It was about a day before that day, and I was delivering newspapers normally, “Newspaper! News!” and I tried to do my job as carefully as I could. On the other hand, I was following the latest news and the situation in the country. The date was December 26, 1919, and before that, as far as I heard, the Istanbul government was not fulfilling its duty and was not interested in the country. A few months earlier, the Greeks had started their invasion from Smyrna. Afterwards, the other Allied Powers, who were waiting for an opportunity, also took action. Country; The region starting from the Iskenderun region was occupied by the French, the south of the Mediterranean by the Italians and the easternmost part by the Greeks. The area where the Istanbul Government was located was completely occupied.
However, thanks to the patriotism of our people, at least the occupations were slowed down. At the same time, the struggle of our national societies against other harmful societies gave some hope to the people. However, with the news that Mustafa Kemal Pasha was coming to Ankara after the Amasya Circular, Erzurum and Sivas Congresses after his landing in Samsun, there was a huge storm in me. Reading this, I had finally finished my work and came home. I was still excited about what was going to happen tomorrow.
Finally, I got up early in the morning and got ready. The date was December 27, 1919. Mustafa Kemal Pasha and his friends were coming towards the station. We were advancing with the Seymen Regiment, among which I was there. When we arrived at the station, drums and zurna were being played, and the earth and sky were groaning with the people shouting “Live!” After greeting the leaders of the Seymen Regiment, Mustafa Kemal Pasha asked, “Friends, why did you come here?” They said, “We have come to shed our blood for the homeland and nation.” Mustafa Kemal asked, “Are you fixed in your opinion?” and they said, “And let it be!” Mustafa Kemal said, “Be present, braves! Be present!” he called. When I was in that situation, my excitement was very high. It’s like you think they’ve put the whole world on my back and they’re saying, “Carry this for the rest of your life.”
Together with the Seymen Regiment, we first went to Hacı Bayram Mosque. At the time we went, the French flag was hoisted on the building that would become the parliament in the future, and the French officers in the huts in the garden were watching this scene. As we see them, he says, “As our ancestor said, one day you will go back with your soldiers.” I was saying it to myself. Finally, we came to the mosque, and after performing a religious ceremony there, we were moving towards the Government building. Mustafa Kemal Pasha said, “Citizens, neither this nor that force will save us. We will be saved by our self-sacrificing and brave people like you.” After the visit to the corps, we were on our way to the School of Agriculture, which was allocated to their residence by the Governorship of Ankara.
That day was like the first stage of salvation for me. The first time I saw Mustafa Kemal Pasha and that my country would be saved was on that day, December 27, 1919.
Bibliography: Atatürk Encyclopedia.
TUNA ORHUN KABUL