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ARMENIA AND THE NEAR EAST
310
where there was an opportunity, as for instance in Van (see
p. 301), and in the mountains near Suedije in Cilicia (see
p. 300), where some of them were armed with old flint-locks.
In Urfa the Armenians perished after a gallant but hopeless
struggle. For the rest, a people who could fight for what
they believed to be a righteous cause with such reckless valour
as the thousands of Armenian volunteers on the Caucasian
and Syrian fronts can safely ignore all accusations of cowardice.
When the frightful events in Anatolia came to the knowledge
of the peoples of Europe towards the end of the summer of
191 5, the story raised a perfect storm of indignation—even
amid all the horrors of the Great War—against the Turks,
and against Germany, which was blamed for allowing such
things to happen.1 It found vent in strong words and solemn
promises that, when the cause of justice and liberty was won,
the Armenians should receive full compensation in the form
of their independence and freedom, provided they joined the
Entente and sent their able-bodied men to fight. From all
parts of the world came a steady stream of Armenian volun
teers. Armenian legions were formed in the Syrian army—and
on this basis an independent State of Armenia was to be
secured. On the Russian front in the Caucasus young
Armenians, inflamed with fierce zeal by the Turkish atrocities,
flocked to the colours. In addition to 150,000 Armenians in
the Russian regular army, companies of Armenian volunteers
were formed which fought magnificently under their own
leaders, notably the heroic Andranik. After the massacres
in Anatolia there were many Armenians from Turkey among
the volunteers, and the Turks had the audacity to call these
companies traitors and rebels because they fought against
the executioners of their fellow-countrymen ! Upwards of
200,000 Armenian volunteers gave their lives for the cause
of the Allies.
Meanwhile the war dragged on. When the Russian army
advanced and took in succession Van, Bitlis, and Mush, then
1 When the intentions of the Young Turkish Government became evident,
the Germans did what they could in the stress of war to stop these horrors, but
in vain. America’s energetic ambassador, Mr. Morgenthau, was equally
unsuccessful in his efforts to restrain the Young Turks, although he was well
informed as to the course of events.
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