The film “Smyrna” is developing into a tool of cultural diplomacy, as its simultaneous screening over the next period in hundreds of movie theaters around the world contributes to the internationalisation of the horrific events, as it has already aroused the interest of dozens of journalists and critics, who apart from their artistic comments, “return” to the historical events of 1922, on the occasion of the plot of the play.
The latest example is the “Guardian” newspaper yesterday, which – on the occasion of the film – brought up the “Catastrophe of Smyrna” from its historical archive, a disaster which, through the projection of the film, is on the agenda of the international current affairs.
Fire ravaging Smyrna
15 September 1922Rome, Thursday
A telegram received here this afternoon from Smyrna reports that a terrible fire has broken out in the city. The Greek and Armenian quarters have been destroyed, and the fire is spreading to other areas. The inhabitants are in a state of panic, and Italian ships in the port are endeavouring to take off the members of the Italian colony.Smyrna almost completely destroyed
By our correspondent
16 September 1922Athens, Thursday
It is officially stated that British and American refugees who left Smyrna last night report the total destruction of the Greek, Armenian, and foreign quarters of the town by fire.The fire was started with petroleum yesterday at midday by Turkish regular troops with the object of hiding the bodies of those massacred the night before. The number of people massacred is unknown, but is estimated by American relief workers who investigated before the outbreak of fire to be well over 1,000.
Destroyers in the harbour are giving assistance to the foreign colony, who are being embarked. The French and American Colleges, the YMCA and YWCA headquarters for Near East relief, and all their stocks of food have been destroyed. The consulate were in grave danger last night. The Turkish town was then untouched. There are 60,000 refugees on the quays starving. The loss caused by the destruction of tobacco is enormous.
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College girls’s fate
Frightful reports have been received here of Turkish atrocities to Smyrna. The Turks set fire to the Armenian and Greek quarters, and the American Girls’ Collegiate Institute, as well as the Evangelical College and the French St Joseph College, was burnt.Miss Minnie Mills, the principal of the Girls’ College, saw a Turkish officer carrying a petroleum can nearby the house, which was then set on fire. The college girls, together with 1,300 refugees within the college ground, fell into the hands of the Turks while trying to escape.
The YMCA buildings, also the Near East relief warehouses of flour supplies, were burnt down. The British and American consulates appeared to be doomed by the fire. All the British fled to battleships, but many failed to escape and were massacred, including one named Rees.
The president of the International College, Dr Maclachlan, was beaten almost to death by the Turks, who robbed all houses regardless of nationality, scorning the Allied flags.
Last night the flames from the burning houses lit up the whole city. On the harbour quay, in semi-darkness, thousands of refugees were huddled crying or on their knees praying. The only Allied help extended was the direction on the masses of refugees of searchlights from the Allied battleships to save them from the activities of the Turks in the dark.
The Armenian archbishop was killed, and it is reported that the Greek Metropolitan, Chrysostomos, met the same end. The financial loss from the fire is estimated at £15m. Smyrna is doomed to starvation or massacre.
more at theguardian.com
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