Chapter XIII: Part 13

Our passage was engaged on the "Servia," to sail September 1, when the news of the terrible troubles in Constantinople reached us. We were shocked and distressed beyond words. The streets where we had passed, the people who had served us, the Ottoman Bank where we had transacted business almost daily for nearly a half a year, all in jeopardy if not destroyed. Our men of the interior feared a general uprising there, in which case we might be able to help. Our sense of duty did not permit us to proceed until the facts were better known. We cancelled or rather transferred our passage by the "Servia," telegraphed to Constantinople and cabled to America, expressing our willingness to return to the field if our services were in any way needed. Kindly advices from both directions, together with a more quiet condition of things, decided us to continue our journey, and engaging passage by the "Umbria" for the fifth, we arrived in New York on the twelfth of September, eight months lacking ten days from the time of our departure on the twenty-second of January.

DISTANCES AND DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATIONS.

For the convenience of the closely occupied who have not time to study as they read, I have thought it well to condense the information above referred to in a paragraph, which can be taken in at a glance, in connection with the map.

The one great port of Asia Minor is Constantinople. To reach the centre, known as Anatolia or Armenia, there are two routes from Constantinople. One by way of the Mediterranean Sea to Alexandretta, the southern port or gateway; the other by the Black Sea, to reach the northern ports of Samsoun and Trebizond, lying along the southern coast of the Black Sea. There is no land route, but a "pony post," like the overland days of California, takes important dispatches for the government, or money. The way is infested by brigands.

There are no regular passenger boats, but Russia, Austria, France and Greece have dispatch--in reality, coasting boats--one of which aims to leave Constantinople each week, although at first we found it at least two weeks between the times of sailing and irregular at that.

The time from Constantinople to Alexandretta is eight to ten days. From Constantinople to Samsoun, two days. From either of these ports the interior must be reached by land.

From Alexandretta to Harpoot is fifteen (15) days,
" " " Marash is five (5) days.
" " " Zeitoun is seven (7) days.
" " " Oorfa is six (6) days.
" " " Diarbekir is twelve (12) days.
On the north from Samsoun to Harpoot is fifteen (15) days.

These journeys were made by horse, mule or donkey, over mountain paths, rocks and precipices. Only in comparatively a few places are there roads allowing the passing of a wheeled vehicle of any kind, even the passing of a horse along the steep declivities is sometimes dangerous.

COMMUNICATIONS.

As will be seen, the sending of a letter from Constantinople to the interior, requires at the best six weeks, or forty-six days with no delays.

Only the large and more important towns have telegraphic communication. This requires two, three, four days of a week, according to circumstances. These dispatches are all sent and must be answered in Turkish.

[Translation of above Telegram.]

ARABKER, May 17, 1896.
MISS BARTON:

Since three days we are attending with our doctors and their
attendants to one hundred sick per day. The contagious fever
(typhus) is diminishing. Miss Bush and all the party are
distributing clothing and bedding. Lemme is giving implements and
seed to the farmers. The needs here are extreme. Wistar's party are
at Pyre. Wood with his party are working in the district of Palou.

HUBBELL.

The larger towns have mails usually leaving once a week, carried on horses with a military guard. No newspaper is published in Asia Minor.

The missionary stations, with but two or three exceptions, are not near the seacoast, but from three to fifteen days' travel from either the Mediterranean or the Black Sea, or three to twenty-five days to the nearest Mediterranean port. As will be seen by reference to the map the following stations are on the seaboard: Trebizond on the Black Sea; Smyrna and a small station near Merisine on the Mediterranean, and Constantinople on the Bosporus.

The following are inland and during several months in the winter and spring must be nearly, if not quite, inaccessible to outside approach: Adabazar, Bardezag, Brousa, Cesarea, Marsovan, Hadjin, Tarsus, Adana, Mardin, Aintab, Marash, Sivas, Harpoot, Oorfa, Erzingan, Erzroom, Van, Bitlis.

FUNDS.

It should be distinctly understood by contributors that neither their letters, nor any individual contributions came to us; these were received by the committees or parties raising the funds in America. The letters were doubtless faithfully acknowledged, and the various sums of money placed in the general fund forwarded to us by them. All contributions received by us directly at Constantinople are acknowledged in our report.

Although an account of the disposition of all funds is rendered in the report of the financial secretary, which, after verification, I signed jointly with him, I will, however, at the risk of repetition, take the liberty of adding the following remarks on the subject:

It is to be borne always in mind that the _amount_ of money to be distributed was never made a concern of ours, provided they were actually "_funds to distribute_." To the question so frequently and kindly asked of us, "Did you have money enough, or were you embarrassed in your operations by want of funds?" I beg to have this reply intelligently understood: that we had always money enough in hand for the work in hand. We were never embarrassed in our operations by lack of funds, holding, as I always have, that charitable relief in order to be safe and efficient, should be conducted on the same reasonable basis as business, and that a good business man, unless by accident on the part of other persons, or of circumstances, will never find himself embarrassed, as he will never undertake more than he has the means to successfully accomplish. We were never embarrassed in our operations by lack of funds, and our committees will testify that no intimation of that kind ever came to them from us. This would have been both unwise and unjust. According to the universal system of charitable relief, all was being done that could be done; but if asked if we had enough for the _needs of the people_, enough to relieve the distress through desolated Asia Minor, enough to make those people comfortable again, then a very tender chord has been touched. No hearts in America are more sore than ours; its richest mine might drain in that attempt. Our men in the interior have seen and lived among what others vainly strive to picture; they are men of work, not words, and under heaven have labored to do what they could with what they had. It is their stewardship they are trying to render to a great-hearted, sympathetic and perplexed people, racked by various emotions, seeking light through every channel, and conclusively solving and settling in a score of ways, every day, problems and questions which have unsettled a considerable portion of the world for centuries.

_The shaded district indicates the territory in which
personal work was done._]

THE COMMITTEES.

On behalf of the wretchedness and suffering met through Asia Minor, we return heartfelt thanks to the committees who labored with such untiring zeal toward their relief. We were never unmindful of the difficulties which they were constantly called to encounter and to overcome. Not having in hand the funds desired or even guaranteed, they must raise them, and this largely from persons whose sympathies outran their generosity, if not their means. This naturally opened the door for excuses for withholding, until it could be seen that "something was actually being accomplished;" then the doubt if anything "could be accomplished;" next the certainty that it "could not be," and so on through whole chapters of dark prophecies and discouragements sufficient to dishearten the most hopeful natures, and weaken at times the best efforts that could be put forth. Against volumes, nay, oceans of these discouragements, our committees must have struggled, with more or less of success, and again for their efforts on behalf of such suffering as even they never witnessed, we return with reverence our sincerest gratitude. Their efforts have been herculean, their obstructions scarcely less.

The cause of these difficulties lay in the customary conception and methods of charitable relief which they were naturally compelled to adopt and follow. Until the world comes to recognize that charity is not beggary, and should not be made to depend upon it, that a legitimate and ready fund to draw from in order to facilitate and validate its transactions is as necessary as in other movements, the difficulties of our tireless and noble committees will be everywhere met.

It is with these views that the Red Cross has never solicited means in aid of its work of relief. Heretofore on all its fields, the people have been left free to contribute what they desired, and through whom they desired, and it is we believe, a well understood fact, that the use of the name of the Red Cross in the raising of funds for the late Armenian relief, was simply incidental, one of the methods naturally resorted to in order to secure the end, and by no concurrence of ours, as has been previously and fully explained.

TO THE PRESS OF THE UNITED STATES.

Among the dark hours that came to us in the hopeless waste of work and woe on every side, the strong sustaining power has been the Press of the United States. While naturally compelled to give circulation to unauthorized reports from other sources, it has evidently done it with regret, and hastened by strong editorials, in words of no uncertain sound, to set right before its readers any errors that may have crept in. The American press has always been loyal to the Red Cross and to its work, and once more it is our privilege to tender to it our meed of grateful praise.

TO THE CONTRIBUTORS OF THE UNITED STATES,

Whose sympathy, God-like pity and mercy prompted them to the grand work of relief for the half million suffering and dying in a land they had never seen, whose purses were opened, whose own desires were repressed that they might give, not of their abundance, but of their scantiness ofttimes, whose confidence made us their almoners, whose whole-hearted trust has strengthened us, whose hearts have been with us, whose prayers have followed us, whose hopes have sustained us, and whose beckoning hands were held out in tenderness to welcome us back to them, what can be said, what can be done, but to bow our heads in grateful recognition of the words of unexpected commendation which nearly overwhelm us, and pray the gracious God that He bless our work, to the measure of the praise bestowed.

TO OUR GOVERNMENT AT WASHINGTON;

To its cordial sympathy so warmly expressed through its honored Secretaries of State and Navy, and through whose ready access we were at all times able to reach the public, our earnest and respectful thanks are rendered, begging our warm-hearted people to bear in mind that our rulers are a part of, and like themselves; that the security of the government lies largely in the fact that responsibility tends to conservatism--not necessarily less sympathetic, but less free, more responsible and more thoughtful.

TO OUR LEGATION IN CONSTANTINOPLE.

Our thanks are due to our genial minister, Hon. A.W. Terrell, his accomplished secretary, and _chargé d'affairs_, J.W. Riddle, his interpreter and dragoman, Gargiulo; our Consul General, Luther Short, Esq.; the consular interpreter, Demetriades, from every one of whom we received unremitting care and attention during all the months of our residence at Constantinople, and without which aid we could not have succeeded in our work. There was not an hour that their free service was not placed at our command. Through them all governmental business was transacted. The day was never too long nor the night too short for any active help they could render; I only hope that our diplomatic service at all courts is as faithfully and cheerfully rendered as at Constantinople. In this connection I desire to make special mention of the assistance of United States Consul, Dr. Milo A. Jewett, at Sivas, and Consular Agent, Daniel Walker, at Alexandretta.

Both personally and officially I believe the record of Minister Terrell will sustain him. While firm and direct of speech he is a man of uncommon courtesy, abounding in the old time hospitality of his native state, Virginia. If at the close of his official term, he shall be able to report that through all the months--nay, years--of unheard-of troubles, dangers and deaths in the country to which he was assigned, while some hundreds of his fellow citizens were constantly and peculiarly exposed to these dangers, that with no direct governmental aid or authority, without even a ship of his own country in port, that no life in his charge has been lost, and that only such dangers, hardships and losses as were incident to the terrible transactions about them had been inflicted upon them, we will, I trust, look calmly at the results, and decide that if this were not diplomacy, it was a very good substitute.

TO THE AMBASSADORS OF OTHER NATIONS AT CONSTANTINOPLE.

To these high and honorable gentlemen our thanks are due. To Sir Philip Currie of England, there seemed to come no difference in sentiment between our people and his own; a tower of strength where-ever he took hold. Germany and Russia were cordial and ready to aid, as also our English Consul, R.A. Fontana, at Harpoot, and C.M. Hallward, at Diarbekir; and following these, may I also name the ready help of Reuter's Express and the United and Associated Presses of both Constantinople and London.

COMMENDATORY.

Here is a phase of our work which should not be entirely passed by, and yet, if only partially taken up would overrun our entire report. Only one or two excerpts must suffice to show what the others might mean.

From Rev. Dr. H.O. Dwight, one word among the many so generously spoken:

Miss Barton has done a splendid work, sensibly and economically
managed. Wherever her agents have been, the missionaries have
expressed the strongest approval of their methods and efficiency.
The work done has been of great and permanent importance.

From Rev. Joseph K. Greene, D.D., to the New York "_Independent_":

After some six months of service, Miss Clara Barton and her five
able assistants have left Constantinople on their return to America.
It was only on the earnest solicitation of the missionaries, the
officers of the American Board and many other friends of the
suffering Armenians that Miss Barton undertook the relief in this
land. The difficulties of the work, arising from the suspicions of
the Turkish authorities, the distance from the capital to the
sufferers, the perils and discomforts in communicating with them,
and from unfamiliarity with the languages and customs of the people
of the land, would surely have appalled a less courageous heart.
Under such circumstances it is only just and fair that the American
public should be apprised of the substantial success of this mission
of the Red Cross.

In the first place, Miss Barton has shown a rare faculty in getting
on well with everybody. To facilitate her work she, and the
assistants whom she loves to call "my men," laid aside all the
insignia of the Red Cross and appeared everywhere simply as private
individuals. She clearly understood that she could accomplish her
mission only by securing the confidence and good will of the
authorities, and this she did by her patience and repeated
explanations, and by the assistance of the American Legation. When
the _iradé_, or imperial decree sanctioning her mission, was
delayed, she sent forward her assistants with only a traveling
permit for a part of the way, trusting, and not in vain, that the
local authorities, instructed from headquarters, would facilitate
their way. As a matter of fact, while Mr. Pullman, her secretary and
treasurer, remained at Constantinople with Miss Barton, her
distributing agents, namely, Dr. Hubbell and Mr. Mason, Mr. Wistar
and Mr. Wood, either together or in two parties, traveled inland
from Alexandretta to Killis, Aintab, Marash, Zeitoun, Birejik,
Oorfa, Diarbekir, Farkin, Harpoot, Palou, Malatia, Arabkir, Egin,
Sivas, Tokat, Samsoun and back to Constantinople without
interruption or molestation. They were readily and constantly
supplied with guards, and could not with safety have made their
perilous four months' journey without them. Demands are said to have
been made that the distribution of aid be made under the supervision
of government officials, but in fact, Miss Barton's agents knew how
to make their distributions in every place, after careful
consultation and examination, without any interference on the part
of the authorities.

Miss Barton received in all about $116,000, and an unexpended
balance of $15,400 was committed to Mr. Peet, the treasurer of the
American Missions in Turkey, to be held as an emergency fund,
subject to Miss Barton's orders. No expense has been incurred for
Miss Barton or her agents save for traveling expenses and the wages
of interpreters, and with this exception the entire sum expended has
gone to the actual relief of the sufferers. While the fund committed
to the Anglo-American Committee, of which Mr. Peet is a member--a
sum four to five times the amount committed to Miss Barton--has been
expended through the missionaries, largely to save the hungry from
starvation, the relief through the agents of the Red Cross has for
the most part been wisely devoted to the putting of the poor
sufferers on their feet again, and thus helping them to help
themselves. Some 500 liras (a lira is $4.40 of _good_ money) were
given for the cure and care of the sick in Marash, Zeitoun and
elsewhere, and some 2,000 liras' worth of cloths, thread, pins and
needles were sent inland; but many times this amount was expended in
providing material for poor widows, seeds, agricultural implements
and oxen for farmers; tools for blacksmiths and carpenters, and
looms for weavers. In some places Miss Barton's agents had the
pleasure of seeing vegetable gardens coming forward from seed
furnished by the Red Cross, and village farmers reaping the grain
with sickles which the Red Cross had given. The great want now--a
want which the funds of the Red Cross agents did not permit them to
any large extent to meet--is aid to the poor villagers to help them
rebuild their burned and ruined houses, and thus provide for
themselves shelter against the rigors of the coming winter. The Red
Cross agents have, however, gathered a great stock of information;
and passing by the horrors of the massacres and the awful abuse of
girls and women, as unimpeachable witnesses they can bear testimony
to the frightful sufferings and needs of the people. We most
sincerely hope and pray that Miss Barton and the agents and friends
of the Red Cross will not esteem their work in Turkey done, but
knowing now so well just what remains to be done, and what can be
done, will bend every effort to secure further relief for the widows
and orphans of the more than sixty thousand murdered men--mostly
between the ages of eighteen and fifty--whose lives no earthly arm
was outstretched to save.

While we gratefully bear witness to the wise and indefatigable
efforts of Miss Barton's _agents_, permit us to add that during her
more than six months' stay in Constantinople Miss Barton gave
_herself_ unremittingly to the work of her mission. She seems to
have had no time for sight-seeing, and not a few of her friends are
disposed to complain that she had no time to accept the invitations
of those who would have been glad to entertain her. The only
relaxation she seems to have given herself was on two occasions--the
first, a Fourth of July picnic with a few American friends, on one
of the Princes' Islands, and the second, another picnic on the same
island, on Wednesday, August 5, when, with three of her "men," she
met some twenty American lady teachers and missionaries, in order to
bid them a courteous farewell. The first occasion she unqualifiedly
declared to have been the happiest Fourth of July she had ever had;
and inspired by the occasion, she penned some verses which she
kindly read to her friends on the second gathering, and which we
very much wish she would permit the editor of the _Independent_ to
publish. On the second occasion, at Miss Barton's request, the
financial secretary read his report and Dr. Hubbell and Mr. Wood
presented reports of the work of distribution. We gratefully
acknowledged the honor done us in permitting us to hear these
reports; and, remembering our concern for Miss Barton while
preparing for the work of distribution six months ago, we gladly
expressed our joy and congratulations now on the happy return of her
faithful and efficient agents, of whom it may be truly said that
they went and saw and conquered. We rejoiced that these new friends
had come to know so well the American missionaries in Turkey, and
were truly thankful for a mutually happy acquaintance. We wished
Miss Barton and her "men" a hearty welcome on their arrival, and,
now, with all our hearts, we wish them god-speed on their return
home.

_Constantinople, Turkey._

The little "verses" so kindly referred to by Dr. Greene, were not even written, but were a simple train of thought that took rhythmic form as we crossed over the sea of Marmora, on our way to an island celebration of the Fourth of July. Later I found time to put them on paper and read them to the guests at our farewell meeting, presenting them to our host, Mr. W.W. Peet. They appear to have gained a favor far beyond their merit, and by request of many friends they are given place in the report as a "part of its history."

MARMORA.

It was twenty and a hundred years, oh blue and rolling sea,
A thousand in the onward march of human liberty,
Since on its sunlit bosom, wind-tossed and sails unfurled,
Atlantic's mighty billows bore a message to the world.

It thunders down its rocky coast, and stirs its frugal homes;
The Saxon hears it as he toils, the Indian as he roams;
The buffalo upon the plains, the panther in his lair,
And the eagle hails the kindred note, and screams it through the air.

"Make way for liberty," it roared, "here let the oppressed go free,
Break loose your bands of tyrant hands, this land is not for thee.
The old world in its crusted grasp grinds out the souls of men,
Here plant their feet in freedom's soil, this land was made for them."

The mother slept in her island home, but the children heard the call,
And ere the western sun went down, had answered, one and all;
For Britain's thirteen colonies had vanished in a day,
And six and half a hundred men had signed their lives away.

And brows were dark, and words were few, the steps were quick and
strong,
And firm the lips as ever his who treasures up a wrong;
And stern the tone that offered up the prayer beside the bed,
And many a Molly Stark that night wept silent tears of dread.

The bugles call, and swords are out, and armies march abreast,
And the old world casts a wondering glance to the strange light in the
west;
Lo, from its lurid lightnings play, free tossing in the wind,
Bursts forth the star-gemmed flag that wraps the hopes of all mankind.

And weary eyes grew brighter then, and fainting hearts grew strong,
And hope was mingled in the cry, "How long, oh Lord, how long?"
The seething millions turn and stir and struggle toward the light;
The free flag streams, and morning gleams where erst was hopeless
night.

And grim Atlantic thunders still adown its rocky shores,
And still the eagle screams his note, as aloft he sails and soars;
And hope is born, that even thou, in some far day to come,
O blue and rolling Marmora, shalt bear the message home.

Dedicated to W.W. Peet, Esq.
CLARA BARTON.
_Constantinople, July 4, 1896._

Reports are always tedious. If some reader, having persevered thus far, if such there be, shall find himself or herself saying with a little thrill of disappointment, "But this does not give the information expected, it does not recommend any specific course to be pursued, whether emigration for the Armenians, and if so, where, and how; or autonomy, and if so, how to be secured, and assured; if more ships should be sent, and what they should do when there; if greater pressure of the Powers should be demanded by us, or what course, as a nation, we ought to pursue. We had expected some light on these questions."

Appreciating and regretting this disappointment, we must remind our anxious readers and friends--for such they are--that we have never been required to do this; that all conclusions to that effect are simply inferential, and all such expectations were born of anxious hope. But that which we feel _does_ immediately concern us, and comes directly within our province, is, to state that notwithstanding all that has been done through all sources, infinitely more remains to be done by some one; and while speculation upon the moral duty of nations, the rights or wrongs of governments, the problem of whether one ruler or another shall sit upon a throne for the next six months; what expressions of individual principle in regard to certain actions should be given; the proper stand for a people to take and maintain on high moral and religious questions--all important subjects--none value them more than I--all marking the high tone and progressive spirit of the most advanced stage of human thought and culture the world has yet known, it would seem that each and all of these, imperative and important as they are, admit of at least a little moment of time for consideration, and will probably take it whether admitted or not.

But the facts are, that between the Archipelago and the Caspian Seas, the Black and the Mediterranean, are to-day living a million and a half of people of the Armenian race, existing under the ordinances of, at least, semi-civilization, and professing the religion of Jesus Christ; that according to the stated estimate of intelligent and impartial observers of various countries and concurred in by our own agents, whose observations have been unrestricted, from 100,000 to 200,000 of these persons, men, women and children, are destitute of shelter, raiment, fire, food, medicines, the comforts that tend to make human life preservable, or any means of obtaining them, save through the charitable beneficence of the world.

The same estimates concur in the statement, that without such outside support, at least 50,000 of these persons will have died of starvation or perished through accumulated hardship, before the first of May, 1897.

That even now it is cold in their mountain recesses, the frosts are whitening the rocky crests, trodden by their wandering feet, and long before Christmas the friendly snow will have commenced to cover their graves.

These facts, bare and grim, are what I have to present to the American people; and if it should be proposed to make any use of them there is not much time for consideration. We have hastened, without loss of a day, to bring them plainly and truthfully before the public as a subject pertaining peculiarly to it.

I would like to add that this great work of human relief should not fall _wholly_ upon the people of our own country--by no means without its own suffering poor--neither would it. The people of most enlightened nations should unite in this relief, and I believe, properly conferred with, would do so.

None of us have found any better medium for the dispensation of charitable relief than the faithful missionaries already on the ground, and our government officers, whose present course bespeaks their active interest.

CLARA BARTON.

REPORT OF THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

The following financial report, of necessity, has to deal with the currencies of five different countries, viz.: American, English, French, Austrian and Turkish, but as nearly all except expenses of travel and maintenance are in Turkish money, and as American, English, French and other moneys received were naturally reduced to the coin of the Ottoman Empire, we were obliged to make our accounts to correspond. As the report is made on the gold basis of 100 piasters to a lira, our friends may easily find the value in American money by multiplying the number of piasters by 4.4, as a gold lira (100 piasters) is approximately worth four and four-tenths dollars.

Owing to the difference in values between gold and silver coin, the wide range of values between the same coin in different cities, also the singular variation of the purchasing power of the same coin in the same cities for various commodities, complicated and curious mathematical problems have constantly confronted us, and for the correctness and accuracy of our report we are under many obligations to W.W. Peet, Esq., treasurer of the American Board of Foreign Missions; the officers of the Imperial Ottoman and Credit Lyonnais Banks; as well as George Künzel, Esq., expert accountant of the Administration de la Dette Publique Ottomane. Our grateful acknowledgments are also due and heartily given to Rev. Dr. H.O. Dwight, the executive head of the Missionary Board at Constantinople, and Rev. Dr. George Washburn, president of Robert College, for many valuable suggestions.

To give a single illustration of the acrobatic acquirements of the sprightly piaster, the ignus fatuus characteristics of the mejidieh (nom. 20 piasters), and the illusive proclivities of the lira, we will outline a transaction connected with our first medical expedition, under Dr. Ira Harris, of Tripoli, Syria. We had sent four hundred liras to Dr. George E. Post, of Beyrout, who was fitting out the expedition for us, and presumed we would receive a receipt for that amount, or for 40,000 piasters, its equivalent. The acknowledgment came, and we were somewhat nonplussed to note that we had been credited with a sum far exceeding that amount. A letter of inquiry was sent, as we supposed our good doctor had made an error. We quote a paragraph or two in his letter of reply: "I am not surprised that you do not quite understand the intricacies of Turkish finance. After thirty-three years of residence, I am still trying to get some idea of what a piaster is. * * * In Beyrout it is worth one piaster and five paras, with variations; a mejidieh is worth from nineteen piasters to almost anything. Every town has its rate. * * * The nominal value changes daily. Thus if I credit you to-day with 123.20 piasters on the lira, next week I may be out of pocket, or vice versa. * * * Internally, it is well nigh impossible to keep accounts. * * * The only way our college books are kept is by giving the rate as it is when the account is entered, and as it appears in all receipts and other vouchers."

We were much gratified with this assurance, for if a college president, after thirty-three years' study, had not solved the piaster puzzle, there was some excuse for us. Hundreds of accounts and bills have been received, audited and paid, and scarcely any two correspond in piaster equivalents. Therefore, although the money unit is the gold piaster, and the monetary standard the gold lira, the frequent changes in valuation is very bewildering to foreigners, and necessitates frequent conference with persons who, after long years of residence, have reached an equitable basis by which monetary equivalents can be ascertained.

A glance at our column of receipts shows a considerable variation in rates of exchange, and also the selling price of British gold (most of our drafts and cabled credits were in English sovereigns). We sold the greater part of our gold at a rate exceeding 110, which is the commercial rate in business transactions. In all credits received, the values are of course given according to the rate on the day of sale.

Many of our accounts, receipts and vouchers are curiosities, as they are in various languages, Arabic, Kourdish, Turkish, Armenian, Greek, Italian, etc. They were interesting but at the same time exceedingly perplexing to us, though our expert accountant found no difficulty with any of them, and right here we desire to make special acknowledgment to Mr. Künzel for his excellent but unpaid services.

In our column of expenses will be found an exceedingly rare Red Cross item, namely, "Wages Account." All the native or local doctors and apothecaries with one exception, had to be paid "contagious disease rates," as they called it. The exception was Dr. Ira Harris, of Tripoli, Syria, that brave and self-sacrificing American, whose great medical ability and splendid surgical skill accomplished so much in curing the sick in the terribly distressed cities of Marash and Zeitoun, with their many surrounding villages. We are glad to make this public acknowledgment in full appreciation of his heroic services. Besides the doctors, there were interpreters and dragomen for the various expeditions in the field to whom wages were paid. No adverse reflection is designed in the making of this statement, as the conditions surrounding life and service in that region of operation made such remuneration an equitable necessity.

It is, we think, a well understood fact that the Red Cross officers neither receive nor ask any remuneration for their services, but away from our own country we did not find the splendid volunteer aids we have had on former fields. But few could be found, and these we have had with us both in Constantinople and Asia Minor, and very efficient helpers they have been; to these our thanks are due and cordially given.

After our expeditions had entered the field, and begun work, the first remittances to our chief officers were sent in a manner which for slowness and seeming insecurity would have appalled American business men. The _modus operandi_ was as follows: A check for the amount desired was drawn and taken to the bank; after half an hour or more the gold would be weighed out and handed over--our bankers would have performed the same service in two minutes. The coin was then put into a piece of stout canvas cloth, done up in a round ball, securely tied and taken to the Imperial Turkish postoffice, where it was placed in a piece of sheepskin, all the ends brought together very evenly, cut off square and covered with sealing wax, the strong cords binding the package in a peculiar manner were woven in so that the ends could be passed through a small wooden box like a pill box; this box was filled with wax. After the imperial post and our seals were attached, bakshish given, and the package insured in an English company, the only thing remaining after the three or four hours' work and delay was to go home and, with fear and trembling, wait some twenty-five or thirty days until the pony express arrived at its destination and acknowledgment by telegraph of the receipt of the money relieved the nervous strain as far as _that_ package was concerned. This trying business was kept up until it became possible to use drafts in the interior. We are happy to report that, though the money had to be taken through a country infested with robbers, outlaws and brigands, we never lost a lira.

Bakshish is another custom of the country, infinitely more exasperating than our "tip" system, which is bad enough. This is trying to most people, but peculiarly irritating to a financial secretary. Bakshish is a gift of money which an Oriental expects and demands for the most trifling service. Beggars, by instinct, seem to know a financial secretary and swarm around in the most appalling manner. To make any headway with this horde at least two Turkish words must be mastered the first day, namely, "_Yok_," No, and "_Hidé-git_," "Be off with you." These expressions are sometimes efficacious with beggars, but the bakshish fiend must be paid something.

As long columns of figures have no interest to the great majority of people, and detailed accounts of receipts and expenses are never read, as it is of no possible importance what moneys were received at certain times, or what goods were purchased on specific days for the field work, or gold or drafts sent into the interior, we give our statement in as condensed a form as possible. The committees have received their respective reports, with all vouchers and other detail.

We believe the account of our stewardship will be approved by our countrymen; we know that the people whom we came to assist, are grateful and thoroughly appreciative, as numberless letters of gratitude, testimonials and personal statements abundantly prove.

To the $116,326.01, at least a third if not a half more should be added, as in all kinds of industrial business we have made the money do double duty. For instance: We purchased iron and steel and gave to the blacksmiths to make tools. That started their work. They paid us for the iron and steel in tools; these we gave to other artisans to start their various trades. In like manner spinning, weaving and garment-making avocations were commenced. Speaking of values, the consensus of opinion of our countrymen in the interior is, that putting a price on our work, the people of Anatolia have gained twice or thrice the actual money spent, and that the moral support given was far beyond any valuation. (At such a money valuation then, the aggregate value of the chief distribution will be nearly $350,000.)

A few words of explanation in regard to the table of expenditures: "Cash sent to the Interior" includes all moneys sent by pony express or draft, and of this amount something over seven thousand liras are in the hands of W.W. Peet, Esq.; Rev. C.F. Gates, at Harpoot; C.M. Hallward, Esq., British Consul, at Diarbekir; Rev. E.H. Perry, at Sivas, and other equally responsible representatives, for an emergency fund, to be used, on order, as occasion requires.

"Relief Expeditions, General and Medical," represents largely the goods purchased and shipped with the four expeditions from Constantinople and Beyrout for relief purposes. A portion of this supply is still held at different stations awaiting the proper time for its distribution to the best advantage.

"General Expense Account" represents freights, postage, bakshish, hammals, car fares, carriages, etc. "Donations for Relief of Orphan Children" represents sums of money given to the Armenian and German hospitals for Armenian refugee children. The other items we think explain themselves.

It will be observed that the special Red Cross fund, as noted in our tabulation of debits and credits, more than covers expenses of "Red Cross Headquarters, Field," "Travel and Maintenance," "General Expense and Wages Accounts," and "General and Medical Relief Expeditions Accounts," all of which items were of direct benefit to the field as all were necessary to the successful conduct of our work. We only mention this to show that, besides the work we have been able to successfully perform, the Red Cross has also materially contributed monetarily to the field. And it will not be out of place to note that in the total of cash expended ($116,326.01) there is shown to be an administrative cost amounting to $7,526.37, as covered by such items as "Telegrams and Cables," "Wages Account," "General Expense," "Headquarters, Field," "Stationery and Printing," and "Travel and Maintenance." This cost was but a fraction over 6 per cent on the cash total. If the estimated money value in field results be taken at three times the cash received and paid, for relief material, food, etc., as stated, it will be found that the cost of administration is only about 2 per cent. In either account or estimate the result is gratifying though not surprising to the officers of the Red Cross, since the methods pursued are the fruits of a wide experience that evaded no responsibility and learned only to spend wisely for the trust imposed and accepted. It is also satisfactory to know that such expenditures came direct from the "Special Funds" of the Red Cross itself. An examination of the balance sheets accompanying this report shows that of funds expended, the Red Cross is credited with $24,641.93, which leaves an excess for relief over the cost of administration of $17,115.56.

Perhaps this brief financial review of the work achieved may be properly closed by a reference to the sincere enthusiasm and earnestness with which the efforts to raise funds in the United States were animated. The incidents herein mentioned may also illustrate how the wisdom of experience accepts the earnestness and yet discounts without criticism the over confident calculations, to which a noble zeal may run. It would appear that the collection of funds for the purpose of relieving a Christian people in danger of starvation and violent death by knife or bullet--of aiding a historic race in the throes of dissolution from massacre, and dispersion in winter by storm and famine, would be a very easy thing to accomplish. A good many of our countrymen, unaccustomed to great relief work, found the collection of the means needed, a task more than difficult. A single illustration will prove how misleading is the conception. It must be borne in mind always that the Red Cross never solicits funds. It sees its field of benefit work and having fully examined the needs, states them through the press and all other public avenues, to the American people, leaving the response direct to their judgment and generosity. When it is asked to accept the administration of relief funds and material, in fields like this that awaited it in Asia Minor, the trust is surely met, but the Red Cross does not ask for the means and money. Others do that, stating that the work will be under its charge. When it is once accepted there is no retreat, no matter how far the exertions may fall short of reaching the hoped-for results.

Last November (1895), after many petitions had been received and carefully considered, representatives of the great Armenian Relief Committees came to Washington for the purpose of supplementing such earnest petitions by personal appeals. A conditional consent having been obtained, the subject of funds was brought up by the following question:

"Miss Barton, how much do you think it will cost to relieve the Armenians?"

The question was answered by another: "Gentlemen, you are connected with the various missionary boards, with banks and other great institutions and enterprises. What amount do you consider necessary?"

After deliberation, $5,000,000 was suggested as the proper sum and the question was asked if the Red Cross concurred. Miss Barton, with the faintest suggestion of a smile, replied that she thought $5,000,000 would be sufficient. As the difficulties of raising money became more apparent to the committees, numerous meetings were held and various other amounts suggested, Miss Barton agreeing each time. From $5,000,000 to $500,000, with a guarantee for the balance; then $100,000 cash, with $400,000 guaranteed, and so on, until $50,000 was named to start the work with, such sum to be available on the arrival of the Red Cross in Constantinople. The president and a few officers of the Red Cross arrived there on February 15, 1896, but it was late in the following April before the $50,000 was received. These facts as given are intended solely to show the difficulties the committees had to contend with in raising the amount they did.

For general information it will, perhaps, not be inappropriate to state that all relief work is governed and conducted on military lines to preclude the possibility of confusion, as the Red Cross on fields of disaster is the only organized body in a disorganized community. Thus, wherever the organization has control, Miss Barton has personal supervision of all departments: the financial, receiving and disposing of all funds; the correspondence, opening all letters and directing replies; the field, assigning workers to attend to such duties as are best suited to their various abilities, who report daily, if possible, and receive instructions for the prosecution of the work, the supplies, receiving accurate reports of all material and giving directions as to its disposition.

GEORGE H. PULLMAN.
_Constantinople, August 1, 1896._

FINANCIAL BALANCE SHEET OF THE RELIEF FUNDS AND SERVICE OF 1896
IN ASIA MINOR.

_The American National Red Cross, in account with the Relief Field of
Asia Minor_.

Dr.
To The National Relief Committee [B]Ltq. 14,784 51
The New England Relief Committee " 5,667 25
The Worcester Relief Committee " 402 18
The Ladies' Relief Committee, of Chicago " 922 50
The Friends of Philadelphia, through Asa S. Wing " 481 69
Citizens of Newark, through C.H. Stout, Esq. " 674 65
Citizens of Milton, North Dakota " 4 66
St. George's Church S.S. through C.H. Stout, Esq. " 40 06
Ransom Post, G.A.R., Wales, Minn. " 2 95
The Davenport, Iowa, Relief Committee " 54 78
American Ladies in Geneva, Switzerland " 5 85
Miss Phillips, Mission school, Balisori, India " 13 20
Mrs. Dr. Galbraith, Tarentum, Pa. " 3 30
"Sailors' Rest," Genoa, Italy " 2 33
A citizen of Chester, N.J. " 02
Miss Mayham Winter, Philadelphia, Pa. " 1 14
The American National Red Cross (special) " 3,376 66
----------
Total " 26,437 73

Cr.
By telegrams and cables Ltq. 245 12
Cash sent to interior " 18,965 70
Relief expeditions, general " 2,917 81
Relief expeditions, medical " 543 68
Wages account " 421 20
General expense account " 138 02
Red Cross Headquarters, Field " 235 05
Stationery and printing " 128 79
Expense account, travel and maintenance " 542 36
Donations for relief of orphan children " 100 00
Emergency Fund, deposited with W.W. Peet " 2,200 00
----------
Total " 26,437 73

I have carefully examined the books, accounts and vouchers of the American National Red Cross, in its relief work in Asia Minor, and find everything correct and accurate.

(Signed.) GEORGE KUNZEL,
_Accountant, Administration Ottoman Public Debt_.

CONSTANTINOPLE, _August 1, 1896_.

[B] Ltq. 2,223.78 of this sum was Special Red Cross Funds drawn from Brown Brothers & Company. Ltq.--Turkish Lira about $4.40. Ltq. 26,437.73 $116,326.01.

GENERAL FIELD AGENT'S REPORT.

ANATOLIA, ASIA MINOR.

TO MISS CLARA BARTON, _President_:

In speaking of the relief work in Asia Minor, may I be allowed to begin at Constantinople, at which place, while waiting for the necessary official papers for our work, we were all busy selecting and purchasing relief supplies, camping outfit, cooking utensils, and making other preparations for interior travel; and also securing competent interpreters and dragomans. Although the _Irade_ of the Sultan granting permission to enter Asia Minor had not yet been received, we were naturally anxious to follow the first shipment of supplies purchased and sent by steamer to the port of Alexandretta as the safest route, to be forwarded again by camels under guard to different places in the interior; and with our own men to accompany and attend the work of distribution. Accordingly, accompanied by interpreter Mason, I left Constantinople on the tenth of March, touching at Smyrna, Latakea, Mersina and Tripoli, reaching Alexandretta on the eighteenth, and by the kind help of our Consular Agent, Mr. Daniel Walker, and Mr. John Falanga, began making up the caravans for shipment to Aintab, as a central point for the southern field.

By the time the caravans were ready and horses for travel selected, Mr. Wistar and Mr. Wood, with dragomans, arrived by steamer from Constantinople. Rev. Dr. Fuller, president of the Aintab (American) College, had also just come through with friends from Aintab to take steamer, himself to return again immediately, and together we all set out under soldier escort the next morning. Alexandretta was in a state of fear while we were there, notwithstanding the fact that the warships of England, France, Turkey, and the United States lay in her harbor. Kirk Khan, the first stopping place on our journey inland, was threatened with plunder and destruction on the night before our arrival there. At Killis we found the town in a state of fear from the recent massacres. Here, with Dr. Fuller, we visited the wounded who were under the good care of a young physician just from the college at Aintab, but without medicine, surgical dressings and appliances. These with other needed things we arranged to send back to him from the supplies that had gone ahead.

Aintab, with its American school, college, seminary and hospital buildings standing out in relief and contrast from the native buildings, was a welcome reminder of home; and the greeting of the hundreds of pupils as they came hurrying down the road to welcome back their own loved president, became a welcome for the Red Cross. We were most cordially offered the hospitality of Dr. Fuller's house and home, but as we were still strangers in a strange land, it seemed best to place ourselves in a khan, where we could have better opportunity to make an acquaintance with the people to obtain the varied information necessary to accomplish best results in the disposition of our relief. Here we remained long enough to learn the needs of the place and surrounding country, to obtain carefully prepared lists of those artisans needing tools and implements for their various trades and callings. Supplies were left, clothing, new goods for working up, thread, needles, thimbles, medicines, and surgical stores.

Aintab is favored with its Mission Hospital; with its surgeon and physician, Dr. Shepard and Dr. Hamilton, and a strong American colony of missionary teachers, besides the Franciscan Brothers, who are doing excellent select work. The Father Superior was killed near Zeitoun. Supplies were selected and made up for Oorfa, Aintab, Marash and other points, while a quantity of supplies, by the kindness of Dr. Fuller, was left in storage in the college building to be forwarded as our inquiries should discover the need. To Oorfa, where the industrial work had been so successfully established by Miss Shattuck, we sent material and implements for working, needles, thread, thimbles, cotton and woolen goods for making up. To Marash and Zeitoun, ready-made goods in addition to new, with surgical appliances and medicines.

From Aintab, Mr. Wood and Mr. Wistar started by way of the most distressed points needing help eastward, and then north to Harpoot; and because of your telegram of the report of typhus and dysentery at Marash and Zeitoun, we started in that direction, with Rev. L.O. Lee, who was returning home. After facing rain, snow and mud for three days we came to Marash. Here we remained until our caravan of goods came on. Typhus, dysentery and smallpox were spreading as a result of the crowded state of the city; Marash had been filled with refugees since the November massacres, notwithstanding a large part of its own dwelling houses had been burned and plundered. The surrounding country had also been pillaged, people killed and villages destroyed, and the frightened remnant of people had crowded in here for protection, and up to this time had feared to return. With insufficient drainage and warm weather coming on, typhus, dysentery and smallpox already in the prisons, an epidemic was becoming general. True, the preachers _requested mothers not to bring children with smallpox_ to church, nevertheless the typhus and smallpox spread, and rendered medical supervision a necessity. By the efforts of Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Macallum, wives of the missionaries of the Marash station, a hospital had been established with plenty of patients, but they had no funds for physicians or medicines. Medicines were left and funds furnished for a native doctor educated in America (who himself had just recovered from typhus) and was placed in charge of the hospital and out-of-door service, and was doing efficient work before we left Marash. Arrangements were made with Rev. Mr. Macallum to have tools and implements made and distributed to artisans and villagers; and we left with him to begin this work the sum which you had sent for our own use 500 lire--$23,000.

By this time Dr. Ira Harris, whom you had called from Tripoli, Syria, with his assistants, arrived for the Zeitoun field. Dr. Harris had his well-filled medical chests and surgical supplies in a mule caravan, and being more needed at other places, we left immediately for Adioman via Besnia, passing through Bazarjik and Kumaklejercle, a three days' mountain journey. Our officer kindly told us, when we stopped at a Kourdish village for the night, to "order what we want and not pay if we do not want to." But we made it clear to him, that while we are not extravagant in our wants, _we_ always pay for what we take. It is customary in this country for villages to entertain soldiers free of charge. At Bazarjik when we inquired concerning the health of the place, an official said they had no sickness _except a few cases of smallpox, and this was confined to children_--that his little girl had it, and she was brought in as a proof.