One Nation Under Seige
A World War One Era True Story of Survival and Valor
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Between the Villages of Chasnig and Karnag, in the suburbia of Malatia City, there is an awesome canyon known to the local inhabitants as Een Dara. Close to the inlet of the rock-ribbed ravine, the Mission ‘Bethesda’ with its high walls encircling the entire compound of forty rooms strikes the eyes of the traveler as a Christian Isle surrounded by a Moslem Sea. The Turkish Crescent along with the red, white and black Deutsche Flag flown above the building affirmed its Christian origin and protective German patronage. Standing on the blacktop flat roof-deck of the Mission, one receives a most dazzling view of the Büyük Vadi below the environs of the North-Eastern Range of the Cappadocian Mountains, which staggers the imagination. But to anyone surveying the landscape from the rooftop of Bethesda, his eyes would invariably focus onto the gaping entrance of the Een Dara where tragic events had taken place at the beginning of the 20th Century A.D. In the irrevocable past, legends assert that Christian Saints, including Saint Bartholomew, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, have hidden inside the Een Dara from their pursuing enemies. Prior to World War One, the canyon was used as a hideout by brigands and marauding Chethji. In fact Claw Chief, one of the most bestial, kill-crazed, barbarous Kurdish cutthroats of the district, who was often called upon by the local Officialdom to fulfill the promise of a Jihad against ‘the Christian pigs in our midst,’ had maintained his Head Quarters in there for a long time. No doubt, it was the atmosphere of 'doom and gloom' on that April morning of 1909 that alarmed Schwester Jensine Oerts, a Danish Medical Missionary who was at Bethesda taking care of Hedwig Christoffel, a victim of typhoid fever. While on the roof top for her Devotional, she saw a band of wild Kurds with long unkempt hair, scantily clad and armed to their teeth, flowing towards the City from the Canyon. The massacre which had struck the Tarsus District in Southern Anatolia had spread to the Anti-Toros Mountains thus to Malatia. But the expected onslaught had not occurred, yet. The Young Turks have deposed the Red Sultan, Abdul Hamid, and the Resident Governor had mysteriously died on the same day, at noon. A young Army Officer, who opposed bloodshed, had declared himself Mutasarief, scattered the Kurds back to their dens, and dispatched 'hawkers' all over the City proclaiming that, ‘The Master had forbidden the killings.' Hence an uncertain peace had occasioned. Garabet Chaderjian of Sivas has brought his mother, Sheshoon Nana, and his young bride, Makroohi, to Malatia in order to function as an Assistant to Herr Pastor Ernst Christoffel, the founder of the German Mission School ‘Blindenheim’ of Bethesda, in today's Turkey. Garabet has moved his family in there during such a terrible time for the Armenian People, and by doing so, he has saved their lives only to lose his own. This is the story of that bride, Makroohi Chaderjian nee Beshgetoorian, and the events of her life from the beginning to the end of the ‘Savekeyet - Butchery of the Christians,’ which came to pass before, during, and after World War One era in Asia Minor. History has its way of repeating itself… Nowadays, more than ever, it is paramount to bring such a story to light, hoping to awaken the consciousness of Peoples all around the world to such a degree that could prevent the spread of religious radicalism and genocide carried out through 'ethnic cleansing.' Death, as intended by the Creator of Life in the beginning of Time, was meant to be a relief from the tribulations of daily life in this World at the end of one’s journey, not a punishment. It was not meant to be an agony, but a peaceful event that has to occur in the context of Love, the fabric of our Universe. And peaceful it was, and still is, for the majority of people in this World, most of the time. People carry on their life on Earth to fulfill a special purpose. And, they are interacting in harmony with one another by showing compassion and love for their fellowmen. Therefore goodness and love prevail. But, from time to time, in the history of Mankind, like a prehistoric hideous creature from a Jurassic Park movie, EVIL raises its ugly head and starts running rampant in our society asking for its tall. In the process, it permeates large groups of people or entire nations with hate, pride and prejudice who are lead to believe that they are, somehow, superior to others thus motivating them to eliminate those who they consider inferior by all means. Just remember WWWII; the Holocaust; Bosnia & Hertzegovina; Cosovo; Rwanda and Sudan... Sometimes their motivation is greed, envy, or the desire to take over other people’s possessions and to control and dispose of the lives of others as they wish. Thus they destroy values, property, even the life of their fellowmen by committing atrocities against humanity. People call this 'ethnic cleansing.’ This book depicts such horrific events which were imprinted onto the Skeen of Time during World War One era. It stands as a powerful reminder that evil continues to lurk in the darkness and try to lure us in if we don’t seek the Light which is the Love that gives us Life. As we well know it, any material thing has a certain value and can be either fixed or repaired, even replaced. But, once lost, LIFE cannot be replaced at will. Thus, we can’t put a value on it. Therefore our LIFE is invaluable and that makes it so precious. Life was meant to be precious by our Creator and we should honor it so, not destroy it. We should preserve Life by all means, now and forever and ever. Amen!
Formats
Book Details
About the Book
This book is a true story of survival and valor that was written by William P. Chad during the second part of the 20th Century A.D. He has dedicated it to his mother Makroohi. Together they emigrated to The United States of America from Lebanon at the end of WWI after been exiled from Malatya, their homeland of Western Turkey, former Armenian territories. William spent most of his adult life writing it. He did a great job in describing the WWI Era events with the accuracy and confidence of someone who was both directly involved and afflicted by them like a war correspondent. He lived through those horrific events. In his tedious work, William strived for perfection and has achieved it. Then he passed away and the work has passed on to us. The content of this book is a time window into WWI Era when tragedy has struck not only the Armenian but also the Greek, Nestorian and Syrian Peoples for their Christian belief. Millions have perished at the hands of Ottoman Turks and their proxies, Kurd mercenaries. It is estimated that 3.5 Million people have lost their lives during this era. These events are considered to be the first Holocaust of the 20th Century. “Is it easy to kill, to shed blood?” Hakim asked. “There is nothing to it, nothing at all. After the first kill, all the others are.” Hakim interrupted him nervously, “I have robbed, but I have never killed, not even a sheep." “You will,” the Chieftain said. “I will have to murder?” Hakim questioned. “To kill Armenians is not murder. It is legalized execution. We Kurds are not guilty of murdering the Giaourji. We are merely the instruments performing a service. We do not slay, we execute. Is the knife that stabs the life out of a sheep guilty of murder? Enough nonsense! Now go and pass the word to our men of what we are supposed to engage in by Executive Permission: Kill, Kill, and Kill!” Hakim stood up for a second then sat down again. “How will I know a Turk from an Armenian, hah? They all dress alike…” Hakim insisted. “Pull their pants down; a Christian is never circumcised.” It is our hope that such tragedies can be prevented if we strive to raise the awareness of all Peoples on Earth no matter their religious belief… Amen! All truth passes through three stages: First it is ridiculed; second, it is violently opposed; and third, it is accepted as self-evident.” Arthur Schopenhauer (1778–1860)
About the Author
William P Chad witnessed the horrors of World War One era as a young boy who lived with his family in Malatya City of Eastern Turkey, former Armenian territories. Both William and his caring mother Makroohi have outlived not only the tragic events that occurred in Malatya but The Exile to Lebanon through the Syrian Desert. After that they emigrated to The United States of America. William served in The US Navy then worked for The Boston Globe. William, a born story teller, honed his writing skills at Boston Globe. He survived the horrors of WWI, which have unfolded under his very eyes. During such times, he lost his beloved father Garabet who was choked to death while in The City Prison; and his Grandmother, Sheshoon Nana, who passed away before The Exile. The chance of reading a true story coming out of a horse's mouth is rare, and this is one of them... William dedicated this book to his mother Makroohi who was a real fighter. He lived his life to tell the story by putting it down on paper so that it can last for ages to come… Kevin von Klein took over where William left. Kevin is a born writer and story teller himself, with an almost similar background. He’s risked his life in pursuit of Freedom and Liberty over a quarter century ago while making his Great Escape out of a dictatorship to reach The Promised Land - The United States of America. A Professional Engineer by vocation, he also holds a Bachelor Degree in Literature. He’s written a number of volumes on various genres. By the Grace of God, here we have two genuine writers and story tellers who breathed life into this book, which makes us get lost into the Time-Space Continuum when we start reading it... Bon Voyage!