„TUEKEY BULLETIN 
 FOREIGN DEPARTMENT, AMERICMJ BOARD, BOSTON 
 
 May 17, 1916. 
 
 Since the 'bulletin of February 14 was issued no radical 
 changes in the missionary situation in Turkey have taken place, ex- 
 cepting, of course, the aggressions of Russia, wherehy Hrzroom, Bitlis 
 and Trehizond have, like Van, iDeen occupied and a large part of Arme- 
 nia and Kurdistan come under Russian control. 
 
 No word has come from Dr. and Mrs. Crawford of Trehizond 
 since the Turks evacuated the city. We have no reason, however, to 
 feel that they have suffered in any special way in the change of mas- 
 ters. Word was received from them shortly before the city fell. They 
 were then in good health. Our expectation now is that they will start ' 
 home upon furlough this summer. 
 
 'ir. and MrsT Btapleloh remained in "Er the Russians 
 
 "broke through the lines. The Turkish Governor offered them carriages in 
 which to leave the city, "but they preferred to remain with the people. 
 By this time probably they are on their way home by way of Siberia and. 
 Japan. So far as we can ascertain there was no fighting in or near 
 the city of Erzroom when the Russians captured the fortress. 
 
 There were no missionaries in Bitlis when that city was cap- 
 tured. Miss McLaren and Miss Shane having gone to Harpoot under the es- 
 cort of the Cavass of the United States Consul at Harpoot. 
 
 For some time it has been known that Messrs. Wilson and Hill 
 of the Relief Commission were on their way to Van and that Messrs. Mac- 
 allum and Gracey, missionaries of the Board, were following. Now word 
 has come through Switzerland friends of the arrival of Dr.Macallum at 
 Van. This is the first visitation of Van since the missionaries were 
 compelled to flee, and naturally we are eager to get news regarding the 
 situation. It is the policy of the Prudential Committee to permit the 
 missionaries to return to Eastern Turkey by way of Petrograd and it is 
 naturally the hope that in due time Van, Bitlis and Erzroom may be re- 
 occupied. The tnisslonaries first will render a large service in help- 
 ing the Armenians who are returning to their homes, as well as in re- 
 organizing the missionary work which has been temporarily suspended 
 under the stress and strain of the war. We would suggest that this re- 
 habilitation work be made a special subject of prayer on the part of 
 the friends of the work in the Near East. 
 
 The situation in the other stations of Eastern Turkey seems 
 to be about the same as it was when the last bulletin was issued. 
 There has been no particular change at Harpoot. The party that left 
 there for home on the 15th of November is still held at Beirut, no ves- 
 sel being allowed to enter the harbor. Negotiations are in process 
 toward getting them and probably the Aintab missionaries out by way 
 of Smyrna. The Beirut party is now comfortably housed and all are 
 apparently in good health. An attempt is being made through the Em- 
 bassy to have the five ladies at Mardin brought to Sivas, thus closing 
 another station. The missionaries are well at Marash, Tarsus, Hadjin, 
 and, so far as we know, elsewhere in the Central Turkey field, accord- "' 
 ing to Mr. Peet's letter of March 24, the work at Aintab seems to be 
 
 TUBK.EMP, 
 
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 well nigh broken up. The College is closed, part of the buildings of 
 the girls* seminary are used for a hospital, and the orphanages remain. 
 The girls* seminary continues its work, however, in restricted quar- 
 ters. After all we are thankful for the measure of protection that the 
 missionaries enjoy; nor should we be unmindful of the consideration 
 shown the missionaries by the authorities. The hospital at Adana has 
 been opened under an arrangement with the Government which we suspect 
 contains an agreement to operate the hospital solely for the advantage 
 of the military department. There are no other changes to mention in 
 the Central Turkey field. 
 
 As for Western Turkey, the situation remains but little 
 changed. The missionaries are still at Sivas. The Government refuses 
 to allow Dr.Andrus and Miss Penenga to return to Mardin. 
 
 The situation at Talas is as reported before. Dr. and Mrs. 
 Dodd of Eonia left Constantinople on Saturday, the 29th of April, 
 Konia hospital remaining closed. Messrs. Birge and Harlow of Smyrna 
 are expected this summer in spite of rumors to the contrary. Their 
 wives and children have been in this country for some time. The In- 
 ternational College at Smyrna seems to have had an excellent year, be- 
 ing perhaps more successful than any other institution. The Dean of 
 the College, Mr. Cass Reed, has become engaged to Miss Rosalind MacLach- 
 lan, the President's daughter, and the latter has received appointment 
 as an American Board missionary in expectation of her marriage to Mr. 
 Reed this suxmner. 
 
 Mr. Charles Riggs left Constantinople on March 25, accompany- 
 ing Miss Hale and Mrs. Luther Fowle and children. The party arrix-ed: 
 in New York after only nineteen days of tra,vel, coming by way of Ber- 
 lin. Mr. Ryan and family went to Svi'itzerland last winter, but when Mr. 
 Ryan returned to his work at Constantinople this spring he was com- 
 pelled by the Government to withdraw after only fifteen days' stay 
 there. He and his family have now arrived in America. Dr.Bowen, the 
 Agent of the American Bible Society in the Levant, with Mrs.Bowen, is 
 now in Switzerland. 
 
 Dr. St. John Ward who sailed in February from Uew York with 
 Red Cross supplies and a groijp of Red Cross workers in the expectation 
 of going directly to Beirut, was detained with his entire party in 
 Greece. He was able, however, after a v?hile to reach Constantinople, 
 though without supplies and without any other members of the party. 
 The latter are still waiting in Greece for permission to enter Turkey. 
 
 Ambassador Morgenthau has decided not to return to Turkey. 
 While there is much disappointment over his withdrawal from Constanti- 
 nople, the fact should be emphasized that the man suggested as his 
 successor is said to be remarkably well fitted for reconstruction work 
 following the war. The nei?! Ambassador, however, has not yet been ap- 
 pointed and meanwhile the American interests are in the hands of the 
 Charge' d' Affaires, Mr. Philip, who has been for some time connected 
 with the Embassy and is therefore conversant with the entire situa- 
 tion, Naturally we hope that whoever may be appointed to succeed Dr. 
 Morgenthau will be well coached by the latter and, with the latter in 
 this country available as an adviser, will be able to safeguard the 
 institutions and the work in Turkey even better than if Dr .Morgenthau 
 worked alone in Constantinople, 
 
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 The most recent reports from all of the Turkey Missions 
 speak of the good health of the. missionaries. So far as is known none 
 are ill. While they are strictly liraited in their a^ctivity and are 
 deprived of the "luxuries of life," they report, nevertheless, that 
 they are supplied with necessities for some months to come. There is 
 a greater scarcity of food in Constantinople than in the Interior, if 
 we rightly judge accounts. The press censorship is becoming more ex- 
 acting and there are some indications that the letters from the Amer- 
 ican Board are especially scanned. For some time pressure has "been 
 brought to bear upon Mr.Peet to refrain from paying money to individ- 
 ual Armenians and recently a cable dispatch was received announcing 
 that he was forbidden altogether to do this any longer, the Government 
 being suspicious of him as a partner in revolutionary movements. We 
 therefore have to announce that the American Board cannot receive any. 
 more money to transmit for individual Armenians anywhere in the Turk- 
 ish Empire, though the way is still open to relieve Armenians in the 
 Caucasus through the Relief Committee. 
 
 It begins to lock as if the Russian occupation of Eastern 
 Turkey were bound to be permanent and that Harpoot and Mardin and 
 other portions of what was once the Eastern Turkey field will soon be 
 occupied. Turkish hopes for help from America are still strong. Tur- 
 key would like American money and influence minus the American mis- 
 sionary. Whether our 'jrork v/ill be generally appreciated and prized by 
 the official class depends upon m^hether the principles of the present 
 party shall be perpetuated or whether a party possessed of more lib- 
 eral principles shall come to power. 
 
 BALEANS 
 
 In view of the very strict internal censorship and general . 
 air of suspiciousness in Bulgaria, station reports and church statis- 
 tics are not being sent to Boston. Trai/eling is not easy, but Is safe 
 when a permit can be secu.red. The schools are running ?.,s usual. The 
 officials at Monastir seems friendly. There is no light on the Alba- 
 nian situation. On or about Apr-il 18th the main school brjilding at 
 the Salonica Institute was accidentally destro3''ed by fire. No lives 
 were lost. Tne missionaries are now living in other buildings at the 
 "Farm." All are v/ell. 
 
 E. F. Bell, 
 
 for Dr. Barton.