As soon as I learned that the Russian Army had gone to Urumiah, I left Tiflis in order to distribute the aid offered by noble and kind-hearted English friends in this time of greatest need. Alas ! the destruction of life, wealth, and houses was greater than we had imagined. We have lost by death and murder more than 12,000 souls ; 150 Christian Nestorian villages have been completely plundered and burned to ashes by Turks and Kurds. I must say that plunder and massacre, and carrying off women and girls to make them by force deny Christ and believe in Mahomed is done by Persians. Our homes and property are almost all taken away by our neighbours, Persian Mahomedans. Unspeakably shameful acts were done on five-year-old girls by Persians. We have collected from Moslem villages more than 100 women who have been changed to Mahomedans and their husbands murdered in their sight.

-- The London Times, 9 October 1915.