Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

48 HISTORY OF THE WAR.

reached Bulgaria, and in one or two places the humanity of the local authorities gave them protection. But it was estimated that well over half a million perished, and great numbers of women and children were sold into slavery.

The protesting voices were few and ineffective. The Sheikh-ul-Islam resigned, and Ahmed Riza and Djavid declared their disagreement when it was too late. Only the Vali of Smyrna refused to be party to the crimes, and carried out his refusal by protecting the Armenians in his province. The Pope made remonstrances through the Latin Patriarch. The American Ambassador in Constantinople did his best, but his Austro-German colleagues declined to join him, declaring that they could not interfere in the internal affairs of Turkey, though on 31st August they made a half-hearted protest, and asked the Grand Vizier for a written guarantee that they had had no connection with the massacres. Meanwhile the German Baron von Oppenheim in Syria was openly preaching persecution, and Count zu Reventlow in Germany was defending Turkey’s action, on the ground that Armenians were rebels who deserved all they had received.

The Turco-German pupils of Abdul Hamid were busy in another province. In Northern Persia they and their agents were carrying on what can only be described as a campaign of assassination. With wholesale bribery they tried to corrupt the gendarmerie and the Persian officials. The strange spectacle was seen of the stout and elderly Ambassadors of Turkey and Germany hurried about the land in the company of the sweepings of two nations. There was small military significance in these esca-