TNT History Mini-Series: Turkish Resistance to English, French & Armenians in Maraş and Antep (1919-1920)/Part I

 //Ed. note: Two Moslem clergymen from Maraş (before it came to be

called "Kahramanmaraş" in 1973),  Koşcuzade Hamdi Efendi, who

was the Müdafaa-i Hukuk (Defense of Rights) leader in Antep (later

"Gaziantep"), and Ceridizade Mehmed Emin Efendi, the head of the

'medrese' (Moslem theological school) in Maraş, gave the Islamist 

journal Sebilü'r Reşad details of the English and French occupation 

of Maraş, the repatriation of deported Armenians and the battle there 

that led to the French withdrawal, in an interview that was published 

in Ankara in February 1921, as Turkey's war of independence was 

raging on a number of fronts.

This first part of the interview concerns the English occupation of 

Maraş (Feb-Oct 1919) that began after the "Mütareke" (armistice)

was signed in October 1918, marking the surrender of the Ottoman 

Empire to the Western Powers, concluding World War I for the Turks.// 

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The other day two Moslem clergymen came by, saying they had been

looking for Sebilü'r Reşad for a number of days.  We explained that 

we, too, had just arrived in Ankara and hadn't really settled in yet.  

They said they had read a copy of Sebilü'r Reşad in Pozantı and that

they had come from Maraş.  We expressed our admiration for the 

people of Maraş and asked them to relate to us what had happened 

there.

"The first part of the story is the English occupation.  Sometime after 

the Mütareke, the English came, saying that 'we won't interfere in 

(Ottoman) government activities.  We are only here for military 

occupation in accordance with the decision of the Great Powers, until

there is peace.'  Then they settled a few battalions of soldiers near the

'kışla' (Ottoman barracks).  Gradually, the Armenians began to return

in large numbers and the English settled them with great care and 

concern.  In this connection, Moslems were evicted from their homes

and their belongings given to the Armenians." 

"The (Ottoman) government in Maraş was bewildered and helpless, 

accommodating any and all English wishes.  Taking advantage of the

government's weakness, the English began to poke their noses into 

everything, although not overtly.  Our governor would sit in his office

shuffling papers but he was nothing more than a puppet."  

"Two Armenian witnesses would be found to confırm a claim that 'these 

things are my property' and there would be no recourse, facilitating the 

transfer of the Moslem's goods to the Armenian.  Soon, English soldiers

were patrolling the streets and lance-wielding cavalry roamed through 

the city.  Moslems' weapons were summarily seized."  

"Still, the English asserted that they were not interfering in the activities

of the government, exclaiming that 'we are merely re-settling the

Armenians who were deported, in accordance with the 'Mütareke', and

preventing any gatherings of (Ottoman) soldiers.  Our own soldiers are 

the ones patrolling the streets.  As soon as there is peace we will 

withdraw.' "

"Nevertheless, the English were pursuing a policy of control over the area.

To the emboldened Armenians who saw the English soldiers in Maraş, 

the English advised them that 'there's no need for you to act up. Because 

if you do that will spark outrage among the Moslems and make our job

more difficult.  As you can see, we're doing whatever you need to be 

done.'"

"But would the Armenians listen? No way.  They wanted there to be no

Moslems left in Maraş, all the mosques demolished and Moslems put in

their graves.  The Armenians aimed to create an incident over the 

slightest matter to prompt a clash between the Moslems and the English."

"In fact, at one point they whispered to the English that a Moslem 

insurrection was in the offing so the English endeavored to collect all 

the Moslems' weapons.  We said in response that 'we have no weapons

left.  The Armenians want to blame us for creating some incident.  Will 

you fall for their tricks and kill us all?'  Sensing our community's 

outrage, the English backed off and did not conduct a forced purge of

Moslems' weapons."    

//END of PART ONE//