The Topeka state journal., 1922-09-15
THOUSANDS OF
ARMENIANS IN
SAFETY FLIGHT
= Hundreds Are Dying Before
They Can Be Landed.
British Fleet to Keep Turks Out
of Europe.
SMYRNA is STILL BURNING
All Girls From American Col
Iege Are Carried OF.
British Troops MAY Prevent Oc-
cupancy of COnstanitnOple.
SMYRNA IS STILL BURNING
All Girls From American Col
Iege Are Carried OF.
BULLETIN
{ Turkish Quarters.
(By The Associated Press.)

London, Sept. 15.-The Brit
ish fleet has been instructed to
allow no Turkish troops to cross
from Asia to Europe, it was Of
ficially announced this evening.
This announcement followed the
cabinet meeting, which developed
complete agreement reached with the
French for the protection of the neu-
tral zones on both sides of the Straits
OF the Dardanelles and Constantinople.
1t was announced that the British
government considers the whole Turk
ish question should be the subject of
a general conference of the powers.
including the minor powers, such as
Rumania and JuCo S.avia.
It has not been decided whether the
United States. shall be invited.
Thousands Perish at Smyrna.
(Gy The Associated Pressl
Constuntinople, Sept. 15.-Smyrna
has been completely wrecked by the
conflagration which has been raging
here for the past two days, according
to Information from authentic sources
reaching here. Thousands of persons
are believed to have perished.
(By The Associated Press)
London, Sept 15.-From 1000 to
1000 Christians have been massa or ed
in Smyrna by the Turks before the
fire which swept the Armenian and
other quarters of the Asia Minor sea-
port. recently evacuated by the Greek
- army. it is charged in semi-official
a0d other Greek messages from
Athens received here today
Among the Turkish outrages was
the carrying off of many girls. pupils
OF the American girls college, it is
alleged.
The Greek belief is that the fire was
set by the Turks to conceal the traces
of their alleged misdeeds.
considerable share of the proper
ty loss from the fire, the total of
which is estimated in Greek quarters
at one billion francs (about 5,OO0,-
600 at present exchange rate for the
French france fell upon American
firms.
A message from Greek semi-official
sources from Athens, dated Thursday,
reads:
Absolutely Trustworthy persons be-
longing to the foreign colonies ut
Smyrna and notably Americans arriv-
ing here on the destroyer Simpson,
which also brought United States Con-
sui General Horton. relate terrifying
details regarding the massacre at
Smyrna, following the fire which re-
duced the Armenian Greek and Fu-
ropean sections of the town 20 ashes.
Fire Started by Turks.
According to the general convic-
tion the fire was started by the Turks
to efface the traces of their massacres
and other crimes. Miss Mills. matron
of the American Girls college de-
clares she saw an officer. or non-com-
missioner officer of the Turkish regu-
lar army enter a house carrying sew
era1 cans of petrol Soon after he
came out, the house burst into flames
Fire appeared Immediately in
other sections of the town even near
the Turkish quarter of Basma Khane
This was the first day after the Turk
ish occupation.
"A southea sterly winC drove the
flames west. the Turkish quarter thus
escaping untouched.
Fate of Girls Unknown.
Besides the pupils, about 1900
refugees had been taken into the COL
lege. which was near the place where
the fire started. The fate of many of
the girl pupils 8 unknown and it is
said they have been carried off by
the Turks.
Prior to the fire there were mas
sacres. which continued thruout the
night. 1t is impossible to estimate the
number of killed. Doctor Post. an
American, who with members of the
American relief administration made
an investigation, expressed the opin-
ion the number of victims up to the
time of the fire amounted to 1000
(other estimates from Athens run as
high as 10000 A large number of
Christians are believed to have per-
ished in the flames.
American Firms Lose.
The foreign trade suffered enor-
nous losses. and especially branches
or agencies of the big American to-
pacco houses. such as the Gary To-
baeco and the Standard Commercial
Trading company of New York. near
ly all of whose stocks were DESTROYED
The total material losses are set at
one billion francs
Great quantities of provisions were