During his visit to SPC, May 1914, pre declaration of the War, Ambassador Morgenthau, American Ambassador at Constantinople, donated some money for a trophy for the promotion of Athletics (not very appealing)
Beyrouth - Damascus Road Wadi Nahr el-Barada along the R.R. Line 128 Australians caught 7000 Turks retreating through this valley and machine-gunned them all the afternoon and evening of September 30th 1918