HOW THE GREEKS RETREATED.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 November 1922, Page 3

HOW THE GREEKS RETREATED.

BURNING AND KILLING AS THEY WENT. The following account of the fall of Smyrna was published in Home papers from one of Reuter’s correspondents:— MALTA. I was at Ushak, which is 50 miles west of Afium Karahißsar. I saw with my own eyes tins of benzine and incendiary bombs being distributed throughout the town, and I was warned by Greek offi--cers that the town would be burned. As I was leaving Ushak I saw three villages close by which had already been set on fire. Two hours after I had left Ushak itself was set on tire, ana rrom eye-witnesses I afterwards learned that practically the whole town was burned and that a good many of the Turkish inhabitants had .been massacred ‘by the Greek soldiers, and also that pillaging and looting had been the order of the day. This sort of thing continued throughout the whole retreat, and just to give an idea of the devastatin” wrought. I will Cite simply the towns burned with the population of each. They are: Ushak (25,000), Alasheir (Philadelphia) (15,000). Salihli (5,000), Cassaba (5000), Magnesia (40.000), Menemen (2000). These towns are all bn the Cassaba railway. As to events on the. Aidin railway line, the information when 1 loft was rather vague, but towns like Sokia (50.000), Thyra (10,000), and Odemish (10.000). as well as nearly every v J M a g e on the line cf the Greek retreat, had been burned. The demoralisation of the Greek troops was complete, and the behaviour of most of the Greek officers was disgusting. Many Greek officers led the looting and pillaging. The final stages of the drama wore enacted round Smyrna. On Friday evening, September 8, the Greek General Plastira, with about 4000 troops, whose heroism in trying to keep off the Turks in rearguard action after rearguard action was the only bright spot in the whole retreat, had taken up positions within seven miles of Smyrna. At about midnight Plastira, who had been wounded three times, withdrew. On Saturday morning, ■September 9, Turkish advance guards of cavalry entered Smyrna about 10.30. Three bombs wore thrown at the cavalry as they were pasing along the quay, wounding one officer and killing his horse. There were hundreds of 'Greek soldiers on the quay at the time who, on seeing the Turks approaching, proceeded to throw their arms and ammunition into the sea, a good many of them throwing even their caps and jackets as well.