PERSECUTIONS OF THE GREEKS IN TURKEY SINCE THE ...

PERSECUTIONS OF THE GREEKS 53
Oinoi, Tsarshamba and Phatza in order to supervise the
execution of his program."
" In the meantime, Rafet Pasha continues his work
of annihilation. The villages which had escaped the
previous destruction have been burned and their inhabitants
sent to the interior. Eight villages of Paphra,
which produced the choicest tobacco in Turkey, were
burned and their Greek inhabitants sent to the Province
of Angora, while the Greek inhabitants of eight other
villages of Samsoun have been sent to the interior and
Turkish refugees have been settled in their houses. To
these the Turks have promised to give title deeds for the
houses and lands."
" At this moment smoke and flames are seen in the
mountains; undoubtedly fire has been set to other villages.
According to positive information, all the Greek
population outside of Kerasunda has been also sent
to the interior towards Kol-Hissar and Hamidie. If
one considers the high and rugged mountains through
which the deported women and children of the above
villages are compelled to pass in the midst of a very heavy
winter, one's mind is appalled and his heart is wrung."
The fourth report is as follows:
" We awaited anxiously the return from Constantinople
of the American Vice-Consul of Samsoun, from
whom a generous and substantial contribution of money
was expected. Unfortunately, these hopes were disappointed,
the excuse being given that America cannot
send money to Constantinople, the Turkish Government
having prohibited the sending of any money to Turkey.
One can picture to himself the tragical situation of this
unfortunate population, which is deprived both of money
and food."
" Recently, the tobacco warehouses of the Greek merchants
which had been seized were freed and the sale of
tobacco by representatives has been permitted. Still,
the tobacco of the villages, which have been evacuated