TNT History Archives: Greek Occupation - Action Around Ayvalık (July 1919)

//Ed. note: Greek occupation forces landed at 

Ayvalık on 29 May 1919 and were met with

harassment by local Turkish nationalists. This

resistance continued in the month of July, as 

reflected in these telegrams and reports from 

the Ottoman 61st Division Commander in 

Balıkesir, Col. Kâzım (Özalp). 

See TNT reports from this July about the 

"Bergama Raid" by Turkish Ottoman and

nationalist forces and "Bergama Raid's 

Aftermath", regarding subsequent events.//

Karaağaç, in report 4 below, is just up the coast from 

Ayvalık city, upper left, near Gömeç.

1) Telegram dated 8 July 1919 received from the 61st Division 

Command:

Since morning, the Greeks' shipborne cannon and land-based batteries

around Ayvalık have been viciously firing at the Murateli and Arablar 

villages.  

 

2) Telegram dated 9 July received from the 61st Division Command:

Soma: a Greek detachment made up of an infantry battalion, a

cavalry company and two cannon attacked Cumalı village this 

morning, burning down both Cumalı and another village. 

3) Report dated 11 July 1919 received from the 61st Division

Command:

a) 10 July 1919, enemy reconnaissance units entered Gömeç and 

Turgutlu and set fires there.

b) 10 July 1919, a significant Greek force from Ayazmand (today's 

Altınova) and Tıfıllar, occupied Bağyüzü village of Kozak town (20 

kilometers north of Bergama).

c) In the course continuing operations over four days, the Greeks

burned and destroyed portions of Murateli, Arablar and  another 

village.

d) The Greeks have moved and assembled a significant force for

Bergama and Dikili and are using all their land, sea and air military

assets. 

4) Telegram dated 17 July 1919 received from the 61st Division 

Command: 

a) On 16 July, near Ayvalık, Greek forces were forced to retreat

by the 'Kuva-ı Milliye' (Turkish National Independence Army). 

Fighting between the Greek forces and the 'Kuva-ı Milliye', which

pursued the Greeks, is continuing in the area of Kerek village.  

b) Balıkesir: English control officers happened to be in Karaağaç

yesterday during the fighting.  The saw with their own eyes the 

Greek attacks and the firing on the Karaağaç area by a Greek 'torpido'

(destroyer), along with the 'Kuva-ı Milliye' counterattack.  They 

were quite impressed by the capabilities of the Turkish force.  In

addition, they were appreciative of the calm attitude of our neutral

(Ottoman) soldiers and understood the propriety and sincerity of 

our operations.

//END//