Emplacement IN THE POSITION: JOURNALISM
Emplacement IN THE POSITION: JOURNALISM
1921 July, II. The successive retreats after the Battle of İnönü increased the reaction of the opposition deputies in the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
Leaving important cities such as Kütahya, Eskişehir and Afyon to the Greeks caused a demoralization in the Turkish public and there were harsh debates in the Parliament. In particular, the transfer of the Assembly to Kayseri and the decision taken by the Representative Committee in this direction caused an increase in tension in the Assembly.
The withdrawal process on the field was perceived as a defeat in one section. The Greek press wrote that the armies of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, in cooperation with the occupying forces, were scattered in defeat and were fleeing towards Ankara.
Of course, what was written reached both the public and the agenda of the Assembly. Even some deputies from the parliamentary rostrum said, “The army has disbanded, the desertions have begun.” they began to complain.
In the face of these developments, some deputies insisted on moving the Assembly to Kayseri.
As a matter of fact, the growing opposition to Mustafa Kemal Pasha in the parliament blamed him for this defeat. The opinion of the opposition group was the belief that the army had already been defeated and that Mustafa Kemal’s star would fade with possible defeats. Another group argued that the only way out of victory in the face of the gravity of the situation was Mustafa Kemal Pasha’s commander-in-chief.
After the discussions, on 5 August 1921, Mustafa Kemal Pasha was given the authority of Commander-in-Chief for three months. Commander-in-Chief Mustafa Kemal Pasha started the reinforcement of the army before the Battle of Sakarya by issuing the Tekalifi Milliye Emirs (7-8 August) with the authority given by the Assembly. The Turkish army was made equal to the Greek army in terms of logistics and numbers. As a result, a heavy blow was dealt to the Greek army in the war that started on 23 August and lasted until 13 September.
During the process, Mustafa Kemal, who took the floor of the Assembly, succeeded in convincing the majority of the Assembly that the army did not disintegrate, that this was a withdrawal move, and that it was a tactical move.
The importance of looking at the events from the homeland is here with this event that took place in the War of National Liberation. If a journalist living at that time had only seen the development as news and reported with the motto of giving the news and fulfilling his journalistic duty, “The army is scattered in the face of the enemy and is running away with the deserters.” he had come to the conclusion. However, if you become a journalist in the homeland, you see the truth and realize the tactical retreat, you know that the army will gather and attack again.
The importance from which perspective the journalist sees the same event brings with it a historical responsibility.
While the Turkish press met with the headline “Greek Armies Poured into the Sea in Izmir” on September 10, 1922, this situation was seen only as the “Asia Minor Disaster” for the Greek press.
The profession of journalism is of strategic importance today, as it has in history. Journalists are responsible for writing the news, not just for reporting, but knowing what it will serve.
Jacob Aslan