Smyrna Wiped Out

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 18 September 1922, Page 4

Smyrna Wiped Out

FIRED BY THE TURKS. 2000 CHRISTIANS MASSACRED. REPORTED MURDER OF EUROPEANS. (By Cable.—Preus Association.—Copyright.] London, Sept. 15. Smyrna has ceased to exist. Banks and commercial and residential houses along the quays in the foreign quarter have been reduced to ashes. The fire swept an area of two square miles. Sir Harry Lamb. British ConsulGeneral, has cabled saying that all the foreign Consulates were burned except the Belgian. Norwegian, and Danish, which are three miles from the centre of the city. The sworn testimony of American residents shows that the Turkish regular soldiers systematically applied torches, apparently as a reprisal for the devastation carried out by the Greeks during their retreat; also, that the fire should conceal the massacres which marked their entry into the city. American witnesses estimate that at least 2000 were massacred previous to and during the fire, also a large number perished in the flames. They reported that Turks invading the British Consulate murdered several Englishmen, besides Mr. Wilkinson.—(A. and N.Z.) SCENES OF FRANTIC TERROR. DESCRIBED BY WARD PRICE. Mr. G. Ward Price, war correspondent of the “Daily. Mail,” reports from Smyrna that the Turks accuse the Armenians of starting the fire. Scenes of frantic terror amoug the Greek aud Armenian population during the night were made worse by the incompetence of the Turkish authorities to deal with such a catastrophe and by the dread they feel of the Turkish conquerors. The scene was terribly impressive. For miles down the gulf the sea glowed a coppery red, revealing deusely-packed mobs huddled between the advancing fiery death behind and the deep water in front. Added to their screaming was the frequent war and crash of ammunition explosions and the rattle of rifle cartridges. Little attention was paid to the fire when it started on Wednesday. Mr. Price was motoring with Kiazim Pasha at the time when smoke was first noticed. Kiazim said: “We will soon stop it by blowing up the houses,” and added: “The Armenians startedit. There is a band of them barricaded in a church in the heart of the town. Knowing they cannot escape, they started fires at nine different places.”— (United Service.) REFUGEES’ DESPERATION. BRITISH PICKET BOATS RUSHED. — (Received 18, 9.5 a.m.) London, Sept. 17. Mr. Ward Price describes attempts by panic-stricken Greeks in Smyrna to rush British picket boats to which guarded batches of Britishers were being marched from the Consulate. Bluejackets, with pitying faces and cheering words, pushed back the screaming throng. A Turkish guard, with levelled revolvers and swinging rifle hutts, prevented the embarkation of other than British. Meanwhile, gangs of Greek and Armenian prisoners were being constantly marched to the quay bv Turkish soldiers. Armenians. emboldened bv the presence ot the British, plunged into the sea. The Turks fired over the picket boat and killed them. It is alleged that those who started the fire were summarily shot. A few vards away bodies floated past our feet. Bluejackets brought aboard the inmates of the British maternity home. Three mothers were lying on stretchers with new-born infants * wailing under the blankets.—(United Sendee.) TURKS TURNED LOOSE ON THE GREEKS. London. Sept. 15. The “Tinies’ ” Athens correspondent wires: — “Trustworthy eve-witnesses who have returned from Smvrna dare that the Turkish regulars preserved discipline for two days, after which they w’ere turned loose on the Greek and Armenian business quarters, which they looted thoroughly.—(United Service.) PURSUIT OF DEFEATED GREEKS. Constantinople. Sept. 15. The Kemalists are continuing the pursuit of the remainder of the third Greek army corps, which is retreating towards Panderma, where embarkation is proceeding under the protection of warships.—(Reuter). CONFLICTING REPORTS. I REGARDING EUROPEAN VICTIMS. London, Sept. 16. The Foreign Office states that according to the latest telegrams from Smyrna there is nothing to indicate any British fatalities there. All the Consulates, except the Belgian and Spanish, have been destroyed. An Athens cable states that English victims at Smyrna include a doctor and his wife and two employees of the British Consulate, whom the Turks placed in a standing position after death and put the Union Jack in their hands. The damage at Smyrna is variously estimated at from £14,000,000 to £17,000,000. Fourteen Americans are reported missing. There is no official confirmation of the loss of British lives. The students at an American girls’ college are alleged to have been carried off by the Turks. Greece has protested to the of Nations, the Allies and the United States against the Kemalist massacres. Refugees state that many Greeks and Armenians have been summarily shot on a charge that they helped the Greek army or committed imaginary crimes. An American states that he saw’ headless bodies of Greek soldiers tied together. Kemalists massed on a quay at Smyrna and prevented detachments of Allies from larding. The Greek cruiser Kilkis bombarded the Turkish quarter of Smyrna. WORK FOR THE RED CROSS. AMERICAN CO-OPERATION. Washington, Sept. 16. The State Department has communicated to the Allies a proposal to cooperate with them in affording relief for the refugees from Smyrna and Asia Minor, but has not yet received a reply. The American Red Cross has empowered Admiral Bristol, United States High Commissioner at Constantinople, to expend 25,000 dollars in temporary relief in Smyrna and stands ready to co-operate in any feasible plan of international relief.—(A. aud N.Z.)