Zeitoon is fifteen miles from Marash. The Zeitoonlis are the bravest
of all the Armenians; there are about 15,000 in the city, and no
Mohammedans, save a dozen or two Turkish families, and they talk
the Armenian language. Until about thirty years ago Zeitoon was a
free city; but they were conquered by craft, and became tributary to
Turkey. The Sultan garrisoned the place to keep them down, and the
troops committed every sort of iniquity. Finally, about two years ago,
the Sultan sent physicians there to poison the Armenian boys. These
assassins professed to have come to vaccinate the boys; every boy
who was vaccinated died. Then the Zeitoonlis revolted, captured the
barracks from the soldiers, took all the guns, cannon, and ammunition,
and sent the soldiers away. This action enraged the Sultan, and he
sent some 20,000 regular soldiers and 30,000 bashi-bazooks to punish
them; but they were repulsed with heavy loss by the Zeitoonlis. It
has been reported that during the battle between the Zeitoonlis and
Turks about 15,000 of the latter were killed. Finally the Sultan
lost hope of conquering them, and asked the European powers to use
their good offices to restore peace in Zeitoon, and the consuls of the
different powers induced them to resume peaceful work by guaranteeing
that the Zeitoonlis shall not be molested. But who believes a word of
it? We know, with horrible clearness, of how much value the powers'
"guarantee" is; they say there is no obligation but to keep count of
the massacres.
A Few statements from Zeitoon.
"Turkish mendacity is again asserting itself. A few days ago
the Sublime Porte set afloat the official report that Zeitoon
has fallen, after hard fighting, in which 2,500 Armenians were
said to have been killed as against 250 Turks. Now these official
reports turn out to have been official lies. News from independent
sources shows that Zeitoon has not yet fallen; that its gallant
defenders are still holding out their own. To Armenians who
understand Ottoman tactics, the alacrity with which Abdul Hamid
sent abroad the news of the supposed victory of his troops is a
sign of misfortunes and reverses. The Turks control the avenues of
communication at Marash, and it is not surprising that they attempt
to win victories upon telegraphic despatches--but not at Zeitoon.
"The Armenians at Zeitoon are rebels against organized
assassination, plunder, and arson. They have been unwilling to
submit meekly to Turkish outrages, and are determined to defend
their lives, their homes, and their property. They have vanquished
Turkish armies before, and strewn the ground with thousands
of Turkish carcasses. They need fear nothing but the lack of
supplies. Will not Christian nations intervene to save a valiant
people who are defending their homes and their liberties, and who
cannot be conquered by force of arms, yet who may be compelled
to surrender to inexorable hunger?--[Tigram H. Suni, Dec. 31.
"London, Feb. 3.--A dispatch from Constantinople to the 'Daily
News' says: 'Reports from Turkish sources believed to be fairly
accurate state that it is believed that the Zeitoonlis are still
holding out. The Turks have made seven different attacks upon
the town, but all have failed, and their losses are reported to
amount to 10,000. It is alleged that 50,000 troops will be needed
to capture Zeitoon.
"'It is believed that the Zeitoonlis number from 15,000 to 20,000,
well armed, and provisioned for a year. There is a doubtful report
that 4,000 Russian Armenians crossed the Persian frontier, and
defeated the Turks at Siz, eighteen hours from Zeitoon, and have
joined the Zeitoonlis.'"