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« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2010, 12:49:13 pm » |
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In case of Southern Caucasus’s separating from Russia, the rumors
about which had already reached us, and it was highly expected
then, we would leave at once. In such a case we would be aliens in
the Southern Caucasus.
Thus, under the light of the prevailing instructions and orders it was
understood that everybody held the right to apply his superior for
resignation or for his transfer to Russian Corps. I declared that I
would not delay any applications that would reach me, and that I
would immediately sent all the applications to the authorities.
At this meeting, Senior Lieutenant Yermolov from the 7th Caucasus
Mountain Artillery Battalion, told the officers that he had written a
personal application for his dismissal as he did not want to serve in
an Armenian Battalion; that they, at first, tried to convince him, and
upon his decisively declaring that he would not stay whatsoever,
Colonel Morel issued a written order stating that Senior Lieutenant
Yermolov was an “alien,” in other words he was a useless and
dangerous person as an officer, who was dismissed from his post to
be sent to Front Headquarters; and that he was ordered to leave
Erzurum within 24 hours at the latest.
Such was the attitude towards an officer who was holding several
decorations of war. His rightful refusal of a post in an Armenian unit
compelled Colonel Morel to confess, in his anger, his extreme loyalty
towards the Armenians openly; and as a result he was libeled.
Dr. Zavriyev tried to persuade the Russian officers to the following
terms: by staying in Erzurum the Russian officers were serving the
Russian army and serving the Russian interests only, not the
Armenian cause; that the Armenian people were strictly bound to
Russia; that they would continue their existence with the help of
Russia in the future; Armenians were not in pursuit of breaking up
with Russia whatsoever; Armenian people were a part of the Russian
people; that the prevailing circumstanced necessitated our staying in
Erzurum for the economic and political interests of Russia until the
signing of a treaty. He said, being Russian citizens, we did not have
the right to say, “You the Armenians and the Turks do what you have
to do! Are you butchering each other? Go ahead and do it! Damn you!
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