The letters I have delivered to the British ambassador here for his
action.
[Inclosure in No 729.]
Mr. Gibson to Mr.
Short.
United States Consulate,
Beirut, Syria, December 10, 1895.
No. 95.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that on
Saturday, the 7th instant, Rear-Admiral Selfridge was escorted by me
on his rounds of official visits to the Turkish authorities, and
that on yesterday, the 9th instant, the visits were returned on
board the flagship San Francisco with the
usual ceremonies. I gave the admiral and the ship’s officers
opportunity for meeting the American colony in Beirut on Saturday
evening, and the welcome extended to the admiral and his officers
was cordial and patriotic. They expressed much pleasure and a
sincere appreciation in their visit; and the San
Francisco left last evening at 7 o’clock for Latakia,
Alexandretta, Mersine, and Smyrna. The Marblehead is still located at Mersine, and the admiral
expects to meet the Minneapolis at Smyrna.
All the colony join me in thanks for the presence of the San Francisco at this time.
The presence of Admiral Selfridge and his flagship was timely, for
aside from the strong impression made by the arrival of the first
man-of-war in these times of excitement, his presence quieted the
fears of the people in the receipt of terrible news from the
interior of this section. A French cruiser, the Linois, also arrived in Beirut yesterday a few hours
before the departure of the San
Francisco.
The news from the Damascus vilayet, on the southern slope of Mount
Hermon, is very disquieting and is very sad for those who have
suffered losses in life and property. It seems that the Druse
village of Med’el-Shems was made the special object of attack by
infuriated Circassians, Koords, Arabs, and Turks, who have taken
advantage of the present excited time to wreak their vengeance on
the Druses, who for centuries have been the scourge of mountain and
plain in the Hauran. The utter destruction of this village was aimed
at, and it was nearly consummated by these allied forces on the 30th
of November ultimo. Christian and Druse residents suffered alike,
and several hundred villagers were killed and burned, while the
remainder of the population escaped to the mountains.
The residents of several neighboring villages were also driven, their
houses looted, and they left to starve or fly to other villages;
after having their goods and driven off [sic]. The chief or only
concern to American interests lies in the fact that the church and
school (one building) belonging to the American Presbyterian mission
here was destroyed, with contents, and that a school of the mission
in a neighboring village, Olin-Kunyeh, was also looted. The loss is
only estimated as yet by the mission officials, and will hardly
exceed $150 to $200; but I beg to make this report with a request
that you lay the facts before His Excellency Judge Terrell.
I have received full details also of the destruction of the
theological department of the American College at Marash, and other
trouble there and in that neighborhood; but as United States
Consular Agent Poche has already forwarded copies of the same facts
direct to Minister Terrell, I will not duplicate them here.
The reports and rumors from Asia Minor are still serious and many,
and I can only rely on the good work of our consular agents and
missionaries and the protesting presence of our war ships.
I beg to inclose herewith, for the information of our legation and
for
[Page 1405]
such action as may
seem fit, a letter I have recently received from Rev. J. C. Martin,
a British missionary at Hadjin, who is the only man there to aid and
encourage our American missionaries, Mrs. Coffin and her companion;
also, letter from Mr. Martin to Mrs. Montgomery, of Adana.
I am, etc.,
Thomas R. Gibson,
United States Consul.
