Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-09-16
GREAT DAY FoR GREECE
Turks Overcome After Hundred of
Years.

Turks Overcome After Hundred Of
Years.
Eski- Shehir, Asia Minor, Aug. 15.-
(The Associated Prcss.) s.)-Picturesque
| incidents characterized the fall of
Eski- -Shehir, Kemals great defensive
bulwark to the Greek army.
The Associated Press correspon-
dent entered the city shortly after the
first units of General George Poly
menakos' victorious Third Army Corps
had marched in. He found 5000 lib
Grated Armenians and Greeks, hyster-
ical with emotion and enthusiasm,
standing on the outskirts of the city,
shrieking a. ringing welcome to the in
vading troops. Palefaced men and
youths who had been in hiding from
the Turks for months, emerged fur
lively from their cells like spectres
and ran to extend a hand of welcome
to the soldiers.
The last remnant Of the fast-mov-
ing Kemalists had fed the city just
an hour before. Then a great ami
mated spectacle began to unfold itself.
Led by General Polymenakos and
his staff, a great human caravan,
stretching for miles and miles. began
to wind into the city. regimental
band struck up the Greek National
Anthem. On every throat were shouts
of Long Live Greece!" Long Live
the ARMY"
Che soldiers had been continuously
or the march for nearly 4 month,
having started from Brussa late in
June. They had eclipsed Sherman's
great march from Atlanta to the sea
md were prepared if necessary to go
en- to Angora.
The unending columns of men, horses,
mules, camels, automobiles, motor
trucks, ox-carts, water-buffalo, that
made up the army, formed a kalcido-
scopic picture. 1t seemed as II
mammoth Noah's ark had suddenly
cmp.ied itself. Every animal and bird
cd to be represented in the heterogen-
eous cavalcade that fed through the
portals Of the ancient Turkish city.
"lt looks like q page from the Bible,
remarked the American Military At
tachc TO the correspondent.
There were herds of sheep, focks
of geese, whole regiments of cows,
clusters Of chickens and every variety
of mascot that tho soldiers had pick
cd ND on the way. Barking, cavort!nS
dogs and even a few stray cats joined
the procession and added to the gen.
eral animation of the scene. Eski-
Shchir had not had such Il day In all
its long history.
The all-day march of the weary
soldiers was rewarded with recep-
ton that chcered their hearts and
stirred their emotions. In the ardor
of their welcome, the old women of
fhn town embraced the troops and
little children showered flowers up
on them. On every tongue were eE
carnations of joy and cXubcrance. 1t
was a memorable day in Greek his
tory. Ten thousand Christians were
liberated from their bondage at the
lands of the Turk, and they wanted
the Greek soldiers to know their JOY
and gratitude.
The face of the veteran, General
PolymcnakoS, rs nc stood upon 4
porch looking down upon his beloved
troops, was eloquent with content
ment and admiration. His eyes filled
with tears as he turned to the cores
pondcnt and said: "They are mag
nificcnt set of men. They have been
en- the march uninterruptcdly Tor
weeks and their spirit has never flag
ged. That is truly the spirit of Greece.
1t can meyer die"
BY midnight the last of the Greek
leeionaires had entered the city. The
Armenian and Greek residents who
came TO greet them returned quietly
to their homes and gave thanks for
this their day of liberation. The
Turkish denizens of the town had long
since retired to their dwellings, de-
pressed. disappointed and sullen.
Eskt- Sheltir, the Verdun of their de"
fenses, had fallen.
The sounds of "Reveille" came from
Il distant Greek camp, and Esli- Shehir
rolI ocI,o-, oopccipIIc thot IL had on
tered Upon a new era.
The following day at dawn, Greek
flags few from the citadel of the city.
The old town had long been coveted
by the Greek. Their CONQUEST was
now fully realized.
Post Mort2m.-"Ya'as," drawlcd
Two-Gun Steve, of Tombstone, Ariz.