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

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.