'Military report on Tehran and adjacent Provinces of North-West Persia (including the Caspian Littoral)' [‎33v] (71/610)

54
Events in
Azerbaijan.
Massacres of
Christians at
Urumieh, July
1918.
Dnnsterforce's
operations
against the
Jangalis.
It has been stated that the Russian army in Azarbaljan had
retreated hurriedly in the beginning of January, leaving the pro
vince defenceless against the advancing Turks—save for the
small Jelus force in Urumieh. But it was not till toward the
end of April that a body of about 4,000 men, under Zaki Bey, was
reported to be operating against the Urumieh region from Ushnu
and Kotur. The Jelus battalions repulsed several attacks and
held their ground till late in July, when the Christian exodus,
already* described, took place. Many Armenian and Nestorian
families had fled during these months to the Caucasus ; but this
route was barred to them, in the middle of May, by Turkish
forces closing in on Tabriz through Khoi and Nakhichivan.
On June 10th, the consuls and subjects of the Allies left
Tabriz to avoid the consequences to them of the Turkish occupa
tion of that place. The Valiahd and Persian officials remained
and were treated with consideration by the Turks during the
occupation, and the lives and property of the inhabitants, both
Moslem and Christian, were respected, although heavy requisi
tions were levied on the city.
The Christian population in the Urumieh region suffered a
worse fate. Some six thousand of these unfortunate people had
not joined in the exodus; it was estimated, after the Turkish
evacuation, that only two thousand survived ; and the atrocities
and crimes committed by the Turks had reduced these survivors
to the direst poverty and misery. The Turks and Kurds entered
Urumieh on July 31st, and the horrors committed by them are
described in moving terms by the French and American mis-
sonaries, who tried in vain to shelter the terror stricken Chris
tians. Monseigneur Sontag and another priest of the French
Catho’ic Mission were murdered that day.
During July and August the Turks prepared for a further
advance,'and extended their outposts from Urumieh towards
Sauj Bulagh and Sakkiz, and from Tabriz to Ardabil andMIaneh
where they came into contact with 1 British outposts.
On the British side, General Dunsterville had been preparing
since the middle of May, for an advance to Enzall in order to be
able to help Baku when wanted, and also to release Colonel
Bicherakoff, who was becoming impatient to move his volunteer
force into the Caucasus. Bicherakoff’s command moved forward
in June, supported by British nd Indian troops. It was
expected that the Jang lis, estimated at 3000, would offer
resistance; but the positions they had prepared at Manjil were
* See pages 46“'7.
1 See Sketch of history of Khamseh in para. 5 below, pages 8o-88.