The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-03
An American Woman Describes
Situation in Smyrna.
sanitation Impossible, Disease
Sure to Spread.
RESPECT UNIFORMS OF U. S.
Women and Girls Brutality
Treated by the Turks.
After Night No One Knew Ex-
actly What Took Place.

New York. Nov. 3.-Filth. pestilence
and death followed the Turkish oc-
cupation of Smyrna, according to Dr.
Esther Lovejoy. of this city. Doctor
Lovejoy, president of the international
Medical Women's association, was the
only American woman present during
the Turkish occupation of Smyrna.
She returned recently to her home
here.
Only few days ago cholera was
discovered in Smyrna and since the
refugees have been transferred TIC
many different ports the disease is
bound to spread Many dead bodies
are still floating about the docks. The
streets are in an unspeakable state
and probably will not be cleaned for
weeks. The simplest sanitation is out
OF the question.
q went to Smyrna" says Doctor
LoveJoy. with an open mind and no
biased opinions, and for a long time
! retained that attitude The Turkish
soldiers have a great respect for the
American uniform, and I noticed that
when an American was in evidence
the Turks treatment of Christians was
much modified.
when reached Smyrna all but
the Turkish quarter was a smolder-
Ing ruin. and the docks were simply
alive with refugees. The Turkish
quarter, however, was in no way dam
aged. and the hazaars seemed to be
doing more business than before the
disaster
Wore Their Best Clothes.
when Christian women were COM
PEELED to leave their homes they took
with them only a few of their belong
ings. AS women will. they wore their
best clothes, and most of them had
on high-heeled shoes. After these
women had been on docks of Smyrna
for two weeks and their clothes were
torn and muddy and bedraggled the
effect was weird. The high-heeled
shoes had been lost in the mad rush.
Most of the women were barefOoted-
The entire city beyond two blocks
from the docks was in the hands of
the Turks. and after nightfall no one
knew exactly what took place In the
dark piercing screams were heard
one taken up by another-and in a
short time the entire section was a
bowling, blood-curdling bedlam. We
could see nothing. but we knew the
morning would bring tales of missing
daughters
U. $. Sailors Gave Aid.
American sailors did much to aid
the suffering In their clean white
uniforms they stood out in contrast
to the poor. starving people they were
guarding. The sailors were sometimes
reprimanded by their officers for go
ing outside of their line of duty in
their eagerness to aid women and
children.
The women did not dare to enter
a house. They were afraid of being
outraged should they leave their places
on the docks For two weeks they
lived on the same wharf. not daring
TO quit one spot lest they lose their
only place of safety.
The Turks pressed into service an
iron picket fence that runs the length
of the docks. All refugees had to pass
along this fence to board the steamers.
AS they passed along the Turkish SOL
diers stopped the men of military age
and took everything of value from
all If man. woman or child Jagged
or interfered with the movement thru
the gate they were strapped.
Women were searched in I bold.
brutal manner. Their waists were
torn open in the front. Their dresses
were lifted and their stockings pulled
down in the quest for loot. All rings
were torn from their fingers. and ear
rings were literally yanked from their
ears
Many men of military age cut
their Threats when they saw that it
was hopeless to try to escape. One
old man came to US to help him find
his daughter whom he had left in a
little shed. He had gone IN search of
bread When he returned she had
disappeared. We told the father We
could not find her. He pulled knife.
I was unable to prevent him. He cut
his throat and fell at my feet
THE man in charge of loading the
refugees aboard the boats was called
the packer He actually did pack
the people aboard.
II was called upon for a case of
childbirth in the hold or one of these
steamers. The women were almost
wedged in. The air was 50 close that
the atmosphere was humid.
ut was almost necessary to pry the
woman out to take her on deck. Here
a bed was fmprOvised with a chicken
crate and a life-preserver. The wo-
man was terribly filthy. Her hair
was matted. her clothes were torn and
muddy. and she wore no SHOES"