ABSTRACT
From their perspective the Greeks felt confident that they could defeat the Turks. Their army was much better equipped; it was highly motivated and imbued with a sense of purpose or rather a mission. The Greek people were highly patriotic and supportive. The Turks were fortunate to have an outstanding leader in the person of Mustafa Kemal. Lieutenant Colonel Rowlinson, the British control officer, who met Kemal, was impressed by his striking personality, his strength of character, patriotism, and complete and wide-ranging knowledge. Hearing of what had happened at Smyrna, the able-bodied Turks in the neighboring town of Aidin took revenge and wiped out the Greek quarter. Women and children were hunted like rats from house to house, and civilians caught alive were slaughtered in batches - shot or knifed or hurled over a cliff. Aided and abetted by the army, the Greeks had the upper hand in committing untold atrocities.
