Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-10-24
GREEKSFAC|NG
SEVERE WINTER
IN BAT TIE AREA
Military Critics Claim
Troops Can Not Stay
in Conquered District.
Turks, Fighting on.
Familiar Ground, Are.
Hard to Defeat.

bfuSd, Asia MINOR. OcC. S0.-lne
problem of holding, throughout the
autumn and winter, the large area in
Anatolia the Greeks occupy since their
appears to be a serious one. In the
judgment of competent military critics
it will not be possible unless the
Greeks are able to erect barracks or
other shelters suitable for the rains
and heavy SHOWS which are bound to
ensue.
A great part OF this territory is CO.
void of living abodes of any kind. TO
shelter the troops in tents during the
cold months will be out of the ques-
ton. The making of earth dug0uts
might solve the problem, but the coun-
try furnishes absolutely no wood or
other fuel.
Winters Are Severe.
Some observers go as far as to pre-
dict that if the Hellenic forces attempt
to hold this vast area during the win
ter, they will repeat Napoleon's dis
astrous retreat from Moscow.
When the Greeks set themselves
the task Of reaching Angora through
long detour south of the Sakaria
river, they had very imperfect con-
ception OF hte real Typographical fea
lures Of the country. They depended
almost entirely upon maps which had
been made % years ago and which in
many cases gave no indication of the
mountainous character and physical
obstacles of the country.
Once they drove the Turks east OF
the Sakaria, they believed their way
would be relatively easy. But they
found their adversaries strongly en-
trenched in commanding ridges of the
hills and mountains which were all
but impregnable. It was from these
dominant positions that the Turks
poured down upon the Greeks on the
plains and valleys whitening ma
chine-gun and artillery fire which
only superhuman effort could have
The Greek losses in dead and
wounded are estimated at more than
5000. The Turkish casualties are
believed to be somewhat less. The
prisoners taken by the Greeks num-
bered approximately 1,5OO.
Troops Exhausted
The exhaustion Of hte Greek troops
after their several hundreds of miles
of marching and their 1Odays battle
was another vital reason that prompt
cd the Greek general staff to halt the
struggle agains THE Kemalists. 1t
was clear and Greek troops could not
have gone on much longer. Not only
were they greatly enervated b. their
long hard marches over desert-like
land, but they had insufficient food,
water and sleep.
1t is also undeniable that some of
them were badly shaken by the fierce.
unrelenting fighting of their foremen
and the heavy losses among their
comrades and officers6 In some IN
stances they refused openly to 60 for
ward until assured of adequate protec-
ton of their flanks and proper artil
lery support. All this was perhaps
perfectly natural in a struggle against
al, enemy in his own country and who
had so many points in his favor.
The necessity of shortening their
lines of communication, embracing
hundreds of kilometers Of sandy.
billy roads. constituted the fourth i'm
portant factor which made It seem wise
to stop the campaign. The Greeks
had sufficient motor trucks and other
vehicles. but it took days for NUM-
tons and supplies to reach the front.
And their supply trains were con-
stantly menaced by bands Of Turkish
irregulars which infested the noun
tain sides. 1t was fOunO e4tFeMeI?
difficult to move the heavy guns aud
to get adequate quantities of mimi
tions to the front in time to be of use.
Fight to Last Ditch
Both sides fought with great valor
and determination. The Kemalists
were CONSCIOUS that their capital was
in danger, and they put all their
strength and spirit into the struggle.
Their counter attacks were especially
daring and brilliant. The work Of
their artillery, too. was of high
The Greeks. flushed with their sue
cesses at Kutahia and Eski-Shehir,
attacked with all the energy and self
confidence of victors. They bore
without complaint the great hardships
and privations incident to a ampaiga
in q strange, difficult and inhospitable
country. If they failed in their ambi-
ton Of reaching ssAngora it was not,
because of inherent weakness in them
selves, but because they faced an OPP
ponent quite as brave and resolute as
them selves and encountered physical
barriers which it required greater
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