The New York herald., 1922-09-19
REFUGEES IN VAIN BEG
u. S. SHIPS FOR RESCUE
Turks Deporting SurDiUors In
iand-2OO, 900 Distracted
Sufferers.

CoNsTANTINoPLE, Sept. Is (Associated
Press) ALI the Americans who have re-
turned to Constantinople from Smyrna
depict the situation as one of incon-
ceivable horror. Nearly 100000 dis
tracted and covering refugees remain In
the city and environs inlploring to be
saved Their cries remain unanswered
because there are no ships to rescue
them.
The American destroyers Edsall Law
renee and Simpson are lying in the har-
Dor. but their commanders must turn n
deaf ear to the agonizng cries from
shore for their crews are needed on land
to keep the situation from degenerating
into an orgy of madness and revolution.
thousands of Christians are being
taken into the interior by the Kenalists
Only Providence knows their fate. Ac-
cording to eye witnesses suicide by
drowning has become commonplace.
Crazed mothers entreat the American
bluejackets to take their babies. so they
may be free to drown themselves
The bodies of hundreds of Christians
who were slaughtered or who found
death at their own hands on the night
Of the fire have come TO the surface Of
the harbor, giving the desolate city n
more CHASTITY aspect. The Americans,
tNHtii dttL JldlidiiS nave uTEeQ the
Turks to help remove the litter OF
bodies from the ruins, but no heed has
peen paid to these requests.
Z Edward NJ. Fisher. who comes from
= leading. Pa. director of the Y. NJ C..
~ at Smyrna, who was robbed and
. narrowly escaped death at the hands of
Turkish irregulars a few days ago. flas
returned to Constantinople. He gave
vivid picture of the fire and what fol-
lowed.
The fire started Tuesday afternoon" !"
said Mr.. Fisher. "and thin ten hotirs
bad spread nearly two miles In an
incredibly brief time the quay was
mass of terrified humanity The Chris
tian population had already lived
through a nightmare OF intimidation
and slaughter by the Turks; il needed
only the fire TO complete their frenzy.
Mobs Of them surrounded the American
sailors doing patrol duty ond begged
in the name of the Saviour and America
that they be saved, but our bluejackets
were helpless.
"The heat of the spreadin flames
was uncomfortable. The refugees dipped
: blankets into the water OF the bay and
wrapped them around their bodies.
Others fled up side streets goadeo bv
the overpowering heat. only to find
Turkish soldiers with machine guns
ready to slay them. The harness of
horses took fire and the infuri~ led ami
mails dashed among the dense crowds on
the pier, trampling many to DEATH
Other American refugees arrived here
to-day from Smyrna. One. resident of
Smyrna for ten years said the Turkish
troops massacred hundreds of Christians
and then deliberately set fre TO the city
10 cover up their crime
A naturalized American citizen shot
himself dead when the Kemalists seized
his wife and sister. Other Americans
were intimidated with pistols and robbed
Lieut.. Commander John b. Rhodes.
commander of the American destroyer
Iitchheld, with five blue Jackets saved
six British civilians from death after the
British forces evacuated the city. Amer
ican sailors at the peril of their lives
rescued thousands of refugees while the
fire was in progress
II. c. Jacquith Of Darien, Conn. who
was In Smyrna from the time OF the in
yasion to the destruction OF the city.
told the Associated Press correspondent
THE whole Dopulace rushed to the
waters edge. Many plunged into the
water. preferring drowning to death by
fire.
THE French Catholic nuns deserve
rnstinted praise for their heroism. When
the fre was at its worst they rushed
INTO the uOcRlAdiS IL AHt llNk VI
their own lives carried out the helpless
patients.
"The American people should be
proud of the valor and intrepidity OF
their sailors. who showed reckless un-
concern for their own security, helping
women and children TO escape from the
holocaust They forced their way with
bayonets through the dcnsely congested
crowds OF crazed fugitives which ex-
tended for two miles along the quay.
consolng and comforting the women and
children"
LONDON. Sept. rs (Associated Press)
M. Ninchtch. the Jugo -Slay Premier
dlncd tonight with Premier Lloyd
George winston Churchill and Lord
Curzo He afterward said to the Times
MY spAernment and myself attach the
very eseatest importance 70 the main
tena sce or the Entente between Eng
land and France. am inclined to think
thet England and France can yet agree
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