The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-09-10
WEIRD SCENES AT FALL
OF ESKI-SHEHIR
Greek Army Given Royal Welcome
as It Entered kemaIst Strong
hold In Asia Minor

EskiShehir, Asia Miner, Aug. 10.
(The Associated Press Picturesque
incidents characterized the fall of
Esli.Shehir, Kemal's great defensive
bu'wark 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
liberated Armenians and Greeks. hys-
terical with emotion and enthusiasm
standing ON the outskirts OF the city,
shrieking a ringing welcome to the in
yading troops. Pale-faced 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 hand Of welcome
to the soldiers.
The last remnant Of the fast moy-
ing Kemalists had fled the city just
an hour before Then a great animal
ed spectacle began to enfold itself.
Led by General Polymenakos and
his staff great human caravan.
stretching for miles and miles, began
to wind into the city A regmental
band struck up the Greek National
Anthem. On every throat were
shouts OF Long Live Greece" Long
Live the Army"
The soldiers had been continuously
on the march for nearly month,
having started from Brussa late in
June. They had ecipsed Shermans
great march from Atlanta to the sea
and were prepared If necessary to 90
on to Angora.
The unending columns of men.
horses, mules, cames. automobiles
motor trucks, ox.carts, water-bulfalo,
that made up the army. formed a
kale 'doscopic picture. II seemed as
il mammoth Noahs ark had sudden
ly emptied itself. Every animal and
bird known at the time OF the Flood
appeared to be represented in the
heterogeneous cavalcade that filed
through the portals Of the ancient
Turkish city. 1T looks like a page
from the Bible' remarked the Ameri-
can Military Attache to the CORES.
pondent.
There were herds Of sheep, doeks
OF geese. whole regiments of cows,
clusters of chickens aud every variety
of mascot that the soldiers had pick.
ed up on the way. Barking. cavort-
ing dogs and even a few stray cats
Joined the procession and added to the
general animation OF the scene Eski-
shehir had not had such a day in all
its long history.
The all-day march Of the weary SOL
diers was rewarded with a reception
that cheered their hearts and stirred
their emotions. In the ardor of their
welcome. the old women of the town
embraced the troops and little chill
dren showered flowers upon them. On
every tongue were eXclamations OF
Joy and eXuberance. 1t was memor
able day in Greek history, Ten thous
and Christians were liberated from
their bondage at the hands of the
Turk, and they wanted the Greek sol
diers to know their JOY and gratitude
The face Of the veteran Genera
Polymenakos, as he stood upon al
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
pondent and said, "They are a masni-
ncent set of men. They have been on
the marCa uninterruptedly for weeks
aud their spirit has never Ragged
That is truly the spirit of Greece, 1t
can never die
BY midnight the last of the Greek
Dictionaries 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 Tie
Turkish denizens OF the town had
long since retired to their dwellings,
depressed disappointed and sullen.
Eskishehir the Verdun of their de
fenses. had fallen.
The sounds OF 'Reyeille" came
from distant Greek camp, and Esh-
shehir fell asleep, conscious that it
had entered upon new era, The fol
lowing day at dawn the Greek flag
few from the citadel of the city. The
Old town had long been coveted by the
Greeks. Their conquest was now
fully realized.
Peroxide Good Remedy.