Mr. Leishman to Mr. Hay.
Constantinople , August 28, 1904 .
Sir: Referring further to the recent troubles in Armenia, I have been unable to learn anything that would materially change my original impressions, i. e.:
That the trouble was caused by outrages committed by Armenian revolutionary bands, who, when closely pursued by the troops, fled to the Armenian villages situated in the mountainous district above [Page 838] Moush, where the Turks followed and shelled them out with field artillery, completely destroying a number of villages.
A great many insurgents were killed during the fight, and undoubtedly a considerable number of the inhabitants who were not actually combatants were also killed or wounded; but from the best information I have been able to obtain nothing approaching the deliberate massacres of 1895 occurred, and that the total number killed was under 2,000.
The remnants of the bands which escaped during the fight have fled to other districts or escaped across the Russian frontier, and may possibly attempt to make other raids later on.
From the best information obtainable the Turkish authorities have treated the refugees, consisting principally of old men, women, and children, with commendable consideration, and several thousand have already returned to their homes.
The trouble at Moush is apparently over, at least for the present, and as advised in several of my dispatches during the past year or two, I am not inclined to credit the reports or share the fears of some of the missionaries that a repetition of the general massacres of 1895 is pending or even likely.
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I have, etc.,