Greeks in Asia Minor

The Scotsman, January 11th 1915, page 8.

GREEKS IN ASIA MINOR
FRESH CAMPAIGN OF PERSECUTION
Reuter's Agency understands that official telegrams received from Athens report the position of Greeks in Asia Minor as being "absolutely intolerable". The Turkish authorities not only do not repress the persecution, murder, and spoliation which are taking place in every Greek centre in that country, but are actually instigating and encouraging these acts, openly employing notorious persons to exterminate the Greek element. This state of affairs, it is declared, coming as it does after the expulsion of 120,000 Greeks from Asia Minor during last autumn, and the repeated promises of the Porte to stay the systematic extermination of Greeks, renders the situation critical to the utmost degree and places the Greek Government in a very difficult position in face of a new and most serious situations. Some details of the state of affairs are given in a long official telegram received on Saturday from Athens. Extracts from this message are given below:--
The latest intelligence to hand from Asia Minor points to the plight of the Greek population there as a critical one. Besides all the sufferings brought upon them from forcible recruiting, requisitions, and boycott, the Christians find themselves at the mercy of malefactors on account of the total absence of public security. Following upon the long tale of misdeeds already put on record, a fresh campaign of persecution is now set on foot.
EXAMPLES OF ATROCITIES
At a short distance from the chief town of the Kaza of Kiriadj, a Greek named Kayikaloglou was murdered near his mill. After cutting off his feet, the miscreants bound him to a post, which they set on fire. Three days later his charred remains were discovered.
At the village of Burudjuk a Greek named Antonio Petros was shot on the threshold of his mill.
On the 13th December, in the village of Ligda, inhabited by 2000 Greeks and 5000 Turks - the latter being mostly notorious bandits, protected by the authorities - a Greek, Joannou Michall by name, was assailed by a gang who compelled him to conduct them to the house of Hadjianni Tsinaroglou, one of the wealthiest Greek notables there. As the daughter of the said Tsinaroglou opened the door of the house three of the bandits rushed in, and after treating brutally and shutting up the women in a room, went to seek for the aged owner of the house, who was asleep in the floor above. Kyriako and Josif Saroglou, who were passing by, heard the cries and penetrated into the house, but were soon attacked by the bandits and shut up with the women. Hadjianni Tsinaroglou and the other men were then dragged out of the village, and after being tortured were put to death.
This outrage caused a deep impression upon the Christian inhabitants of the villages, who can only seek safety in emigration, seeing that the local authorities, though fully cognisant of the facts, treat the miscreants with impunity.
News comes in from everywhere in respect to the persecution of the Christians. The wretched countryfolk find themselves persecuted by the authorities, who ruthlessly make requisitions compelling landowners to give up a large portion of their produce. The requisitions enforced everywhere practically amount to confiscation, as no money is paid, and landowners do not even obtain receipts. Numerous Greeks, absolutely destitute and reduced to mendicity, are seeking refuge in Smyrna.--Reuter.