Arriving at Akhisar

When the train arrived in Akhisar it was a quarter past midnight. The Station was full of Greek flags but there was no one around other than a drunken Greek Station Chief. He smelled of alcohol and his speech was slurred. Either Haji Muhiddin didn’t call his friends or they didn’t want to wait there this late at night and went home. The Station Chief didn’t know where the police officers and guards were but he knew that there was no vacancy at the hotel! He checked each and every one of them from head to toe and looked at the Officers as if he didn’t like their appearance.

“Is there any news from Manisa?” the Commander asked.

“The Muftu of Manisa requested soldiers to prevent any fights between the two parties from the Greek Commander in Izmir.” He answered.

“Did the soldiers arrive?”

“Yes, they arrived at night. I thought they would have come here by now; I don’t know why they are delayed. We sent some people to welcome them near the town entrance. All along the roadside people are welcoming the Greek Army and they are offering them food. Not only the Greek villages but Turkish villages as well…” When he explained this he stopped and listened to the crowds from the town as if the constant buzz of noise was proof of what he was saying. The noise was the same noise heard on Carnival nights; the drunken commotion of partiers. The men were crying out “Hayytt” and the women were yelling “Zitoo” hysterically.

The 17^th Army Corps consisted of four people and they were carrying their four little suitcases. Colonel Bekir Sami was leading them to the town which was located around the ruins of an old fort. All the street lights were turned off and the town looked like it was hiding behind the shadows.  They were walking towards the crowd; coming closer to the light and the noise. Jamil thought it was like walking towards the sound of African drums played by savages. It wasn’t because he was scared. He didn’t feel nervous, he was just tired. He had been feeling this way for months now. It was suffocating him. The fatigue he felt in his knees was climbing up towards his chest. For a minute he thought Bekir Sami became scared of something and jerked up. His proud head shook like an old lady. Jamil felt sorry for him. He felt ashamed as well, not for Bekir Sami but for himself. He pushed his Parabellum forward.

The crowd was gathered around the trees. They hung lanterns on the branches and green leaves were shining under the light. They were chanting “Zitoo” and “Venizelos”.

“Excuse me, Sir!”

Bekir Sami reached for his gun and turned to the voice. The three officers who were following him three steps behind came to his side quickly. Bekir Sami asked, “Who are you? What do you want?”

“I am Captain Rasim….Gunner Rasim.”

They saw Rasim’s face. He hadn‘t shaved for a week. He looked shiny; his moustache looked like Jamil’s. They looked like each other, both gunners.  “I received a telegram from Muhiddin, however I didn’t think it was a good idea to wait at the Station,” Rasim explained.

“Why?”

“The situation here is dangerous….”

“Why? Is it because Manisa has fallen?”

“No. Manisa has not fallen, Sir. Who told you that?”

“We heard that in Balikesir and the Station Master here…”

“No! Manisa has not fallen yet.”

“How do you know? Are you sure?” Bekir Sami’s voice changed. He was back to his sharp ordering tone that he used only in the most dangerous of times.

“I know, for sure, because I already have sent a man there. He is ordered to come back to report to us right away if the enemy enters Manisa.”

“Have you talked to anyone in Manisa today?”

“No! We haven’t been able to talk to them since yesterday.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know. Possibly the Greek militia cut the wires. That’s why I sent the messenger there.”

“What did Ahmet Zeki say to you the last time you were able to talk to him?” the Commander asked.

“He told me that he tried to reach the 17^th Army Corps but was not successful. He sent a telegram to the War Ministry in Istanbul. He explained that he couldn’t reach the 17^th army corps and that he couldn’t send letters to Izmir to the Army personnel. He added that, thank God, Manisa hadn’t fallen and there were no disturbances yet but the infantry numbers were down to half, same as the Artillery and their numbers were not adequate to prevent possible clashes between the Greek and Turkish civilians, let alone stop the occupying army. He asked the War Ministry to advise him to whom he should report to.”

“What about the issue of retrieving the artillery guns out east?”

“I have no information about that.”

“What is the distance between Akhisar and Manisa?”

“It is fifty kilometers by railroad. There is a shortcut as well.”

“Let’s say 40-45 kilometers if we take the shortcut. You should have sent another messenger.”

“We were hoping to connect by telegram. However, we would have known if they were carrying the cannons inland.”

“Can we send another messenger now? It is very important tthat we know what is happening in Manisa and save those cannons at all costs!”

 Thunderstorms were being heard in the distance and that reminded them of cannon fire. There was also a foreign song being heard throughout Akhisar. “Until yesterday,” he listened to the song, “it was quiet in here. However the situation changed rapidly. We never expected that. It is unbelievable. We trust the Telegram Office. They let the commanders know about important developments before everyone else. But it is possible that the local Greeks heard something that we haven’t. It all started yesterday. The flags, the dancing, the singing, drinking…”

“We need to find a messenger immediately. We will pay him double or triple his usual fee in advance”

“It is not money, Sir. There are rumours that the Unionists will cause a civil war. Yesterday the Greeks sent watchmen to the Fort on top of the Hill. Every hour they yelled “the Greek Army is on the horizon” Merchants are ordering Greek Flags and the tailors are busy sewing. They have already put the Victory Arches at Izmir Road. The Greek militia captured some guns in Menemen and they are leading the Greek Army inland now. They are helping them to arrest the Unionists and the Officers. The Freedom and Accord Party members lecture the people saying, ‘If you listen to the Unionist Infidels and plan on doing something then the enemy will kill all of us down to the last man. Don’t do anything without asking us first.” You don’t know how complicated the situation is. That’s why we couldn’t come to the Station to meet you. My Commander didn’t even want to allow me to come and meet you here and for these reasons we couldn’t find a place for you at the Hotel!”

“The hotel is not important but are you going to surrender because of a couple of loud mouths?”

“No Commander. We are at your service.”

The Commander tried to soften his voice, “Thank you. Never mind the messenger. Please find us some horses. We will pay for them and tell me about the shortcut so we can go to Manisa ourselves.” The Commander was able to soften his voice but he still sounded bitter and disappointed.

“You shouldn’t go to Manisa at night time, Sir. I will go. What are your orders to Ahmet Ziya?”

“Are you going yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Do you need anyone to accompany you?”

“No, one man can flee easier in a dangerous situation.”

“When can you come back?”

“I will be back tomorrow morning before noon.”

“Thank you, Captain, you should mount the wedged cannons first. Get them out of town.  Try to find any carriage that is available and load all the ammunition that you can. The units should be ready to accompany you as soon as you retrieve the ammunition. Don’t lose a single soldier and don’t lose a single Mauser bullet to the enemy.” The commander shook Rasim’s hand. “Good Luck! Is your family here? In case they need help let them know we are here.”

“They are not here, Sir!”

“Did your heroic Commander forbid you to tell us where the hotel is?”

“The Hotel is close by; it is just next to the place where the Greeks are having celebrations. If I can’t return early tomorrow morning, then try to call Manisa. I will try to call you from there as well. Don’t leave the Hotel without one of our friends coming to escort you. I am afraid I gave you a wrong impression of Major Husnu; he is a brave person. He doesn’t want to take action and have unnecessary losses before fully assessing the situation. I will talk to him now and he will send you someone tomorrow. I think either Kamil or Rashad will come to talk to you tomorrow.”

“Are they Officers?”

“No. They are local notables; both of them are trustworthy people. Husnu doesn’t live in the town anymore because he is wanted for being a Unionist. If you need him we can send a messenger to him.”

“Yes! Please send someone. He should come and find me tomorrow.”

“Do you have any other orders?”

“I want you to go immediately and return safely.”

The Artillery Captain Rasim saluted the Commander and turned on his heels and disappeared into the darkness of the street.

Ancient city of Thyatira