Post by leandros nikon on Nov 23, 2009 14:36:47 GMT -5
Allthough i have read several books and magazines about Asia minor catastrophy,i had never heard of Asa Jennings so far...what about you?
news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_2_22/11/2009_362376
Quote:Ï Áæá ÔæÝííéíãêò, Ýíáò áöïóéùìÝíïò ìåèïäéóôÞò ðÜóôïñáò áðü ôç ÍÝá Õüñêç ðïõ åñãáæüôáí óôç ×ÁÍ Óìýñíçò, ôç óôéãìÞ ðïõ ç êõâÝñíçóç óôçí ÅëëÜäá åß÷å ðáñáëýóåé, äçìéïýñãçóå ôçí ÁìåñéêáíéêÞ Åðé÷åßñçóç ÁñùãÞò êáé Ýóùóå åêáôïíôÜäåò ÷éëéÜäåò æùÝò.
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www.websteralumni.org/history_masonicbuilding2.php
Even after World War I drew to a close, much of the world was still in chaos. Asa Jennings was sent to Smyrna which at the time was largely a christian city on the western coast of Asia-Minor. Only 14 days after Asa and his family arrived in Smyrna, The Turkish army invaded the city. The il-equipped Greek army quickly withdrew. Most foreigners in the city quickly left, but 350,000 Greek, Armenian and Jewish refugees were trapped with no way out. The sea was to the west and the approaching Turkish army to their east. Homes were looted and set ablaze, many were raped, tortured and killed. Scores drowned trying to reach foreign vessels anchored near by. American and British warships were stationed off the coast to observe the situation but as neutral parties stayed clear of any involvement.
Asa had sent his family home but had remained behind to see how he could assist with the situation. He arranged for food supplies to be brought in to feed the refugees. Determined to prevent the impending massacre, Asa, at great risk to his personal safety traveled through combat and managed to arrange a meeting with Ataturk, the imposing and much feared Turkish leader. Amazingly, Ataturk agreed to allow the refugees to leave and gave Asa 11 days to find them safe passage out of the country.
Asa contacted the Greek Government to encourage them to provide ships to pick up the refugees. The Greek government showed little enthusiasm for Asa's request and were quite puzzled as to who he was. As Asa appeared to be the only American left in Smyrna, it wasn't much of a stretch for Asa to identify himself as the top American official in Smyrna. After much persistence and threats to expose the Greek governments inaction, the Greek government cabled that they were putting Asa in charge of 26 of their ships. Asa directed the ships into port under American flags and picked up the refugees within the 11 day window.
theopavlidis.com/AsiaMinor/jennings.htm
news.kathimerini.gr/4dcgi/_w_articles_ell_2_22/11/2009_362376
Quote:Ï Áæá ÔæÝííéíãêò, Ýíáò áöïóéùìÝíïò ìåèïäéóôÞò ðÜóôïñáò áðü ôç ÍÝá Õüñêç ðïõ åñãáæüôáí óôç ×ÁÍ Óìýñíçò, ôç óôéãìÞ ðïõ ç êõâÝñíçóç óôçí ÅëëÜäá åß÷å ðáñáëýóåé, äçìéïýñãçóå ôçí ÁìåñéêáíéêÞ Åðé÷åßñçóç ÁñùãÞò êáé Ýóùóå åêáôïíôÜäåò ÷éëéÜäåò æùÝò.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
www.websteralumni.org/history_masonicbuilding2.php
Even after World War I drew to a close, much of the world was still in chaos. Asa Jennings was sent to Smyrna which at the time was largely a christian city on the western coast of Asia-Minor. Only 14 days after Asa and his family arrived in Smyrna, The Turkish army invaded the city. The il-equipped Greek army quickly withdrew. Most foreigners in the city quickly left, but 350,000 Greek, Armenian and Jewish refugees were trapped with no way out. The sea was to the west and the approaching Turkish army to their east. Homes were looted and set ablaze, many were raped, tortured and killed. Scores drowned trying to reach foreign vessels anchored near by. American and British warships were stationed off the coast to observe the situation but as neutral parties stayed clear of any involvement.
Asa had sent his family home but had remained behind to see how he could assist with the situation. He arranged for food supplies to be brought in to feed the refugees. Determined to prevent the impending massacre, Asa, at great risk to his personal safety traveled through combat and managed to arrange a meeting with Ataturk, the imposing and much feared Turkish leader. Amazingly, Ataturk agreed to allow the refugees to leave and gave Asa 11 days to find them safe passage out of the country.
Asa contacted the Greek Government to encourage them to provide ships to pick up the refugees. The Greek government showed little enthusiasm for Asa's request and were quite puzzled as to who he was. As Asa appeared to be the only American left in Smyrna, it wasn't much of a stretch for Asa to identify himself as the top American official in Smyrna. After much persistence and threats to expose the Greek governments inaction, the Greek government cabled that they were putting Asa in charge of 26 of their ships. Asa directed the ships into port under American flags and picked up the refugees within the 11 day window.
theopavlidis.com/AsiaMinor/jennings.htm