Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-19
TURKS SLAUGHTERED BY
 GREEKS AT SMYRNA


 and disorders which marked the oc-
 cupation of Smyrna by Greek troops
 on May 14 are contained in letter
 from ian American educator stationed
 in Asia Minor which has been receiv-
 ed here. Some Greek soldiers were
 killed but the slaughter of Turks was
 far more serious. the letter said
 There was no estimate of the mum Der of casualties, which previously had
 been reported at several thousand.
 but the writer asserts that reputable
 Americans saw men murdered and their bodies thrown into the sea; even men with their hands in the air. add
 ing that "a few were target for any
 soldier
 The American consulate in the midst of the storm of bullets, says the ac-
 count, which, however, contains no American casualties. The captain of the United States battleship Ariona, which, with other American ships and warships of the entente p.:wers, was in the harbor. sent twenty men to the consulate as guard. The writer quotes the Arizona's commander as refusing to supply a 1arged ,slIard be- dered by the high council of the peace conference, the United States not be- ing at war with Turkey was not party to the events connected witt, the Greek occupation. The captain of the Arizona is quoted further :, explain ing that the commanders Of tho en- tente warships in the harbor had agreed not to take part; only to send a small guard to the respective con- sulates." For this reason. the letter says, the commander held he was pow erless to grant a request for guard of two men over the orphanase of the American Commission for Relief in the Near East. where there were no children.
 Although he says .'it was apparent for nearly week that somesh:,lx- was going to happen" the writer of the letter remarks that it was not until the day before the occupation that word came that the British had in formed the Turkish authorities that the Greeks were to occupy the city and that at four o'clock tho allies were to send guards to their re speci i've conSulates."
 of danger they would be protected at the consulate.
 The events connected with the oc- cupation are recited by the writer as follows:
 Tt seems that the Greeks landed early. Then. with the bishop in the procession, they advanced down the quay. Somewhere near the Konak (government house) they met with some resistance. Some Greek soldiers was far more serious. The soldiers fired promiscuously and for some time the firing was general.
 With this beginning, the Greeks blood was up. Although this was to I a military occupation and political and religious affairs were not to be interfered with, high government of fcialS, including the governor of this important province were compelled to march down the quay under armed guards with their hands high in the air. Looting was carried on.
 All night there was firing around us and two guards were fired at. Tn the morning we discovered that all of the civilians. even boys, in the neigh boring village of Prophetelia had been supplied with rifles and bayonets and firing was general. Plunder was car ried from footed Turkish homes in | daylight. and word came that a petty | tax gatherer, a Turk, had been car- ried from his home by the ruffian gang | and murdered. went to see the body l A few people were nearby and among | them Greek soldier. Immediately aft l CT lunch a pit"h~d battle took place to the south of us."
 The hOSpItaI C- the American com mission for relief in the Near East, | still uncompleted. was hastily opened for emergency work and received wounded people and dead bodies" the letter continued. This morning there were some forty odd. mostly uniden- flied Turks" Looting continued at Smyrna and outlying villages for day pr two, but troops in each instance stopped and the pillaging and efforts veer made to restore some goods, the writer said.