TURKEY: The Allies Go Home

The Allied occupation of Constantinople, which has existed for nearly five years, officially came to an end when the last troops were evacuated from Turkish territory.

The ceremony in itself was extremely spectacular and characterized by friendliness. Detachments of British, French, Italian and Turkish troops marched into the big square opposite the Dolma Bagtche Palace amid tumultuous cheers from the populace. The Allies saluted the Turkish flag and the Turks saluted the Allies’ flags. The appearance of General Harington, Allied Generalissimo, who, more than any other man, is responsible for having maintained the peace under the most difficult of circumstances, was a signal for a prodigious outburst of enthusiasm from the Turks. When he saluted the Turkish flag and gripped the hand of Salah-Ed-Din Adil Pasha, Military Governor of Constantinople, the crowd broke through the cordon of police and followed the departing Allies to the quay. There was a farewell luncheon party on board the transport Arabic; then the Allies were gone. Later, Turkish troops marched triumphantly into the late capital through streets gay with Turkish flags and strewn with flowers. Religious rites were also solemnized. Turkey belongs to Turkey.