Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-10-09
The Truth About The
Evacuation of Asia
Minor By The Greeks

Those who are not initiated in the
WAYS and means of the European
diplomatic jungle cannot understand
the phenomenon of the Greek as
aster in Asia Minor. This disaster
IS not caused by the defeat OF the
Hellenic army, because really there
is no such defeat to be lamented. The
Greeks did not fight to gain or lose
a SINGLE battle since August %, ou;
they simply retreated and evacuated
Asia Minor. And it is this retreat
II is this evacuation that we call
disaster. and not the defeat" or
"rout." or "annihilation," as the
French and the Italians are SO loud
" and persistently advertising IN
'avor Of Renal Pasha.
The reoccupation of Ionia by the
nationalist Turks is a victory OF
Mohammedanism over Christianity OF
Asia over Europe, of barbarism and
autocracy against civilization ana
democracy, of war, reaction and stag
nation against peace, progress ana
prosperity. The loss OF Asia Minor
bv the Greeks is a loss to humanity.
The situation is so pregnant with a
new world catastrophe that every
thoughtful man cannot but look at 1t
with the greatest apprehension. Inc
American public is eager to know the
nlain truth about the Near East and
to see clearly the consequent course
of the present events.
The only cause of the Greeks dis
aster is this:
The Greek government was forced
bv the open enmity of its former al
lies 10 decide to evacuate Asia Minor.
This was a tremendous task. The
greatest obstacle to the execution OF
the said decision was the patriotism
of the commanding and staff officers
of the Greek army, who opposed the
evacuation and were in FAVOR OF or
ganizing a movement of national de-
tense of Ionia with the aboriginal
Christian population. The Greek gov
eminent removed Field Marshal
Papoulas and all officers opposed to
the evacuation, replacing them with
Hadjianestis and others, who were
willing to obey orders.
The evacuation is mlsrepresented
by the enemies of Greece as a defeat
and ignorant people believe that the
Greeks have been routed and an
initiated! The fact is that the Turks
we'll equipped and uniformed by the
Russian, French and Italian gov
ernments, pursued relentlessly the
retreating Greeks, came in contact
with them and endeavored desper-
ately to obstruct their way toward the
north and west, to the ports Oh
Moudania and Smyrna. The Turks
pressed the rear attachments OF the
retreating Greeks and forced them
to a hot contest. Some of the regl'
ments refused to put up fight
against the enemy. The soldiers
said: III the King and his govern
ment are unable to secure the fruits
of our sacrifices and victories of a
war lasting ten years and we have
to evacuate this land OF our fathers
drenched with our blood and covered
with the bones Of our comrades, then
we are not going to fight any more.
They lost faith in their commanders
they disobeyed their officers and fled
But these were only isolated in
stances Of lack of discipline and order
in the great retreat movement OF a
war front of more than two hundred
miles, instances bound TO happen in
the army Of any nation under similar
circumstances. As a whole the re-
treat Of these twenty myriad Greeks
reminding US Of the famous Aenop-
honian soldiers, was effected success
fully, in an orderly way with a com
paratively small loss in lives and ma
terial.