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.