Reports on atrocities in the districts of Yalova and Guemlek and in the Ismid Peninsula

by Inter-Allied Commission of Enquiry into Atrocities in Yalova and Guemlek

Diary of the Inter-Allied Commission sent to Enquire into Incidents in the Regions of Guemlek and Yalova.

The commission left Constantinople at noon on the 12th May, and arrived at Guemlek at 4·30. The Greek General Leonardopoulos, commanding the 10th Division, who was found to be at Guemlek, at once came on board and appeared rather vexed at our arrival, but was quite courteous and even offered to place two motor cars at the disposal of the commission, in order that it might visit Bazar Keui on the morrow. The commission landed at 6 o’clock and found the mayor on the beach, who conducted the commission to the Greek part of the town. Hundreds of refugees from Greek and Armenian villages destroyed by the Kemalists were met, more particularly those from Kiz Derbent, Elmalik, Vizir Han, Hudieh, Fulajik, Levkeh and Kuplu. The Greek refugees in Guemlek had very bad quarters, but were fed by the Greek army.

At 9 A.M. on the 13th May, the commission drove out to the Turkish villages behind the Greek lines, Bazar Keui being reached without any incident. A crowd of Greek refugees, mostly composed of women, gave a friendly demonstration when the commission left Guemlek. Bazar Keui was found to be completely destroyed, with the exception of a few houses occupied by Greek troops.

The commission was received by the Greek commandant (commander of the Bazar Keui detachment), who stated that he had not been at Bazar Keui at the beginning of April, when the village was occupied by the 5th Infantry Regiment. The present commandant only took over at Bazar Keui on the 15th April. When the Greek army reached Bilejik a regiment was left behind to ensure communications. When the retreat commenced, however, the Turkish population became very excited, and looted and burnt the Greek and Armenian villages of Kiz Derbent and Chengeller. Many of the inhabitants of these destroyed villages came to Bazar Keui. At the same time some Turkish peasants attacked the Greek lines of communications, and in consequence of this the commandant received the order to evacuate the Turkish population of various villages within his sector. This work began on the 16th April, but when the Turkish houses were left empty, the Greek and Armenian refugees set fire to them in order to avenge themselves.

After this interview, the commission visited the destroyed village of Chengeller. It had been razed to the ground, but here and there people were still living in the ruins. They stated that the village had been sacked by the Turks, and that many of the inhabitants had been killed in their houses.

The commission returned to Bazar Keui. This town had been systematically destroyed by fire. There were no inhabitants and no proofs of explosion, and no bodies were found.

The commission then visited the village of Cheltikji, which was burning when it arrived. Four Greek soldiers were surprised whilst taking away the flooring of houses in the village, and it is probable that they had fired those houses which were still standing. The inhabitants left their village when they saw what was happening at Bazar Keui; it was fired next day. The commission was unable to find any trace of bodies.

The commission visited Gedelek, a village which had been entirely destroyed, but was unable to find any trace of the twenty-seven people reported to have been massacred. When the confines of Gedelek were reached, a crowd of refugees and of soldiers (who had begun by making a friendly demonstration) suddenly noticed Mulazim Sureyah Effendi, guide to the commission, and attacked him. He was dragged from the motor, and was only brought back on board the “Bryony” after great difficulty.

The commission returned on board at 6 o’clock, and the Head of the Greek Staff came on board the “Bryony” to offer his apologies for the incident, which had taken place in the afternoon.

At 9 o’clock on the 14th May, the commission sat at the mayor’s house in order to hear any complaints which Greeks and Armenians might have to make. The mayor very kindly asked the commission to lunch, but his invitation was declined.

The first person to lay a complaint gave to the commission a general summary of the atrocities perpetrated against the Armenians since the outbreak of war. In this region eighteen villages had been destroyed and the population reduced from 70,000 to 2,500. When asked how the question of this mixture of races could be settled, he replied that Christianity could not exist under a Turkish Government, even if an inter-Allied gendarmerie were created.

The last Armenian massacre commenced a year ago, i.e., at the beginning of the Kemalist movement, when Anatolia was evacuated by the Allied troops.

Complaints from Chengeller, Yeni-Keui, Keramet and Murdigheuz were heard, all referring to the massacres and burnings of August 1915, and the middle of 1920. More particularly, some women of Fulajik (a Greek village) were heard. They told us of terrible atrocities, and stated that the Turkish officer who was guide to the commission was one of the officers responsible for these massacres.

The commission continued its enquiry at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, in the house of the mayor. Men and women were heard, some from Vizir-Han, Kiz Derbent, Elmalik, Soyuljak, Cherkesskeui, Deli-Bazar, and Orta-Keui. All had more or less the same tale to tell—Kemalists would arrive in their village from time to time, first asking for money and food, then taking cattle and horses, and finally, when the village had nothing more to give, a massacre would take place and the houses would be fired.

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.

The refugees stated that the day before a group of them, about twenty strong, tried to get to Guemlek in order to procure bread. They left the village, and, on arriving at the landing-place, met a detachment of Greek soldiers and brigands, commanded by a Greek officer. The women were sent back to the village, and the men were forced to follow the bandits. On the way some of the men were given the order to return, and others were killed, the muktar being among the latter.

At 10 o’clock the commission reached the village, which was completely destroyed. A corporal and ten men sent by General Leonardopoulos (before the arrival of the letter sent that morning, which he could not have received) were on guard. The corporal was questioned by the commission.

On returning to the landing-place, a Greek staff officer, sent by the general commanding the Greek division, was waiting for the commission. At the request of the latter he assured the refugees that they would be properly protected, a promise which had no effect on the population.

The commission then made for Kapakli. The village was entirely destroyed. Two or three terrified inhabitants were found among the ruins. They told the commission that the natives were hidden in the mountains, fearing that they would be killed on appearing.

The commission went through the village and found eight corpses, four of which were those of women. Three of the dead men had been killed a fortnight before, in a preceding engagement. The five others had been killed during the morning of the preceding day. The commission found an infant which had been abandoned and which was taken on board.

The three survivors begged the Commission to take them to a safe spot. They were told to inform the refugees who were hiding in the mountains, and that if all assembled on the beach they would be taken to Kutchuk Kumlar next day.

The commission made for Narli, which village was found to be entirely destroyed. There were no dead to be seen and there was only one remaining inhabitant—an old Turk—who said that he was quite happy, and who made the commission feel that its visit was an intrusion!

The “Bryony” remained anchored outside Kutchuk Kumlar all night, we having returned to that spot.

May 17.—At 8·30 A.M. two Greek officers, who were in command of the detachment, sent to Guemlek on the 11th to search and disarm villagers between Guemlek and Armudli, were sent on board by one of the Greek staff officers.

The commission interrogated them. The date when they passed through the burned villages corresponded exactly with the time when those villages were found to be in flames. One officer acknowledged that he had had four Turks shot, but apart from this denied any knowledge of murder or looting.

At 9·30 we left Kutchuk Kumlar for Fistikli. We towed two caiques, to be left at Kapakli, to convey the refugees who were able to leave the mountains in view of the promise made by the commission.

About 200 refugees were found to have assembled on the beach. The “Bryony” left the caiques, with the necessary escort, and proceeded to Fistikli. That village appeared to be perfectly quiet. Turkish and Greek merchants were selling their olives on the landing-place.

An officer was sent ashore to make enquiries. The Turks, terrified at what was passing in other villages, were selling their goods before leaving for Armudli. (The price offered by the Greeks was certainly below the usual standard.)

Armudli was reached at mid-day. The village appeared quiet. An officer was sent ashore to ask the officer commanding the Greek detachment to come on board and report if it was necessary for the commission to visit the village.

It was decided that the commission should interrogate the chief Greek and Turkish inhabitants at the landing-place at 2 o’clock.

The Greek officer stated that all was quiet and that he had orders to guard the village only.

He spoke of several cases of brigandage in the adjoining farms.

The representatives of the Greek and Turkish committees appeared to be living in absolute agreement, but, on being questioned separately, nevertheless complained of each other.

The commission went back on board the “Bryony” and made for Kapakli, in order to tow the two caiques, which were brought back full of refugees to Kutchuk-Kumlar.

On arriving at Kumlar, the representative of the Red Cross stated that he had spoken with the brigand chief, who had arrived at the landing-place during the absence of the “Bryony” in order to terrorise the refugees and boast of his doings. A message was sent to General Leonardopoulos, advising him of the arrival of the brigand chief.

The “Bryony” remained anchored outside Kutchuk Kumlar during the night.

May 18.—At 8 o’clock the “Bryony” returned to Guemlek. At 9 o’clock the commission went ashore and visited the Turkish quarter and a mosque full of Moslem refugees.

The commission conducted its enquiry at the seat of the Turkish Administration. All the people were filled with terror, received no food beyond what they could procure themselves and asked to be taken away and sent to some quiet place.

On returning on board, the commission received a wireless message at 1 P.M., stating that the “Ineboli” had just left Constantinople to take on board refugees from Kutchuk Kumlar.

The commission returned to Guemlek, visited the mayor, and informed him of its intention to take away the Turkish refugees.

At 6·30 we returned to Kutchuk Kumlar. At 9 o’clock the boat arrived and took the refugees on board, the baby which we had on board being handed over to the care of a Turkish woman. Embarkation was completed at 2 A.M., and the “Ineboli” left for Constantinople.

May 19.—The “Bryony” remained anchored beyond Kutchuk Kumlar. Those refugees for whom there had been no room on board the “Ineboli,” and who had been left behind, gained confidence, and several returned to the village to obtain provisions.

At 1 o’clock the brigand chief, Haji Yorghi (who had been met by the representative of the Red Cross), was brought on board by a staff officer on the order of the general commanding the Greek troops. He said that he had been drunk when he boasted the day before, and that in reality he was guide to the Greek detachment sent to disarm the villagers.

During the evening the “Ineboli” and three other boats returned to Kumlar. The remaining refugees were sent off.

May 20.—At 6·30 the “Bryony” and the boats sent by the Red Crescent left Kumlar for Guemlek.

The refugees were notified that they were to assemble on the beach in order to embark. At mid-day the commission went ashore to see what progress was being made. The Greek officers required that able-bodied men should be left behind, guaranteeing that they would be properly treated. This proposal was accepted by the commission.

The commission again went ashore at 3·30 and saw the last refugees embark. The boats then weighed anchor.

At 4 o’clock the “Bryony” left Guemlek for Tuzla, where she was to wait instructions by wireless concerning the voyage to Yalova.

May 21.—The “Bryony” anchored at Yalova at 8 o’clock. An officer was sent ashore to inform the commander of the Greek detachment that the Inter-Allied Commission had arrived.

At 9 o’clock the Greek officer commanding the detachment came aboard and was questioned by the commission. He stated that when he arrived at Yalova, about a month before, he had found that all the neighbouring villages had been burned. As far as he knew, there were brigands in the neighbourhood, but his orders were only to hold Yalova, and his patrols always kept within a radius of 2½ kilom. of it.

The commission went ashore at 10 o’clock and was met by a crowd of Greek refugees, mostly women.

The commission sat at the Greek headquarters, and heard complaints made by Greek refugees, more particularly those from Fulajik.

It asked the Greek officer to withdraw, and the kaïmakam was heard. He stated that before the war the population of the Yalova district was one-half Christian and one-half Turkish. Yalova itself was a Turkish town.

At present there were only 300 Turks in Yalova and a few hundreds in the distant villages of Samanli and Ak-Keui.

The kaïmakam asked the commission to evacuate the Turkish population to a place of safety. On leaving the Greek headquarters, the commission found the Greek refugees raving with anger. The reason for this was that Hafiz Ahmet (one of the guides of the commission and also one of the chief men of a neighbouring village, who had gone ashore that morning with the commission) had been accused by some Greek women of having been implicated in various massacres which had taken place in the neighbourhood. It was with the very greatest difficulty, and only by turning the attention of the crowd on another point, that he was enabled to enter a boat and return on board. He was pursued by a howling crowd, which even entered the water while the boat was pushing off with all speed.

At 2·30 the “Bryony” anchored at Chinejik and the commission at once went ashore. The Turkish quarter was quite empty, but not destroyed. The mosque had been looted, but not burned, and no traces were found of the horrible massacres reported as having taken place at this spot.

The Greek priest showed the commission freshly-turned Turkish graves.

The “Bryony” then left for Enguri. When the commission went ashore, it was received by the officer commanding the Greek detachment. As far as he knew, only brigandage had taken place in the neighbourhood.

The commission then made for the twin villages of Kojadereh, which were entirely destroyed. There were no inhabitants and no bodies were found; no information was obtained.

The commission returned to the “Bryony,” which remained at anchor off shore all night.

May 22.—Returned at 8·30 and arrived at Top-Haneh, Constantinople.

Report of the Ismid Commission of Enquiry.

To His Excellency,

The British High Commissioner, Constantinople.

Your Excellency,

Constantinople, June 1, 1921.

We have the honour to submit the following report in accordance with your instructions and with the terms of reference for the above-named Commission of Enquiry:—

1. Credible evidence has been produced as to crimes committed during the last twelve months by both Greeks and Turks. There is no doubt that there have been a large number of atrocities in the Ismid peninsula, and it appears that those on the part of the Turks have been more considerable and ferocious than those on the part of the Greeks.

We attach a résumé of our investigations upon which our opinions are based; and will prepare a schedule giving full details.

2. The present state of affairs is largely due to racial feeling and age-long vendetta, now fanned to an intense pitch by exaggerated stories which promote fear and excitement.

3. Greek regular troops have been implicated in recent excesses, and both officers and soldiers; more especially lately when the troops have been on the march.

In the zone which is effectively occupied by the Greek army there is order, but it appears to be maintained at the cost of oppressing the Turkish population. This evil is accentuated by the Turkish Civil Administration, which, particularly in the neighbourhood of Ismid, is venal and corrupt, and allows itself to be used by the Greeks, to carry out their policy.

The Greek military authority admits that nothing is done to maintain order in districts not actually occupied by Greek troops.

4 (a). The commission recommend that full advantage should be taken of the existing Turkish organisation for the maintenance of order and that this should be expanded and made more powerful. European officers to be made available to give assistance to the Central Government, and this especially in the way of control of officials charged with the administration of justice, such European officers also being made responsible for reporting to their Government any infringement of international law by either belligerent.

Also that pressure be brought to bear upon the Greek military authorities to maintain civil order and justice by means of this organisation in such portions of Asia Minor as they occupy or can control.

(b 1.) Where either side is in the ascendancy the survivors of the other in many cases become fugitive; the men often become brigands. The estimate given by the Greek Colonel Commandant of the 11th Division at Ismid was of some 12,000 to 15,000 Christian refugees in Ismid itself, mostly women and children.

The Greek army have instituted conscription of those Ottoman subjects who are Christian refugees, who have to leave their families in great distress.

Moslems who are now in the power of the Greeks are in a state of great fear and wish to escape or to be given protection. Such Greeks who still remain in the north of the Ismid peninsula fear an advance by Nationalist troops and may become fugitives at any time.

(b 2.) The commission recommend that the Christian refugees should be removed now to a region which is, and will remain, under Greek Government, or which will be under the protection of the Allies, and that husbands and fathers who have been taken by conscription from those dependent on them should be restored to their families. Also that the Armenians should be removed to an area under the protection of the Allies.

The members of the commission are under the impression that those Moslems who have become brigands will return to their homes and to peaceful pursuits when assured of settled conditions under Moslem Administration, and that Greek brigands, if offered an amnesty, will take the opportunity of trusting the Allies in a scheme for colonisation in a Greek zone. These men appear usually to have become brigands only when driven from their homes or after desertion from Turkish military service.

We have, &c.

H. M. FARMAR, Lieutenant-Colonel.

Temporary Colonel VITELLI.

Lieutenant-Colonel WILKONSKY.

O. H. VAN MILLINGEN, Major.