GREEK FLIGHT TO THE WEST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3148, 18 December 1922, Page 7

GREEK FLIGHT TO THE WEST.

(By H. J, Creenwau", Adrianople.) The great trek from Eastern to Western* Thrace is probably without parallel in historv since the Israelites' fled from Egypt. .Just as the Israelites never paused in their flight until they had crossed the Red Sea, so* the Thraoian refugees will not stop until they have the River Maritza behind them.

I have just made the cighteen-hour journey from Dedcagatch to Adrianople in a railway truck across the steady tide of refugees, and I find that the situation here has been exaggerated. It is bad, but not nearly so bad as was anticipated.

There has been some trouble between Turks and Greeks in outlying districts, and some murders have been com mitt ed. but there is no question of massacres. One constantly hears of the prospective burning of tins city, the second largest in Turkey, but a detachment of French infantry and a squadron of cavalry arc concentrated in Adrianople with express orders to act immediately there is any sign of a repetition of what happened in Smyrna. The French colonel in charge will be ruthless should either 1 Greek or Turk show signs of creating disorder. Allied officers have tried their best to influence the refugees' to stay their flight, but in vain. They become hysterical if checked. Men and women throw themselves down in the slimy mud and kick and scream if opposed. If asked where they are going they shrug their shoulders, if one asks why they are going they draw their right, hand across their throats. It is the inherited terror of the Turk which haptens their feet.

Tho British are accepted as supermen. The solitary British officer in control at Dedeagatch belongs to the Arirty Education Corps, and wonders what he is doing in that galley, hut every day ho saves the situation there. He acts as judge, consul, railway transport officer, and general factotum. He and two British orderlies are the only three shaven men in the place.

The two orderlies are treated as tin gods when they enter a cafe. Greek majors and colonels rise like one man and give them chairs, presumably under tho impression that they are officers of high rank.

Since I left Salonika on Tuesday T have traced the river refugees from month to source l . I must have seen 200,000 between the beginning and the end of the journey.

When the refugees reach a port, either Salonika, Piraeus, or Dedeagatch. they sit. down and sob hopelessly. JVlany die from exposure. Three nude boys whoso ages ranged from seven to ten were found dead in the railway station at Salonika. Many babies a (v.\v hours old have died in railway trucks in their mothers' arms, but to hear tho refugees chanting cen-tury-old songs one would not believe that they are leaving their homes for unknown destines.

They have left behind them crops of tobacco and corn worth thousands of pounds, which they parted with for a few shillings when panic seized them.

Since Tuesday I have travelled in a contrary direction to two unending lines of ox-drawn, hooded wagons. To gaze on these caravans is like diving into the middle of the Old Testament .Then* arc old men with their staves, long white beards, and bunions (robes), and young women, supple of hip and lissom in their walk, carrying earthenware pitchers on their shoulders, art a, swater-bearers.