Reports on atrocities in the districts of Yalova and Guemlek and in the Ismid Peninsula : $b Presented to Parliament by command of His MajestyInter-Allied Commission of Enquiry into Atrocities in Yalova and Guemlek
History
Reports on atrocities in the districts of Yalova and Guemlek and in the Ismid Peninsula : $b Presented to Parliament by command of His Majesty
Inter-Allied Commission of Enquiry into Atrocities in Yalova and Guemlek
Greco-Turkish War, 1921-1922 -- Atrocities
On leaving the mayor’s house, the commission called on the Greek general
and took tea with him. It returned to the “Bryony” at 6·30, the “Bryony”
remaining at anchor at Guemlek for the night.
_May 15._—It was the intention of the commission to go to Kumlar to make
an enquiry as to what had occurred.
At 8 o’clock smoke was seen to rise above the village of Narli. The
commission went on board the motor boat, but, unfortunately, it had a
breakdown, and the members had to return to their ship. At 10 o’clock, a
cloud of smoke was observed above Karaja Ali. As the motor boat could
not take us there, orders were given to remain on board, and the
“Bryony” made for the flaming villages. Narli was reached at 2 o’clock.
That village was still a mass of glowing ruins, and it was decided to
land at Karaja Ali, which was burning fiercely, and on the beach corpses
were seen. Twelve old people, one of whom was an aged woman, were found
on the shore. Two men were still alive and were taken on board the
“Bryony” by her doctor. It was impossible to get into the village owing
to the intense heat. The mosque and the school, which were on a slight
elevation, were the only two buildings which had not been fired.
At 4·30 the commission landed at Kutchuk Kumlar, a village about 2½
kilom. from the point of debarkation. The houses on the beach were
entirely destroyed, and one was in flames. Horses had been sent by the
Greek general, who the day before had been informed of our intention to
visit the village.
The Commission made for Kutchuk Kumlar. Several hundreds of
terror-stricken inhabitants, mostly women, were waiting for the
commission to land.
It was difficult to obtain exact information, so great was the panic
among the population, but it was gathered that a detachment of Greek
soldiers and brigands had gone through the village a few days before and
had returned that very morning, passing the Kumlar landing-place. The
commission returned on board, followed by the entire population, which
placed itself under the protection of the Allies and refused to leave
the beach, imploring us to take them to quiet and safety. That end of
the jetty which was nearest to the “Bryony” was most densely covered
with people. A letter was then written to General Leonardopoulos, asking
him to take immediate steps for the protection of the village of Kumlar.
It was only possible to hand him this letter at 6 A.M. next day. The
“Bryony” remained at anchor beyond the landing-place, throwing her
searchlights over the beach and the adjoining hills all night long, in
order to reassure the refugees.
_May 16._—At 9 A.M. the commission landed, in order to collect all
possible information from the refugees on the beach. One wounded and two
dead men were brought along by the natives.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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