ADANA TRIP AND INVITATION TO MERSIN

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha (Atatürk), who concluded the War of Independence with victory, was completing the preparations for establishing the Republic while the Lausanne negotiations were going on. Gazi made his first country tour to Adana and Mersin after the "Turkish Economy Congress" held in Izmir between February 17 and March 4, 1923.

Gazi Mustafa Kemal Pasha went on a trip to Adana by a special train from Ankara on March 13, 1923.

In the delegation, his wife Latife Hanım, Adana Deputy Zamir (Damar Arıkoğlu), Konya Deputy Refik (Koraltan), Siirt Deputy Mahmud, Antep Deputy Kılıç Ali, Şebinkarahisar Deputy Poet Mehmet Emin (Yurdakul), Chief Yaver Salih (Bozok) and other aides, Commander of the Guard Union İsmail Hakkı (Tekçe), Dr. There were Captain Asım, journalist İsmail Habib (Sevûk) Gentlemen and a few others.

On March 15, they were greeted with enthusiastic demonstrations at Yenice Station decorated with tak's. Delegations came from Mersin and Tarsus to invite Gazi. Gazi gave a positive response to the delegation who offered their condolences to the people of Mersin and asked them to honor Mersin. After a half hour stop, we departed for Adana.

Reception in Adana. (March 15, 1923)

ARRIVAL TO MERSIN

To visit Mersin and Tarsus, Gazi and his companions departed from Adana by train at 9.45 am on Saturday, 17 March 1923. The train, which was welcomed by the delegations from Mersin and Tarsus at Yenice Station, was slowly passing through Tarsus (as it would be on the way back) amid the enthusiastic demonstrations of love and applause of the people, and Gazi was greeting the people of Tarsus from the window.

On the way from Adana to Mersin. (March 17, 1923)

WELCOME AT THE STATION

Since it was announced two days before that the Great Savior was coming to Mersin, the city was packed with people coming from the villages. Tak's on the streets, in front of official institutions, and houses, schools, businesses were decorated with murt branches and Turkish flags. The station and its surroundings were filled in the early hours of the morning, and the military units and students were placed with difficulty.

At 11.30 am, the excitement increased as the train, decorated with murt branches, entered the station. Gazi was in the uniform of Müshir (Marshal). As they got off the train with his wife, Latife Hanım, and a smiling face, they were greeted with applause and sounds of "live, live". Deputy Governor, Hasan Bey, presented the front lines. Meanwhile, the sacrifice was being made. Two students named Sait (Merzeci) and Nezihe (Siren) gave a bouquet of flowers to Gazi and his wife. On a gilded card attached to the bouquets;

"Our Veteran Father Mustafa Kemal Pasha!

Is it possible for the enemy to deal with you?

Thousands live with your brave nation and your heroic army"

It was written. Meanwhile, music teacher Fehmi (Özgüner) Bey had the students sing the anthem that he had written and composed.

"Welcome, O aunt commander

Welcome, O Münci-i Alişan

He laughed because of you, why are these

Long live Kemal Pasha, you live long.

Beautiful Mersin from start to finish

Congratulations to you Gazi Pasha

With the inspiration of the holy homeland

Long live my pasha, long live a thousand."

TOWARDS THE CITY

Gazi and his wife, who had difficulty passing through the crowd, inspected the ceremonial guard in front of the station building. They were walking on İstasyon Street with a cane in hand and their wife next to them. The weather was clear and sunny. Cologne sprinkles from the windows and balconies of the houses; Flowers and confetti were thrown. Gazi asked the people next to him who owned the buildings on the street, and it was obvious from his eyes that he was sad about the answers.

AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER

Gazi and the delegation with him, who were welcomed at the Government House, received information from the Deputy Governor Hasan Bey and the official officials presented to them in the office of the Governor on the upper floor.

Entrance to the government building with Latife Hanım in Mersin. (March 17, 1923)

IN THE MUNICIPALITY

The Town Hall was in Customs Square. (Then the Electricity Administration building became Saray Palas Hotel and was demolished. Mayor Erkiletli Hocazade Ahmet Efendi (Ergelen) welcomed Gazi, his wife and the delegation at the door. In the upper floor Presidential room, the life of the people and municipal services from the Mayor, and the commercial status from the President of the Chamber of Commerce. Gazi, who received the journalists here, listened to the information presented by the AA correspondent [AA Mersin correspondent Aşki Naili (Erden)].

AT THE MUNICIPAL FEAST

They all went to Mersin Palas Hotel (near Ziya Pasha Cafe, now Mersin Hotel) to attend the banquet given by the municipality in their honor.

The guests who had come before were waiting in the hall. The Mayor had also summoned foreign consuls. Gazi "Isn't there anyone from the municipality and the public?" "They are all there, but they are waiting in the next room. How can they sit at the table with Pasha?" Very upset with his response. He expressed his displeasure with the words, "It's a pity, I thought I'd find myself at a family table". He pulled the turban-clad Mayor by his skirt, who was worried about hosting his guests, and said, "Sir, please take your place, there will be servants." The meal was short and joyless.

AT THE DEFENSE-I LAW SOCIETY AND YOUTH'S DORMITORY

Gazi and his companions walked through the Yoghurt Bazaar towards Pazarlar Caddesi (now Mücahitler Caddesi) to visit the Defense of the Law Society.

At the door of the two-storey building (which later became the Governor's Mansion) on the corner, Gazi and his companions were greeted by the President of the Association, Hacı Bey (Ömer Lütfü - Eraydın), and went to the President's room on the upper floor. Conversing with the notables of the society, Gazi once asked Hacı Bey, "Who does this building belong to?" they asked. When Hacı Bey said that it belonged to an Armenian, Pasha angrily

— Friends, I asked who owned the buildings on both sides of the road from the station until I came to the Government, you said that they belonged to Armenians and Greeks. What were you guys doing while these guys were building these buildings?

While the people in the room looked in front of them in silence, Hafız Emin Hodja from Mezitli, standing in front of them, said loudly, "Pasha, we are in Yemen. We were doing military service in the Balkans and waiting on guard duty." said. The veteran's facial features changed and they changed the subject. (Atatürk, while conveying this unexpected answer, which expresses the common destiny of all Anatolian people, said to his close friends, "This was one of the words that I could not find the answer to in life.")

Young people were waiting for Gazi with impatience and excitement in the Youth Dormitory on the lower floor of the central building. Ghazi, who descended the stairs with his wife and his companions, went to meet the young people with applause and enthusiastic cheers. Reminding that he accepted the Presidency of the Youth Dormitory on their application by letter last year, Gazi advised them to work hard and suggested that they join the Turkish Hearth. The young people replied "immediately". Realizing that the furniture in the room was brought from here and there, Gazi said to his aide, "Tell them to give me a thousand liras from my account." (Young people have established a library with this money.)

AT MILITARY ZONE COMMAND AND TRADE ADMINISTRATION

Again on foot, they went to the Military District Command. (Then it was used as a school, because it burned down, the place is known as Yanık Mektep, now Özgür Children's Park).

Mersin Commerce High School, which teaches in a part of the building, was moved to. Gazi, who listened to the class for a while and asked questions to the students, left the school amid applause. ["Mersin 17 (AA) His Excellency Gazi Pasha attended a banquet held in their honor at the Mersin Hotel; with their entourage, amid the public's medid (long-lasting) and mutawali (continuous) applause, they passed through the arches that had been built, and visited the Youth Yurdu and the Defense of the Law. Afterwards, they passed the schools and visited the Nation's Garden to contact the people.")

IN THE NATIONAL GARDEN

According to the program, tea will be drunk in the Nation's Garden, and on behalf of the city, Government Doctor and Head of Türkocağı Dr. Reşit Galip Bey was going to talk. A high place was prepared in the garden, decorated with murt branches, flowers and flags; There were two large gilded armchairs. When Gazi entered the garden and saw the view, he said, "What a disgrace!" said; He pulled up two wooden chairs, and they sat with his wife. It was obvious that he was upset. Tea was drunk. While listening to Reşit Galip Bey's meaningful and sincere address with an excited tone and especially "Your greatness is that you are proud and proud of being a member of this nation." He was very moved by his words. Then he went up on the table prepared as a lectern and spoke about the history that he started with the words "Dear Friends" and ended with the words "Be the true owner of this country".

With his wife in Mersin National Garden. (March 17, 1923)

RETURN AND GREETING

They descended from the podium amid constant applause and words of praise. The weather was clear but cool. They went to the station on foot, again on foot, among the government, municipality, association officials and the crowd of people. It was obvious that he was touched by the constant applause in the streets and the "we will wait again, Pasha" cheers. While they were moving to Tarsus at 16.30 by the train waiting at the station, they were greeting those who said goodbye from the window. The delegation met in Yenice in the morning and accompanied them to Tarsus.

Resources:

Book:

1. Arıkoğlu, Damar: Milli Mücadele Hatıralarım. İstanbul 1961 [Mersin ziyareti anıları]

2. Artan, Gündüz: 75. Yıldönümünde Atatürk'ün Mersin Ziyareti. (Broşür) Mersin. 1998

3. Develi, Şinasi: Dünden Bugüne Mersin. Mersin 1991. 246 sf. [Atatürk ve Mersin. sf 42 - 47]

4. Erdil, Rauf: Atatürk'ün Mersin Gezileri. Mersin 1988. 32 s

5. İçel 75. (İçel Valiliği Yayını) 1998 [Atatürk'ün Mersin Ziyaretleri. sf 76 - 80]

6. Mutlu, M. Avni: Atatürk Mersinlilere Diyor ki. (Broşür) [Yayın bilgisi yok]

7. Önder, Mehmet: Atatürk'ün Yurt Gezileri. Ankara 1975 [Mersin Gezileri]

8. Sevük, İsmail Habib: Atatürk İçin. Ankara 1981. 150 sf. [Öfkesi ve Rikkati. sf 27-31]

9. Toros, Taha: Atatürk'ün Adana Seyahatleri. Adana 1981, 80 sf. [Atatürk Mersin'de. sf 35 - 45]

10. Yaycıoğlu, Necati: Atatürk ve Çukurova: Adana 1996. 131 sf. [17 Mart 1923 Gezisi. sf 65-66]

Article:

1. Artan, Gündüz: 75. Yıldönümünde Atatürk'ün Mersinlilere ilk hitabı İçel Sanat Kulübü Bülteni. (68). Mart 1998. sf. 22

2. Artan, Gündüz: Atatürk'ün Mersin Ziyareti Mersin Deniz Ticareti. (70). Mart 1998. sf. 10

3. Develi, Sinasi: Atatürk'ün Mersin'i İlk Ziyaretinde Üzücü Olaylar Mozaik. (23), Şubat 1994, sf. 29

4. Genç, Şeref: İki Karşılaşma - Bir Gerçek Kuvayi Milliye. (54) Şubat 1965

5. Mutlu, Fikri: Atatürk Mersin'de Kuvayi Milliye. (36). Mart 1961. sf. 4

6. Mutlu, Fikri: Atatürk Mersin'de Kuvayi Milliye. (127 – 135) Mart - Kasım 1971. (9 yazı)

7. Mutlu, Fikri: Atatürk'ün Mersinlilere İki Uyarması. Kuvayi Milliye. (112). Aralık 1969. sf. 7

8. Oğuzcan, Lütfi: Atatürk'ün Mersin'e İlk Gelişi. Kuvayi Milliye. (1). Nisan 1958. sf. 10

9. Oğuzcan, Lütfi Mersin'de Atatürk Bayramı Törenle Kutlandı. Kuvayi Milliye. (3103), Mart 1969. sf. 4

10. Oğuzcan, Lütfi: Atatürk Mersin'de. Kuvayi Milliye, (140). Mart 1972

Newspaper:

1. Doğru Öz. 1922 – 1925) (77) 27 Mart 1339 / 1923

2. Mersin. (1922 – 1928)

3. Yeni Mersin. (128 – 1980)