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Greek Genocide 1914-23

Turkish Atrocities Against Greeks
The Scotsman, June 19th 1914, page 7.
TURKISH ATROCITIES AGAINST GREEKS.
MASSACRES IN ASIA MINOR
REUTER has received by mail from its correspondent at Smyrna, under date June 13, the
following details of excesses committed against Greeks in Asia Minor, of which only the
scantiest mention has been allowed to pass the strict censorship exercised over news
telegrams:--
The Treatment of Greeks by the Turks is getting daily worse. The principal offenders are
Turkish refugees from areas affected by the Balkan Wars. These men behave shamefully.
The situation is far worse than the public in Europe has any idea of, and it is useless to
give accounts of atrocities by telegraph because of the censorship. It is clear that if the
Turkish government does not take prompt action to suppress aggressions there will be
very serious disturbances. The Greek Patriarch of Constantinople has given orders for the
closing of all Greek churches and schools throughout the Empire as a protest against the
treatment Greeks are receiving from Turks.
Here is a list of some of the atrocities, news of which has been brought to Smyrna by
fugitives:--
Hundreds of families have come down by train from Soma, all telling tales of horror and
massacres in the neighbourhood of that town, where about thirty persons have been
slaughtered. Many of them were women, who were first violated, and then killed.
Massacres were still going on when the refugees fled.
At Kara Burner the Turks attempted to carry off the women, but the Greek villagers to
protect their wives fired upon them. Gendarmes thereupon interfered, and a fight began,
in which six Greeks were killed. The Turks have set a report abroad that the six killed
were Greek soldiers in Samos in disguise.
The Greek Bishop of Ephesus was driving in full state in his carriage, when he was held
up by Turks on the open toad. They cut the embroidered holy images from off his robe,
stole his silver episcopal staff and precious stones from his mitro, kicked him, and made
off with his horses and carriage, leaving him dying on the road.
M. Illiopoulos, a Greek subject, honorary British Vice-Consul and landowner at Dixili,
has been been driven from his property, and has come with his family to Smyrna for
protection.
At Chesme all Greeks have been turned out of their houses, and thirty of their women
have been carried off to the mountains. One father killed his daughter rather than see her
fall in the hands of these ruffians.
At Budja, a village only four miles from Smyrna, two Greeks have been killed because
they refused to give up their houses. A third Greek, who protested against the outrage,
was shot down on the spot.
At Adramyti some twenty women, after being violated, were horribly mutilated with
knives. Some of them have arrived here more dead than alive. They presented a most
pitiable spectacle.