Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-07
DEFEATED GREEKS
APPEAL To ALLIE.


ciated Press.) = General opinion in
well informed quarters in London
today was that the disaster to the
Greek army in Asia Minor was COM
plete. There seemed little prospect
that anything could now save it
from a total debacle.
The Greek government has ap-
pealed to the powers to obtain an
armistice with the Turkish nation
alists, who have virtually driven the
Greeks from the battlefield and as
a result of interchanges among the
chancellerieS at London, Paris and
Rome instructions have been sent to
the allied high commissioners Of the
three powers in Constantinople to
discuss joint measures for bringing
about suspension Of hostilities.
1t is hoped here that meeting be-
tween representatives of the bellig-
erents can be arranged to be held
within the next two or three days
in neutral zone of Asia Minor,
southwest of Isnid. and that this
meeting will be productive of a
speedy cessation of fighting.
The safety of thousands OF Chris
tians now seems to be the chief con-
Germ of the allies, whose warships
alone, it is said, stand between them
and possible humiliation. What de-
gree of protection can be given, es-
pecially if the Turks reach Smyrna
in their pursuit Of the Greeks is a
matter for speculation.
The British feared that additional
Il cf1- OF
the demand for recession OF Thrace,
as we'll as of Asio Minor, which
Britain, Rumania and Serbia regard
as impossible.
Seriousness Of the situation was
emphasized by the fact that Ameri.
can warships were ordered to par
ticipate in the rescue Of threatened
Christian minorities.
Success of the Kemalist drive
would mean that Turkey and Bull
garia would once more be Joined, as
the allied strip which separates the
countries would be cut by Mustapha
KemaTs troops.
Millions of Christians would be
forced to flee, the foreign office in
dictated, and to seek sanctuary in
Thrace.
The political situation in Athens
is most serious. The Greek govern
ment is expected to resign shortly
in favor. of a coalition government
under Sterghiaotes.
The British were particularly anx-
,ious to end hostilities to make pos 4
5sible the Near East conference which i
is planned for Venice by the end of
September, at the least.
4 Official information given out by
the foreign office here this afternoon \
was that the position of the Greeks,
who have been fighting renewed
war with the Kemalists for ten
days, now is serious.
Messages from Athens and Con-
stantinople indicate that the Turks
are menacing Drusa, the base of the
northern Greek army, splitting the
forces of King Alexander into sew
eral small groups, which are i'm
perilled.
At the same time, Athenian news
papers are demanding that Venizelos
return and ''unify Greece"
Venizelos is reported to be in
Paris considering this step.
The British cabinet will meet this
weekend to consider the situation in
the Near East, as well as it's reply
to the Poincare note.
The government hopes in the
meantime to find some way of end
ing hostilities between the Greek
and Turkish forces, fearing that if
it waits until the time for the Venice
conference the Greeks will be hope
lessly beaten.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN
Especial Cable to The Atlanta Journal and
Chicago Daily News-Copyright, 1929
CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept. e.
Via Cairo, Egypt, Sept. 5.)-The
Nationalist offensive continues with
the same vigor as when it began.
The Greek staff is making efforts
to reorganize an army in the rear
and to oppose the Turkish advance
vicinity of Sinav, some seventy miles
south of Brusa. For this purpose all
available reserves are gathered in
Smyrna and hurried to the front.
Until last Thursday the reports
showed that the morale of the Greek
divisions was unbroken but reliable
reports have now been received in
Constantinople that their retreat has
become disorderly one. Communi-
cation between the divisions operat.
ing in the south and those retreating
in the north has been cut off and
the fan-like retreat of the Greek
army is likely to become a rout if
the reinforcements do not arrive in
time. The recruits which are hur-
ried UP to the front are formed
largely of new men who have not
been under fire and many assertions
are already reported.
Greek operations are further handi.
capped by the activities Of Turkish
bands operating in the rear Of the
Greek front. Their task consists
mainly of harassing the lines of
communication and it is reported
that several bridges have been blown
up in the last forty-eight hours.
Turkish Constantinople is exultant
and convinced that Kemars encirc-
ling movement will succeed This
point of view is not shared by mill.
tary experts who do not see any
possibility of success in any such
movement on account of the length
of the front, which exceeds $50 miles,
by an army lacking the good trans
portation which is essential for such
an operation.
~ Is