File No. 763.72/1679
[Enclosure]
The Consul General at Smyrna (Horton) to the Ambassador in
Turkey (Morgenthau)
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that
on Friday, the 5th instant, a small fleet of Allied ships began a
bombardment of the Smyrna fortress which continued throughout the
day and was resumed the next morning, the fortress replying feebly
the second day. From all appearances, the fortress is now completely
silenced and destroyed. The fleet is still actively engaged in
operations about the mouth of the harbor and is keeping up a more or
less continual cannonade both night and day, generally as late as
3.30 a. m. It is not possible to ascertain here exactly what the
nature of these operations is or their
[Page 968]
object. The ships were evidently conducting a
lively duel with the shore batteries all day yesterday. These events
can be plainly seen from the terrace of the Consulate and up till
night following yesterday the shore batteries were replying. During
the night a searchlight is frequently thrown upon the water from the
shore and the roar of cannon can be heard and the flash of the guns
seen. The authorities furnish no reliable information, naturally,
saying only that the ships were firing at the searchlights, which
seems ridiculous. It is believed here that the fleet was engaged in
fishing up the mines which are laid at the entrance to the harbor
and that the shore batteries were firing at the men employed in this
work. Last night an attempt was made to sink two ships in the
channel, but apparently not with great success, as one of them can
be seen canted over on her side, evidently in shallow water, and the
other is standing on her stern in deeper water with her prow
projecting. Possibly the firing heard during the night was on the
part of the Allied fleet and was directed at the people attempting
to sink these ships. The two craft thus used are both British and
are named the Assiout and the Billiter of Malta.
As I am writing this, the sound of the cannon can be plainly heard in
my office.
There are many rumors here as to the meaning of these operations.
Some people think that the way is being prepared for an actual
occupation of the city and others that they are merely a bluff for
the purpose of preventing the sending of Turkish troops to the
Dardanelles. Up to the present moment, the chief effect which has
been produced locally has been to cause the Turkish military
officials to take severe measures against the belligerent subjects
residing in the vilayet. These are being rounded up and interned in
various places. Some 2,000 have already been caught and imprisoned
and a keen hunt for the remainder is still going on. Of course a
reign of terror prevails and the Consulate is besieged by the
relatives of these unfortunate people: We cannot do much for them,
but, by persistent efforts, have succeeded in obtaining the
liberation of the sick and of men over 60 years of age. We have also
succeeded in obtaining the release of the two British chaplains,
Messrs. Ashe and Brett, who had been arrested. We also obtained the
release of Doctor Newton, the physician of the Scotch Hospital, on
the ground that he had Mussulman patients under his charge who were
dangerously ill. The vali has also promised me that he will not
allow the arrest of Doctor MacLachlan, president of the
International College, and I have taken such other measures as are
possible to secure his safety. Up to the present nothing has
happened to him and I believe that unless the local military
authorities are greatly incensed by a long continued and ineffectual
attack, that he will be left at liberty. I would advise him to come
and take refuge in the Consulate but the vali who is friendly has
counseled me to tell him to stay strictly on the college grounds and
I fear that the trip from Paradise to Smyrna might be dangerous.
The vali also informs me that there are no exceptions to the rule for
the arrest and concentration of male belligerents, not even the
Consular attachés who were left here by the consent of the Ottoman
Government. Mr. De Vries, dragoman of our
Belgian staff, has been arrested and I have not yet been able to
procure his release. I should be very glad if the Embassy could do
something in this matter as the action of the Ottoman Government in
pursuing these consular attachés seems to me incorrect and
unjustifiable. I am keeping all the others in the Consulate and have
informed the vali that I will not give them up except obliged to do
so by actual breaking open the doors of the building and taking them
out by force. His excellency has approved my action and has assured
me that no such measures will be resorted to.
The more wealthy of the prisoners have arranged to secure comfortable
quarters for themselves and generally are enabled to obtain food by
paying for it. As near as I can learn, the poor prisoners are being
very badly and insufficiently fed and are without beds or
clothing.
A further communication as to these prisoners will follow in due
course.
I have [etc.]
