1915-06-11-DK-001

1915-06-11-DK-001

English :: da de en

Home: www.armenocide.net
Link: http://www.armenocide.net/armenocide/armgende.nsf/$$AllDocs/1915-06-11-DK-001
Source: DK/RA-UM/UM, 2-0355, ”Konstantinopel/Istanbul, diplomatisk repræsentation”, ”Noter og indberetninger om den politiske udvikling, 1914-1922”, ”Verdenskrigen. Rapporter fra Smyrna. Nov. 1914-marts 1916”
Edition: Danish diplomatic sources
Departure of telegram: 06/11/1915
Embassy/consular serial number: No. 14/No. 288
Translated by: Matthias Bjørnlund
Last updated: 03/23/2012

Konsul i Smyrna (Alfred van der Zee) til Gesandtskabet i Konstantinopel (Carl Ellis Wandel)

Rapport

No. 14 / No. 288 [original document in English]
Consulat Royal de Danemark. Smyrne, 11th. June 1915. J. N. 48 - No. 14.

To His Excellency Mr. C. E. Wandel, His Majesty's Minister Resident, Constantinople.

Sir,
I beg leave to continue my respects of 28th. ult. and have the honour to report as follows:

BELLIGERENT SUBJECTS.- In accordance with instructions received, the Military Authorities proceeded within the last week to the arrest of one hundred and eleven belligerents of which 44 French (principally protégés francais) and the rest British subjects (almost all Maltese).-

After keeping them for a few days in a house in the near neighbourhood of the barracks, they were marched on Wednesday 9th. Inst. to the village of Nymphio, distant about twenty miles from Smyrna, where they were lodged in a school which had been evacuated for this purpose. It is noteworthy in this connection that most of the arrested persons belong to the lower classes, are destitute of means for the greater part, and that the Authorities here have no instructions to feed them.-

The U. S. Consul General [George Horton], actually in charge of the belligerents' interests, has sent up on the 10th. Inst. a Mr. [Augustus C.] Routh for account of the English and a Mr. Caporal for account of the French, with bread and cheese and a small sum of money for each of them. He has further telegraphed to the U. S. Embassy at Constantinople for money to assist them..-

BLOCKADE.- The blockade of the Gulf of Smyrna by the Anglo-French fleets is now effective, no ships being allowed to cross in any direction. The Greek s/s "Macedonia" which was bound inwards on Wednesday 9th. Inst. coming from Piraeus, was ordered back by the allied cruisers.-

It seems that mines have been cast at the outer entrance of the Gulf of Smyrna, near Long Island, by the Anglo-French in order to straiten the blockade and a French mine-layer called "Casablanca", whilst at work struck a mine and perished & a lot of material of the wreck was gathered by the Turks.

BOMBARDMENT on the LITTORAL.- According to the advices recieved, English & French cruisers have successively destroyed all the floating craft of every kind and nature existing at Boudroum [Bodrum], Kuluk, Dikili & Fokia [Phocea]; this, it is said, in view to hinder any assistance to the German submarines.-

Before commencing the destruction of the craft at Boudroum, a boat which was sent from the French warship "Dupleix" to reconnoitre having approached within the firing power of the town has been destroyed by the land forces. Six of the sailors of its its crew which were captured alive were sent to Smyrna as prisoners. In order to revenge themselves the French shelled the town & a number of buildings have suffered considerably.-

SUBMARINES.- A larger submarine than the one mentioned in my report of 28th. ult. flying the German flag, is stated to have come and gone out of the bay of Smyrna within the last week, notwithstanding the blockade. According to an account given by one of the officers who landed & remained there, this submarine came last from the sphere of action outside the Dardanelles, was chased by five English destroyers but managed to escape & to reach the fort Yenikalé of Smyrna.-

I am Your Excellency's most obedient servant
Alfred van der Zee