from tima to time and particularly in the direction of Afghanistan and Persia; Where soviet agents, have been the buslest. 1In addition to this it is Known that several shelks, powerful faotors in the life of the kingdom of Irak, which are chafing at the restraints placed upon them through Felsal and the British and are open declaring at the moment that they Will further the cause of the Turks in reuniting the old Turkish empire, Whether or not these agents of Angora can be elminated before 100 much damage has been done is & Question, but in case of an open clash between the British and Turks the whole region of Mesopotamia would be the scene of extremely interest- ing events. Britiak Military Position. It is gravely questioned, even in England, whether or not the British could long maintain their military position in Mesopotamia without far- reaching reverses. Particularly would this be true early in any cam- paign for the maintenance of Felsal's empire, inasmuch as the British forces have been reduced to skeleton form, the majority of present opera- tions in troublesome zones being cone ducted by airplane contingents, which THE . SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C. JANUARY 28, 1923—PART 2. The Story the Week Has Told BY HENRY W. BUNN. HE following is & brief summary of the most mportant news of the world for the seven days ended Jlnull'!'!'h: The Ruhkr—The reparations commission made an important decision on Friday. They decided that by its announcement on January 13 of suspension of reparations payments to France and Belgium, the German government had cancelled its request of November 14 for a moratorfum, and that, in consequence, no Retion respecting a moratorium would be taken by the commission—that, therefore, the schedule of payments of May 5, 1921, was again in force, though the grant of delay until January 31 of payment of the install- ment due January 15 still held good. They declared a general default on the part of Ger- many in the performance of her obligations to France and Belgium, in consequence of which the famous paragraph 17, annex 2, of the Ver- sailles treaty was not in full effect, under which paragraph Germany is obligated ‘not to regard as acts of war economic and finan- cial prohibitions and reprisals and, in general, such other measures as. the governments to- ward which Germany may be In default may determine to be necessary.” This famous blanket paragraph is inter- preted by France and Belgium legally to justify even more extensive and drastic meas- ures than those already Instituted by these governments. Poincare's new moratorium plan, to which I referred last week, is plgeon-holed—doubt- lessly to reappear ghen, or if, the Germans show themselves in a contrite mood. The declaratfon of general default by Germany has the merit of forestalling crisises that otherwise might be created by special de- faults such as the one certain to occur on January 31. The liberty of action now en- joyed by France and Belgium cannot be am- plified—it is complete. * On Wednesday Fritz Thyssen and five other German magnates, charged with disobedience of the orders of the occupying authorities, were tried by a military court at Mayenc: All were found guilty and sentenced to pa fines. Two of them (state officials) were also sentenced to one year's imprisonment, but execution of the latter sentence was Suspend- ed and all were set free. It might seem that the net result of the trials was to unite the populations of the occupied German areas east d west of the Rhine in passionate protest against: the occupation—to create & united will to resist that occuation. Monster pop- ular demonstrations followed the trials in Mayence. Essen. Duesseldorf, Cologne, Treves —all over the occupied areas. French detach- ments were baited, insulted and threatened. That there were no bloody clashes was due chiefly {o the admirable coolness of the French. In several instances the German se- curity police were far from conspicuous for efforis to- avert trouble, but In Essen they co-operated very handsomely with the French. 1t does not follow from these consequences that the French were ill-advised in bringing Thyssen &nd the others to trfal. The trial was conducted with great sho: cf courtesy to the accused and evidently without the slightest rancor ‘on the part of the French Indeed, the prosecution declared that French- men in the position of the accused would have acted like them. May it not be that the chief object of the French in instituting the trials Wwas to furnish a very dramatic fllustration of those rights of military occupation which they are permitted to exercise in occupled Germany under international law? No doubt countless tomes are going to be written on the rights of military occupation in the light of the French occupation of the Ruhr. Reports concerning the mining situation ars very conflicting. Some declare that very few workers are on strike and that the output of the mines is nearly normal—others have it that 150.000 miners are on strike and that the output is not more than 60 per cent of normal. Tha French seized some state-owned mines and coke ovens, but. apparently, the workers promptly striking, withdrew. They have not seized any mines or coke ovens of private ownership. The possibility of eneral strike of miners more nearly ap- proaches a Yrohlblllly thereof than It did & week agos It is dificult, however, to believe that report whieh declares that the German government and the high moguls of the peoples’ party are trying to bring on a gen- eral strike of miners. Could they finance one of any length? Is it concelvable that they could entertain the idea with the deliberate purpose of creating a little hell in the Ruhr & With consequences (whatever might happen to the Ruhr population) likely to prove more ,dantaging to France than to the Reich? Haradly, one must think. . But more important, just mow, than the question of mine output is the raliway situa- tion. Sporadic and partial strikes seem to have been succeeded by a general strike of railwaymen, bargemen and canal employes throughout the occupied areas. It looks as though the French and Belgians would ha to provide their own personnel for the ral way, telegraph, telephone, postal and canal and river transport servi in those areas. Apparently they can manage it on a reduced b: adequate to the needs of the occupying forces and the transport of reparations fuel— not. however, without delay, vexatious and perhaps dangerous, for, the occupying forces being none too large, the necessity of good communications is obvious. No doubt the French will make euwery effort, also, to pro- vide the personnel required for transport of food for the clvilian population, but this con- sideration muat come after those named above. It the population go hungry, they may thank their countrymen. How much coal and coke have France and Belgium received from the Ruhr area since the date of occupation? Reports greatly differ, but the total amounts are certainly far below those due an reparation account—far below the necessities of the French factories: con- ting entirely of shipments (rall or barge) outed to unoccupied Germany and selzed (“requisitioned”) by the French and re- routed to France or Belglum. Presumably in such cases German train and barge crews were replaced by French or Belgian crews. The French are resolved. if they accomplish nothing else, to get all thelr reparations coal and coke, even though it should prove neces- =ary In the event to seize mines and coke ovens and provide thelr own personnel to operate them. And the German industries. so dependent on Ruhr coal? Well, the Germans have decid- ed the matter. They have, it seems, declared a finish fight. Empty coal trucks have not been coming back from unoccupied Germany. Unoccupied Germary will get its coal from Britain. (No dearth of good money. it seems. “Have it your own way, say the French. ““We, for our part, are not going to let any more coal go Into unoccupled Germany. We know that your talk is mostly bravado, that vou are desperately dependent on the Ruhr and must succumb in the fight with weapons of vour own choosing—and don't forget that we now have full liberty of action.” The French have established a customs bar- rier between the occupied areas and the rest of Germany and have set up machinery for col- lecting export dues and 40 per cent coal tax, but little revenue is to be expected from these sources at present. What of the prospect of a fresh negotiation? Perhaps less rosy than a week ago. Herr Cuno. to be sure, is willing, but only after the French and Belglans have evacuated the Ruhr. Poincare, to be sure, is willing, but neither before. during, nor for a long time after any negotiations will he relinquish his “productive guarantees.” * k ¥ ok The Lausanne Comferemce.—Ismet Pasha de- clined the British proposal that the Mosul dispute be referred to the league of natlons for settlement, and Lord Curzon declined the Turkish proposal of a plebiscite in the Mosul reglon. Lord Curzon has written a letter to the secretary of the league of nations inviting his attention to the fact that a situation has arisen with reference to Mosul likely to dis- turb the peace of the world and requesting that the league council at its next meeting address ftself to the situatién in the manner prescribed by article XI of the covenant. The next meeting of the league council is scheduled for January 29 at Paris. It seems unlikely that the Turks would be much dis- turbed by league denunciation of economic penalties (apparently the only penalties it could denoupce), especially as each league member may exercise its own discretion as to participation in an economic blockade. Lord Curzon very properly contended that a plebiscite could mot be depended on to furnish = just record of the wishes of the peoples of Mosul. But now it appears that Ismet Pasha may, after all, accept arbitration of the Mosul dispute by the league. It is said he may go to Paris to talk the matter over with the council. The allies have withdrawn their demand for payment by Turkey of the expenses of the allled occupation and have reduced the Turk- ish reparations bill to a mere bagatelle. Day by day and in every way the allies, more and more resemble the lady who, “saying she ‘would ne'er consent, consented.’ The allies, one hears, propose to present their completed treaty to the Turks on, Wed- nesday of this week. Lord Curzon says that if the Turks ask time beyond Saturday for consideration of the terms offered, the con- ference will adjourn, to reconvene when, or if, “there Is assurance of a successful termina- tion of their labors.” Should the Turks spurn the allies’ terms—Ah, but Allah forbid! In any case, says the noble lord, the allied dele- gates will not stay at Lausanne beyond Satur- day. The noble lord is an ancient diplomat, and has been known to change his mind. * % % ok , United States of America.—By 204 to 77 the House on the 25th passed a resolution exons erating Attorney General Daugherty from the charges brought against him by Representa- tive Kellar of Minnesota, with a view of his impeachment. The Senate has passed the Capper bill, the main purpose of which is to provide credits for raisers of live stock, and is now consider- ing the Lenroot bill, which proposes to use the machinery of the federal land banks and to authorize the United States Treasury to advance $5.000,000,000 to each of the twelve land banks for rural credits. The chances of the ship =ubsidy bill seem to be growing “small by degrees and.” from Mr. La Follette's standpoint, “beautifully less.” The President has signed the naval appro- priation bill. The President has nominated United States District Judge Sanford of Ten- nessee to- be Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, as successor to Justice Pitney, = At noon on January 23 the American flag on Ehrenbreitsten was hauled down. On the afternoon of the 25th the United States trans- port St. Mihiel left Antwerp with the little remnant of the A. E. F. (plus a century of German wives) aboard, bound for Savannah. The French take over the American zone. On the 24th, at New York, an agreement on wages and working conditions for the twelve months, April 1, 1923, to March 31, 1924, was signed by representatives of the bituminous coal operators and miners of Ohio, Indiana and Tllinois. 1t differs little from the basic agree- ment (Central competitive field agreement) which now governs throughout the unionized bituminous industry in the United States, and it doubtless will be accepted in succession to the latter as the basis for wage scales and working conditions throughout the unionized bituminous industry. * % %k K Miscellaneous.—The commercial arbitration court organized by the International Chamber of Commerce held its first session in Parls on January 19. One awalts authentic details &s to the tightening of the bonds uniting soviet Russia with the affiliated republics. Apparently “you have now,” as Lloyd George would say, a bighly centralized organization. Sun_Yat-Sen sailed for Canton yesterday from Shanghai. Before embarking he issued a characteristic manifesto, declaring for Chi- nese unity—that unity which he has done more than any other Chinaman to block. Sun's {dea is, “T am China.” An idea from which better Chinamen dissent. would be wholly Inadequate in case ral conflict. Furthermore Eng- o g?nf“ case of conflict. would be forced to call upon Indian forcel and there is question of their re- liability at the moment in view of the antagonistic currents running rampant in India during the past two years. A TLord Curzon, of all British states- men, best understands the temper of the Mahommedan peoples, he having once served as viceroy of India and he, above evervthing else, is aware of the fact that Britain has gone too far now in her deliberations and ultimatums to the Turks to withdraw. Such action would seriously endanger British prestige, which is more im-; portant than the maintenance of tremendous military forces in con- | trolling the vast dominions of the A Fitain cannot retrace her steps and if the allies on next Wednesday present their ultimatum treaty terms o the Turks and they are resisted, then Britaln must expect to maintain her position by the force of arms. It is known that plans already are under way in Angora looking to wide- spread incursion in the direction of k and Indla lra'hough the British perhaps. for the sake of peace, would permit the situation to drift. Turkish actions planned immediately following the breakdown of the Lausanne parley wil] not permit of inaction. Though other powers might intercede as be tween the British and the Turke, Lot don recognizes the fact that this in- tercession can result in but little as the ambitions and purposes of both the British and Turks are too far apart to ever permit of agree- ment without leaving the whole near east question a running sore. With opinion of contending peoples so far apart, there is little hope of eventual peaceful adjustment. dentsd movement of coal was taking place to replage depleted reserve stocks. Freight car shortage and locomo- tive shortages are measured by car requisitions, freight cars in need of repair and locomotives in shops, taken together with money spent for new equipment, cars and locomotives turned out after repair. The peak of the car shortage this year was reached October 31, .two weeks after the peak has usually been reached in other years. On that date requisitions were in the hands of the rallroads for 179,239 cars above the current supply. This was the greatest shortage in the history of the rallroads, yet on December 15, ‘while the movement of freight con- tinued to maintain a high level. car requisitions had dropped to 99,908 over current supply. Freight mov. ment in 1922 has been increased, the rail executives say, by an abnormally heavy movement of general merchan- dise and miscellaneous freight, which is taken to mean that business gen- erally is picking up and that manu- factured goods are finding an easier market than for more than a year. To replace bad-order cars, destroy- ed equipment and out-of-date equip- ment the rallroads annually spend millions of dollara They order cars or locomotives to be delivered during a certain year, but_ their orders are not always fliled during the yea: Up to December 15, 1922, the roads either ordered or installed as current equipment 132,706 new cars. During 1921 they ordered or installed only 69,436 cars, showing a net increase for 1922 over 1921 of 63,270\cars. Maintenance of equipment during 1922 cost the rallroads the enormous total of $1,024,413,000, figures only exceeded by the peak year of 1920, when the roads expended $1,158,668,- 500. But during that year there was no.shopmen’s strike, with its conse- quent lessenipg of expenditure for equipment malntenance. BY ANDREW M. BRODIE, tional Representative, Near East Relief. HERE have been turbulent and | Right and when they opened them |The Turkish printing press, Turkish trying hours at the Lausanne conference, when the question of providing an independent national home for the Armenian was under consideration. Our papers have been full of suggestions; have been introduced into our na- tional Congress looking to that end and magazines have discussed the question at length. Not a few, irrespective of national- ity and creed, belleve that some pro- viston should be made for the pres- ervation of the Armenians as a peo- ple, and that & national home and government are positively necessary. Why should the citizens of America particularly interest themselves in the welfare of a people so far away, a race of the Indo-Furopean stock, who left their original home in Thrace about 1300 B. C. and settled in the Teglon of Mount Ararat, where they established an ancestral home? ‘Why America Is Interested. It is not the purpose of this brief article either to denounce the Turk or l1aud the Armenian, but to give seven reasons why we should ald the Armenian in securing an independent national state. First. America has always been the Tefuge of the opprossed and needy, and our pepple, when informed, have sympathies large enough to enfold all men as brothers. Our knowledge of the facts of the outrages perpetrated upon these people, and our sense of tair play, make us cry out for justice. As proof of these statements I need but refer to our activitles in Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippines and other portions of the world. Second. The sympathies of Chris- tian America go out to our cd-re- ligioniats in the hour of their suffer- ing. Their opptession arises out of ra- clal hatred, religious prejudice and "'i»'&".“mf.'fl:fl' Mohammedans of the empire are Tur: stock and just beyond Armenia are pos- #ibly ‘twenty millions more who trace their origin to this same Turanian stock. The elimination or exterm| nation of the Armenian would pro- duce & contiguous pan-Turanian | group of some twenty-five millions. is would be the first and most im- ::r:un step toward a pan-Islamic state. Persecution for Religion. As proot that their oppression was due to religious prejudice, one needs but to refer to the oft-repeated atrocities of the Turk. The Turk is deeply religious, and he believes that in exterminating the Christian he does so for God and the prophet. When he knocks a Christian down and jumps on his face with his heavy boots he does so with religious glee. ust wvious to the Smyrna disaster e eier In “Asia” for January says: “Bitter antl-Greek and Armenlan ar- ticles suddenly appeared in the Turk- ish press of Asia Minor. Violence against Christians was openly advo- cated. As a result, sporadic murders occurred in the hinterland of Bmyrna. Greeks and Armenians were called to the doors of their farmhouses at were chopped down with axes and | swords. They were shot in their vineyards from behind trees and| rocks, and a reign of terror eom- menced in that hitherto comparative- 1y peaceful region. This ended in the deportation or flight of the whole measures | population from the coast from Per- gamos down to Lidja. Great num- bers escaped to Athens and Salonika. The number of Christians thus affect- ed is estimated at 250,000.” Many of these are the refugees America 1s now taking care of through her benevolent agencies, the Red Cross and Near East Relief. Christlan America ought not to stand by and see such brutal extermi- nation of her co-religionists without 2 protest. Third. The American public have gliven millions of dollars to save the remnant of these decimated peopls, with the expectation that they were to be given a homeland, where they might develop a national life. This remarkable response will be largely lost if no national home is secured for these people. Centurles of Oppression. Fourth. The Armenians are a su- perior people, of great native ability. Long centuries of oppression have developed characteristics not pleas- ing to us, but would Americans emerge from such a long and degrad- ing oppression untarnished and with more acceptable characteristics? Long years of oppression break down the moral fiber of any people. The spirit of self-abnegation of the Armenians, their loyalty toward the allies, their service to their own country rendered with such intelll- gence, has made them conspicuous in committee, industry, sclence and . arts. grammar and the Turkish theater, owe their origin to the initiative of the Armenian. In the great foreign business houses of Turkey, book- keepers, clerks and confidenfial em- ployes are native Christians. In 1914 there were 16,000 Armenian students in Russlan colleges and universities, and for many vears pre- ceding the world war Armenians pre- dominated in the enrollment in Amer- ican schools and colleges in Anatolia. Thelr eagerness to found educational institutions among their own people and filnance the egame is evidence of these facts. Modern education could easily have become established and self-supporting among the Armenians if it had been given a chance. Alltes In Great War. Fifth. The Armenlans wers one of our allies in the late war, and fought most vallantly. Clemenceau said: “The spirit of self-abnegation of the Armenians, their loyalty to the allles, their contribution to the Forelgn Legion to the Caucasus front, and to the Oriental Legion, have strength- ened the ties that connected them with France. I am happy to confirm to you that the government of the republic, like that of Great Britain, has not ceased to place the Armenians nation among the people whose fate the allles intend to settle according to the supreme laws of humanity and Jusitce. Lord Robert Cecll sald: “After the Russian armies broke down last year, the Armenians took over the Cau- casus front, fought the Turks for five months, and thus rendered very important service to the British army in Mesopotamia. They also captured Baku and the Turco-Tartars, and Thrilling Fate of Many Flyers Recalled by Western Tragedy (Continued from First Page.) planes came as close as sixty mliles to_where the plane had landed. On_another occasion Lieuts. Davis d Peterson were lost in the desert along the Rio Grande, and although they declared they had not been in Mexico territory, they were captured by Mexican bandits almost in sight of aid and held for ransom for some days. They were forced to undergo many privations, and were about to be killed when the ransom was paid. Lieut. Alexander Pearson, who achieved fame in transcontinental flights and racing records, was forced down in Mexican territory, and while he was making his way back to civilization on foot the fleet of search- ers had finally given him up as lost, He found a dilapidated raft on the river, however, and drifted his way home. The remarkable incident in connection with his flight wad that four months later his plane was found in the ravine where it had fallen, a new engine was instailed there and the plane successfully flown back. An Epic of Naval Aviation. ) One of the incidences of the suc- cessful transatlantic flight of the fhree Navy seaplanes, the famous N-C 1, 3 and 4, was the loss for several days of the N-C 3, flown by Lieut. Commander John Towers. The N-C1 ‘was also forced down in the fog and gale that caused the nmear disaster to o Towers, but the crew was rescued by 2 passing vessel just before the plane sank. Towers and his crew worked for fifty-three hours to Keep the plane above water, while the sea was being scoured by rescue ships. Drift- ing and taxing over the surface, the crew was finally able to make the Azores, and how they accomplished this feat in the teeth of a raging gale is one of the epics of naval aviation. | The disappearance of a Navy bal- loon from -Rockaway Station, Long Island, with a crew of three officers, Lieuts. Hinton, Kloor and Farrell, who finally landed in a blizzard far north in Canada, near Hudson bay, in the winter of two years ago, was among the most spectacular adven- tures that have ever befallen Amer- ican aviators in peace time. After starting from Rockaway for a short fllgl they disappeared, and no ef- forts could locate them through a search of fveeks. They had little provisions for a long flight and their dlves wers given up. Then came word at they had landed in a dense for- est, had wandered four days and finally arrived at a distant trading post, far from raflroads and even the telegraph. = They were returned to clvilization by dog sledge, but their adventure was almost their last, for the exposure to the intense cold, lack of food and heavy snow had about exhausted them when rescue came, Just as they were sinking from weak- ness. The Case of the Homeless Armenian held out from March to July, 1918, until the arrival of the British. They served alike in the British, French and American armies. The service rendered by the Armenlans to the gommon cause can mever be forgot- en.” Gen. Allenby said: “T am proud to have Armenian contingents under my command; they fought brilliant took a leading part In the victos Former Premier Kerensky said: “Of all the races of the Caucasus, the Ar- meniany alone stuck to their posts organized volunteer forces, and by the side of their Russian comrade: faced the formlidable assaults of the enemy and turned his victorious march into a disastrous rout.” Can we now leave such valiant allies to the fate of their old oppres- | sors? People who lost no less than 75,000 men in actual fighting, and some 800,000 died through deporta- tion, slaughter and starvation, and their property loss is estimated at $3.750,000,000. They served us in a time of need. Our country pledged them a safe area for themselves and their chil- dren, and they have the right to ex- pect nothing less! What does common justics demand of us? ° Homeland Inadequate. Sixth. The present homeland of the Armenian is inadequate. The Republic of Armenia has a government—true, not very efficient, yet remarkable con- sidering the conditions under which it exists. A nation whose people are allowed but four ounces of bread a day can hardly be expected to be very efficlent! There are in Russian Armenia 1,293,- 000 Armenians, 494,000 in Georgia and Azerbaijan. 100,000 in Persia and about 500,000 in Anatolia and other places. The majority of these are ready to migrate to an Armenian home when one shall be established. Seventh. America cannot escape her responsibility. God has given us a place of leadership in the world. On our shores the blood of many peoples has mingled. With little of racial prejudice and religious bigotry, we have learned to live together. The past week saw In Washington a little handful of the few thousand original Americans—the Indian. We are all foreigners, a few paces re- moved - from the fatherland—some more, some less. God has entrusted us with much. Must Not Shirk Task. ‘We know how we should teach others. We have. We should share. ‘We are the head servant in the house- hold of the world. We must not shirk our task. We must share our vast supply with those who need. God is calling America to service. Our vast resources, almost unlimited wealth, world vision, lofty ideals, a sense of world need and a sympa- thetic heart, together with the pres ent opportunity, constitute God's call. We fail to heed this call at our own peril. Already the elements of decay are visible in our civilization. Only service and sacrifice can rid us of these disintegrating forces. America needs a sense of a great and holy purpose, that calls not simply our extra dollar, but our sympa- thetic service and deepest sacrifice. By'all the laws of fairness, the Armenians merit and readily deserve an independent, national state. Ameri- ca should do its utmost to see that such & home is secured; preferably ;l;;; territory assigned on May 2i, 3 CHILE WILL REDUCE ARMY, - BELIEVING WAR PERIL PAST Leads South American Republics in Steés to Attract U. S, Capital by Making Investments Safer. BY BEN McKELWAY. N the belief that disposal through arbitration of the Tacna-Arica question has cleared the way for permanent peace in South Amer- ica, Chile, third strongest in point of armament of the Latin-American re- publics and author of the proposal TOW a part of the program of the fifth Pan-American congress in San- tiago next March for a reduction of land armaments, will reduce her own army regardless of the action of the congress. Looking on her proposal purely as an economic expedient, she is determined to lead the way—inde- pendently, if necessary—in a move- ment which {s gaining favor steadily s the time approaches for its formal discussion by delegates from all but two of the American republics. Peru and Mexico have declined Chile’s {nvi- tation to send representatives. Chile's attitude emphasizes an im- portant aspect of her proposal. An agreement reached at the congress to reduce land armaments will not de- pend upon unanimous action of the countries represented. The decision of the congress itself binds none of the participants. The delegates merely transmit recommendations 1o their governments, which accept or decline them through legislative process. | Should the congress recommend a re- duction of armies, a member is left free to act Independently. The result may possibly be a limitation of ar- mies by some of the republics and no action by others. Large Armies Not Needed. Chile bases her decision, according to the writer's informant, on the fact that with disposal of the Tacna- Arica difficulty, there are no danger- ous disputes left between any of the American republics. The few re- maining boundary difficulties are of minor importance. Should the time ever come when actual war threatens in South America, it is regarded as the established policy of the United States to exert every means to pre- vent an actual outbreak of hostilities, and there is little doubt that the means employed would be success- ful. It i contended, in other words, that every political excuse for the main- tenance of proportionately large ar- mies in South America has disap- peared, and Chile is determined to show her sincerity by acting alone, should the congress in Santiago not take kindly to her suggestion. But there is little likelthood that this will be the case. Chile's suggestion, in- formally made to sound out the at- titude of her sister republics, came not long, after the auspicious close of the Washington conference on limita- tion of armament. It sprung, in meas- ure, from a sentiment kindled throughout all South America by the Washington conference. Its formal adoption in the program of the fifth pan-American congress preceded by & few weeks the agreement which has just been reached among the Central American republics, whose represent- atives are meeting in Washington now, to cut down their armies. Senti- ment in Latin America is favorable Brazil, which maintains the largest army in South America, has already indicated a favorable attitude by sug- gesting & preliminary conference with Argentina and Chile to draw up a definite program for reduction to be presented to the congress. The short time which intervenes before the Santiago congress, however, prob- ably will prevent this preliminary meeting, and in some quarters it is not regarded as at all essential, It is fitting that Chile, one of the most progressive of the South Ameri- | iall can countries, should foster the Sug- gestion for reducing South American armies. Chile has been accused of being militaristic. Her army, fash- loned after the old German war ma- chine, is the third largest in South America. Since the war of the Pa- cific she has not been on friendly terms with two of her next doer neighbors. At times in recent years there have been indications of an open break which could lead only &0 a devastating war. There is enough sincerity behind her proposal to cawzy it far toward ultimate realization. Needs Capital to Develop Resources. Chile’'s military establishment af- fords a good example of the practioml value of cutting down South Amaer~ fcan armies. Her army consumés approximately 30 per cent of her country’s revenue. Its soldiers repre- sent men who could do more by being taught construction than drilled in the methods of destruction. Chile js one of the foremost of the South American republics In Inviting invesi- ment of American capital in the di velopment of her natural resources. One of the most convincing guar- antees that this investment shoull prove sound is a definite step toward preserving a peace that will protétt the investor. From many angles the forthcomin conference in Santiago Is regardéd as the most important since the creation of the Pan-American Cop- gress, For the first time a program has been devised which contalns more than the ordinary subjects for pleas- ant debate and gracious han aking. And upon the manner in which this program is received depends, to ‘a large extent, the future of the Par- American Congress, whether it is to remain a medium for the exchange of honeyed messages of brotherlv love, or whether it Is to become a clearing house for the sincere discus- sion and disposal of important P: American problems. Pan-American League Proposed. In addition to the limitation of armament proposal on the prograii there is another important question {5 bg declded—Uruguay's plan for ‘& pan-American league. This latteh suggestion recelved the unanimous approval of the governing board © the Pan-American Union—composed of representatives in Washington of the Latin American republicss+ for insertion in the program for the fifth Pan-American Congress. Byi it is difficult to find in Washington a very favorable sentiment behind it. Certain expressions from authorita= tive sources would indicate its adop- tion in the program was accomplisheil as a matter of expediency 2 The majority of the South American republics are members of the league of nations. Their support of tiat institution is beside the point. What is emphasized by those who frankiy oppose the Uruguayan proposal is that it is not good policy to try 18 divide the world into geographtcally defined leagues. Some opponents of the idea do not like the picture of having one foot in a European and the other in a South American league. And, while the Pan-American Leagus would supplement—for South Amer- ica—the European league, some of the South American republics have a certain amount of faith in the original league of nations. It has not been abandoned altogether. The Pan-American Congress, addition, furnishes the nucleus f¢ a very satisfactory league among the American republics, and what lacks in “teeth” are supplied a-plenty by the Monroe doctrine—which, from past experience. may be found elastie enough to bear stretching. 400 Boys to Encircle the Globe : call with pleasure their reading the {adventures of “Young America Abroad,” |a series of books by Oliver Optic. The story was regarded as a dream, but a ! pleasant fiction, It detailed the voyage of schoolships filled with boys to the countries of Europe. But this dream of the last century is {to be realized. Several wealthy men of Atlanta, Ga., have formed an organiza- tion that will maintain schoolships and take 400 students to the ‘great places of ithe old world. Asa G. Candler, jr., has bought from the government for $200,- 000 the former transport Logan, which will make the 50,000-mlle voyage “as a classroom on water.” Zebulon Judd of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute will ibe the dean of the floating school and the government will detail a naval offi- cer to navigate the vessel. The cruise is due to start from New York city September 15, and to return {June 7, 1924. Besides a large faculty Ithe ship will carry surgeons, dentists and nurses. Already 200 applications for reservations, more than can be ac- commodated, have been made. Where- ever among parents and educators the plan has been mentioned it has been greeted with enthusiastic approval. Col. E. T. Winston, who will be the general manager of the cruise, is a West Point graduate, has had serv- ice in the Philippines and has been professor of military scfence and tac- tics In several military institutions. He has been a close student, of boys. For years he has maintained that “visual education” is the greatest form of education. He believes that boys would gain infinitely more from travel than from textbooks. . A number of southern capitalists became interested In the idea, a cor- poration was formed and $100,000 in capital stock has been pald in. The promoters plan to buy two more schoolships in another year and to use one of them for girl students. The courses that are followed in high schools and colleges will be pursued on_the schoolships, which will be fit- ted up with recitation and lecture rooms, library and reading rooms, lounge, laboratories, gymnasium, swimming pool and ample recreation space. An athletic director will have charge of sports. A school band and orchestra will be formed by the boys. Their religious life will be superviscd by a member of the faculty. Prior to the cruise a chartered train .will carry the students on a thirty- day tour, literally to “see America first.” After leaving New York in Sep- tember the students will visit London, Edinburgh, Antwerp, Havre, Gibraltar, Barcelona, Marseilles, Nice, Genoa, Monaco, Naples, Venice, Athens, Con- stantinople, Haifa, Port Said, 'Aden, Colombo, Calcutta, Rangoon, ' Singa: pore, Batavia, Hongkong, Nagasakli, Yokohoma, Manila, Honolulu, San Francisco, Panama canal, Havana and Bermuda. . Three excursions from the ship are included in the program. The stu- dents will be taken from Havre on tour of the war zone areas,- from Haifa_they will make a trip to the Holy Land, and from Port Said they will go to Cairo and the Pyramids. Col. Winston is contident that the l Many of the older generation will re- ! , In an Oliver Optic Schoolship schoolship plan will be adopted i other countries. He expects to see the day when schoolships filled with sti dents will come to American ports from Italy, France, England, China and other countries. He believes tha elaboration of the idea will be a pow= erful factor in promoting peace and good will among the nations. Ty speaking of this phase he remarked: “Qur plan has been discussed with high officials of a number of foreign couneries. and they regard it as the. most forward-looking movement ins augurated in years.” In promoting the “visual educatioil” of the students the plan contemplatés the delivery of illustrated lectures just before debarkation at the prip- cipal ports. This is designed to give the students a background of the hia- tory and traditions of the places tp be visited. English history will ha made more interesting and immensely more vital when historic scenes are visited In connection with their study. As the Logan has a capacity for 2.500 passengers, although only 400 students will be taken, room will be abundant and Mr. Candler, the head of the enterprise, plans to invite prom- inent American educators to make the tour as his guests. Provision alsy will be made for a Staff of corre- spondents, representing importagt newspapers to whom the novelty aid valle of the undertaking bave ap- pealed. “As I See It” (Continued from First Page.) stitution be submitted to a referendum of the people. And here 15 where the east and thé west meet. he west is committed t» the referendum Idea. In twenty western _states—over half of the west—laws are made that way. The west, being more largely than the east, composed of native-born Americans. has more faith than the east in ths mob. The west will hail with giee the ‘chance to submit Constitutiong} amendments to the people, and whan the opportunity comes again to vote on_prohibition, If it ever does come again, the west will roll up suoh oo popular majority for it that the cons servative east will awake to the foljy of trusting to the mob, when it wil| by to0 late. ~For if there is one thing the American people like to do 1t e {o vote ves on ‘any proposition. §a e amendments will f > iagemend ollow thick afid prohibition cloud has a or lning. it is this effort to gat the Cob. stitution nearer to g the people th —_— e Another Fling at the Scotch. ¥rom London Answers. An expedition was moving through reputedly unexplored African bush, s members emerged one day from the dense tropical undergrowth ing a small clearing, where they were as. tonished to see & pile of empty whig- ky bottles. “There's been a Scotsman here,” rb- marked one of the party, himself.a Seot, and proud fo think that one his nation had been first in this lone spot. His pride was soon turned to anger, for another voice broke in: + “Nonsense! If that had been a Scoq man he'd have taken the bottle back” P