ATATORK KULTOR, DIL VE TARIH YUKSEK KURUMU TORK TARIH KURUMU YAYINLARI IV/A-2-2.1. Dai - Say: 24° THE CENTENARY OF THE BALKAN WARS (1912-1913): CONTESTED STANCES VOLUME I 100. YILINDA BALKAN SAVASLARI (1912-1913): iHTILAFLI DURUSLAR CiLTT Editér: Prof. Dr. Mustafa Tarkes “rok Tani KURUMU ANKARA, 201430. VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE: MEMORY OF FOREIGNERS, PARTICIPANTS OF THE, BALKAN WARS (DISARDAN BAKIS: YABANCILARIN HAFIZASI, BALKAN SAVASLARD'NIN KATILIMCILARD) Igor Despor” Abstract During the Balkan wars, lot of foreigners came to the areas affected by armed conflict, including ‘adventurers. As early as 1912 some of them began with the publication of war memories. There were foreign correspondents, people who participated in the missions of the Red Cross, the military ttach- es, Government tried to restrict their movement and keep them away from the frontlines, but theit ‘memories of war are valuable fo historians. Although they failed to reach the battlefield, they were able to evaluate the atmosphere in the belligerent countries, the situation in the medical corps, the level of armaments, the stereotypes that peoples had about each other and the propaganda methods of the individual states. In addition, foreigners with their cameras tecorded many interesting events ‘of the Balkan wars, Because of broken lines of defense, reporters managed to come tothe frontlines ‘nthe Ottoman Empire, while in other states they reached the area mainly after major battles. In this work I analyze memories published in English, Italian, Serbian and Bulgarian language inthe last fone hundred years, Journalists Lionel James, Phillip Gibbs, Ellis Ashmead Bartlet, Leon Trotsky, A.H, Trapmann, Benard Grant, Eugenio Guarino, Giulio Barrela, Noe! Buxton (also one of the lead «rs of the Balkan Committe in London), physician Adolf Vischer, and assistant in a hospital ofthe Red Cross Joyce Cary, later the famous writer, in their published memoires have left their views that ‘were different than the picture that countries involved in war wanted to present. In my analysis I will ‘ny to submit their picture of wars and define the impact of censorship on their findings, Balkan Wars- confirmation of stereotype Memories of foreigners from the Balkan wars largely confirm some stereotypes about peoples implicated in the Balkan wars that existed at that time, the discourse in which the Ottoman Empire ‘became known as “the sick man of the Bosporus” or stereotypes about Bulgarians as Prussian ofthe Balkans and Montenegrins as a courageous and sociable people living in a completely disorganized State. Most ofthe works were published in the period from 1912 to 1915 when memories were still fresh. The foreigners often took the version ofthe conflict and the version of the history that were of ficial in the host country. That is most evident with the authors wha were not professional journalists (physician Vischer who was in Serbia did not even mention Serbs inthe Comitaci battles, he blindly believed inthe stories that Atbanians were inferior and almost incapable af eivilized lite) ‘When the war broke out journalists from many countries rushed to the scene wanting to cover ‘another in a series of wars. Most of them thought thatthe Ottoman Empire would easily deal with enemies, so they went to Istanbul. Since the Crimean War reporters have began fo follow the wars Dr. Zapre, Independent ResearcherIGOR DESPOT ‘on the ground and they formed a group of professional war correspondent that follows around the world’ Before the arrival, correspondents had to get permission from the the county they intended to report ffom. These permits were received through the Mi cign Affairs ofthe state concemed> In charge of all correspondents in the Ottoman Empire was Izzet Bey. He tendo = victory, and avoid the tuth. According to a report of one of the most respected war js ‘Ashmead -Bartlett, atthe beginning of the war Izzet Bey controlled journalists from British newspaper, two Frenchmen, a German, an Austrian, a Dane and two Russians of the way how to send news which were not favorable to the Ottoman Empire, ang could be done over the Romanian port of Constanza," The Turkish military leadership bel in Istanbul till 23 October 1912 and then thirty foreign journalists went by special trains lise After the Turkish failure atthe Kirk Killise they were retumed to the Corlu. Follo ‘defeats, the Ottomans ceased constrains on journalists, so they could move more or less the battlefield, they rented ears and published news in the European press {In English-speaking countries, the most important are memories of wartime jo [Ashmead-Bartltt, Bemard Grant and Lionel James, From the beginning, on the depam Istanbul, all three of them noticed the signs of poor organization and confusion. Right afte. the train, James noticed the first soldier sick of cholera snd he was just on his way tothe He found out tha soldiers were waiting for several days fora train that would take them == tlefeld. They have all noticed a lack of officers in the Empire (due to retirement of ayais) {in military units, the Ick of horses forthe cavalry and arillery, poor management of new and new uniforms, Since the defeat at Kirk Killise came quickly, reporters on their way' tothe bartlefieié ‘noted thatthe population and the army were retreating in disarray. Journalists were places where they saw thousands of refugees fleeing in panic, wounded soldiers trying to reach the by their own, and, finally, the army in a panicked retreat, The most picturesque in the dese ‘was Daily Mitror photographer Bemard Grant. In his memoirs he wrote that the soldiers = ‘aught with fear, falling one over another. He described how wounded were not treated and died along the way to-& hospital. His book was writen at the time and under the impression sarian victories and Turkish great defeats, yet some conclusions can be drawn out of i. The that medical services on the batefild were disastrous and the second is that it was not an reireat, lack of supply and the starvation of army that lasted for several days were also noted. Lionel concluded thatthe reasons forthe defeat lied in inefficient administration, inadequate s and in the misbelieve of Turkish leadership inthe Turkish superiority in the field. Foreign jo paid attention also to the cholera. The mast picturesque description was that of Lionel James Gescribed how he, driving the car, came to a village behind the Catalea Mukakuey line were only living beings were dogs that were digging through the corpses. The major problem in O | Phillip Knightley, row va, (The Fest Casal) Opa 1977, p 1, species Wiliam Howars ‘he frat war comespondeat who published acl in Times of 18 November 1854 about onslaught of the Brith i Brigade ezinst the Rassias. oe “Dytaven hiv na Republika Matedonia (State Archive of Republic of Macedonia) Public Record fad 213i, fom page 292 onward) Varios newspapers ea thei request, which Ministry of Frei Asx to the coutres Mins ofthe counties gave their approval il the moment they filled quotas. That was ee lanaton the Ortaman Empire gave w the refusal of cameraman Pothes Animated Gacetta Sala who Was pose to fm onthe atid. DAM, Pali Record Office, fund 2131, page 340. ‘| > Elis Ashmead: Bart, ith the Turks nthe Trace, London, 1913, pp 6063, Constanza was the ons Sa between Europe andthe Oxtoman Empire stanbul) during the wat. Fr Lionel James, th the Conquered Tk Boston, 1913, 1‘VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE: MEMORY OF FOREIGNERS, PARTICIPANTS OF THE BALKAN WARS. oe sovity ofthat time was also indicated in the texts ofthese journalists. That was the ireconcilailty between the Young Turks and the conservative elements that came back to power immediatly before the war. Serbian army tied to prevent reporters from sending accurate reports from the field. Journalists ‘supposed t9 move embedded with the General laf. Duke Radomir Putnik did not want to see any Journalists going freely through the battlefield. Facts about confit were not provided and everything ‘was subject to censorship.’ On his way to Bulgaria at the start of the war, Philip Gibbs stopped in Ser nd spent some time with reporters. He claimed that they have been treated as prisoners of wa, without any feedom of movement. They were based inthe Moskva hotel, Both, the population andthe ilitary, perceived them as Austrian spies and that interfered with their work as correspondents. ° The best-known journalist who was in Seria inthe time of Balkan wars was Leon Trocky. He described Belgrade afer the mobilization as military camp where there was no man eft to perform basi sete vies. He emphasized the highly successful mobilization and sufficient funds the Ser prepared for the war, He registred war crimes committed by Serbs against ATbanian population (he mestly blamed imegular, Chen unis). The Swiss physician Vischer gave us maybe even more significant picture ‘of war, a seen from Serbia It is lrgely evident that Vischor got all hs information about the Balkan peoples from Serbs. n his memories, Albanians were dosribed us completly uncivilized nation and he ‘argued that they can harly build the state onthe villainy. He heard tribe stories about Albanians. In is. llegedy, a wounded ATbanian bit off is doctor's thumb, Albanians were abusing the white Nag, they didnot spare the Red Cross, he heard that one ofthe Albanian leader Isa Boetni handed his sons for the rifles, although it later tum ou that these people are net hs sons. Vischer described the situa- tion in Serbia. In Begrade there were not enough men to workin the shops, as they Were all mobilized. ‘European public was enterined for days withthe story of Sola Jovanovié. Because journalists were ‘prevented fiom going into bated, interest of readership was maintained through “human sores” Sofia Jovanovi joined Chetniks, but number of imtervews sho gave were all dane in Belgrade restau rants In these interviews, she emphsized the reasons for her departure to the bate, She allegedly promised on her father's grave (er father was about to go to war against the Monarchy 1908, but the ‘war has not occured) that she would participate a a volunter inthe next wat for the liberation ofthe Serbs. Journalists created the heroine, with incorporated stry of jealous fancé who was inthe same ‘squad with er, but the story in many ways looked like a ition.” Journalists in Bulgaria did not have freedom of movement. The Chief ofthe Genera Sta of| Bulgarian Army Fiche, like Punk, was an adversary to the freedom of movement of stagers on the fied. In Bulgaria there were about 120 foreign correspondents, They had strict rules and puide- lines. They could go tothe field only embedded with the General Stat (Kwari) or with the Stara ‘Second Army and they were subjected to censorship, Due tothe release of some military maps, some correspondents were expelled, Colonel Skoinov let correspondents without transport and protection near Mustafapaa. fer that, some angry reporters went home ort Soft, and about forty journalists stayed with the army Gibbs argued that during the war Bulgarians close themselves to the Europe. + _Saua Toni, “Kato je Go ¢ nomtmpexine woscuratn", Abst noe: CpBrjay Gananexins pron: 1912-1915, BeorpaJash Tui “Tavling with War Comes The Da of tore: Serbia ‘nth alton Wars 1812-1915, Beograd) 198, (36-4), pp 3738, Philip Gibsand Berard Gest eons of War ith Cross and Crescent Lown, 1912, ppp 1.2231 {Axo nmep Hi epcm pry Bory, (Ada Vise the Serbian Frome Beograd 3007, pp 448s, Bape Kyrouaes,Jumowsnnieek sept nospen OF PycK4 #8 Baoraper no apes Hd Suakanerara sofia 1913-1913 r, Coun, Bors Kejomshie, Diplomatic and Matra Sporto Rs Bl ara daring eh Boom Wars 1912-1913, Sf)1968, pp 1-2, Terrien Darchaven Ack (TSDA) (Cea State ‘Archives of Bulgari), fond. 17 (Ministry of Foreign Asis) op. 2, akin cs. 1222 held numerous as60 IGOR DESPOT ow they managed to hide military data can be seen from Gibbs comparison ~ he claimed thst Bulgarians were infact more accurate than the Japanese whom he followed during the Russo nese War. All ofthat reinforced already existing notion of Bulgarians as the Prussians of the Bal A the beginning ofthe war, the journalists were held over a week at hotel “Bulgaria” in Sofa \were presented with the censorship regulations. I was forbidden to write bout amount ox pos of troops, the names andthe number ofthe wounded, the names of general, successes or flues, the military, health status of soldiers and climatic conditions. In addition, Bulgarians didnot wane take military attchés tothe batlefeld. Operations were kept in strict confidence, so joumalists not even realize that the Bulgarians achieved significant victories. Most correspondents were sex! the headquarters of the Second Army in Stara Zagora “Nel Buxton had special privilege. He withthe General Sta, He realised that Bulgarians had won a great victory in Kirk Kills, and thr ‘was not announced and he discussed it with Fiche, Fichev tld him ina bre interview that the gaan army did not need advertising and that they were focusing on their goal, which isthe re of compatriots. Buxton in his memoirs underlined inferiority of Turkish trenches at Kirk Killse the perfection of Bulgarian trenches, ‘Similar rules were valid in Greece. The office for the military censorship was established the correspondents were allowed to go to the field after the Battle of Santaporo."! The journslists illustration newspapers argued that journalists in Greece were in the worst position. Crown Prinse Constantine, head of the Army of Thessaly, banned reporters {rom following his operations. Tae Greek amy took along A.H. Trappman and John Mavrogodato. Mavrogodato in his reports emphae sized empty streets of Athens, except for the mobilized soldiers and mentioned the numerous Volum teers from all over the world," Both reported poor care forthe wounded, ‘The same situation was in Montenegro, where reporters were left miles and miles from the battleficld and their letters were opened by censorship.“ The Italians were particularly interested in Montenegro. Giulio Barella said that the war was national, he emphasized the support of wom en, but also the stubbornness of King Nikola, who did not allow the General Martinovié to attack Shkodra because he wanted his son Danilo to enter Shkodta firs.” Eugenio Garino highlighted the terrible situation with Montenegrin army medical corps, lack of any services, and he described how Podgorica looked like a military camp. Yet another interesting deseription ofthe Balkan wars (foes Montenegro) can be found in the work of Joyce Cary." As a young man, eager for adventure snd for humanitarian work, he joined the Montenegrin medical service as an unqualified assistant. From ‘what he wrote (and he was extremely talented) we can follow not only the war, but also trace the social situation in Montenegro. Extremely interesting isthe astonishment of a Western man on a wasy of life in Montenegro. He noticed a few things. Most men in Montenegro understood some foreigs language and he was almost always able to communicate with the population. Everyone was friendly and willing to exchange tobacco with strangers. Inthe house where he sept he was offered with rks reditations for journalists and military ataces for suying in Bulgaria © Gibbs and Grant, Adventurs of War with Cras and Crescent pp 45-56. "Noel Buxton, th she Bulgarian Sif. New York, 1913, 5, % AH. Trapmann, The Greet Triumphant London, 1915, pp 11,12. "Hellenic committe of Miltary history, The First Balkan War Trough the Pages ofthe review Ls ration, Athens, 1992. "8 John Mavrogodato, Leters from Greece concen the War ofthe Balkan Allies (1912-1913), Lond, 1914, pp 13. 4” Eugenio Guarino, Nei Baleani dante lo guerra,(In the Balkans during the War), Milano, 1913, 21 Giulio Barella, La guerra rreo-baleanica vitae vssuta agli avampasti montenegrni, diario, (The Tirco-Bolkan War as Seen and Experienced from the Montenegrin Outpass, a diary), Nenezia1913. % oyee Cary, Memoir ofthe Bobotes, London, 1964‘VIEW FROM THE OUTSIDE: MEMORY OF FOREIGNERS, PARTICIPANTS OF THE BALKAN WARS. a 48 (brandy) and he was mocked because of his need to go to bed in pajamas, Montenegrin railway ‘che only track) was known for inidents. The most interesting event he described was when the tain stopped and the passengers had to wait for the train erew to chop wood from the nearby forest to continue journey: From the war aspect, he described the catastrophic situation of the Montenegrin ambulance. They did not have bandage service in the field and neither one soldier ever came to the hospital bandaged, In the Montenegrin army relatives were in charge ofthe wounded on the battle field. They tried to bring them to the hospital. They had no stretcher. Conclusion From the writings ofthe foreigners we can draw several conclusions, which largely overlap with ‘other Sourees on the Balkan Wars. The Ottoman Empire was not prepared for the war, The Empire ‘vas in the middle of confit between two competing policy options. In addition, the officers were convinced af the superiority of Turks (almost racially based) over all Balkan peoples. Discussions that Some of the correspondents had with Ottoman officers show a sincere belief in a quick end to the war and the entry ofthe Ottoman troops in Sofia, However, failed, delayed mobilization, failures ‘in military equipment, sanitation, animals necessary for effective warfire and vacancy in military Units were ll too large to fight on multiple fronts with a well-prepared enemy. From the writings ‘of men who were inthe tates ofthe Balkan Alliance we can see that wars were greeted with great enthusiasm there, and thatthe mobilization was extremely successful. Moreover, itis evident that ‘war plans were well designed although General Staf of the Balkan states (mostly successfully) tried to prevent the movement of foreigners on the battlefields. The inability to go to the first line caused ‘the greater attention of journalists fo the atmospheres in the empty towns and apparent seriousness of those who remained there. These images help our understanding of the social structure, postion ‘of women towards wars, and in building or validating stereotypes. As reporters were not allowed to go tothe field, there are almost no reports of crimes (found only in Trotsky), elthough there were, no loubt, large numbers of war crimes. BIBLIOGRAPHY Archival Documents: Draven Arhiv na Republika Makedonifa (State Archive of Republic of Macedonia) ‘Tenralen Darzhaven Arhiv (TsDA) (Central State Archives of Bulgaria) Books and Articles: ‘Ashmead- Bartlet Elis, With the Turks inthe Trace, London, 1913. Barella, Giulio, La guerra nrco-baleanica vista e vissuta agli avamposti montenegrini, diario, (The Turco-Balkan War as Seen and Experienced from the Montenegrin Oupasts, a diary), Vene= 7i,1913 Buxton, Noel, With the Bulgarian Stuff, New York, 1913. Cary, Joyce, Memoir ofthe Bobotes, London, 1964, ‘@uep, Aronp, Ha cpnexont ypormy, Beorpaa, (Vischer Adolf, Ar the Serban Front, Beograd), 2007. Gibbs, Philip and Grant, Bernard, Adventurs of War with Cross and Crescent, London, 1912. Guarino, Eugenio, Net Baleanl durante la guerra,(In the Balkans during the War), Milano, 1913.oy iGo DEsPOT Hellenic committee of Miltary history, The First Balkan War Trough the Pages ofthe Iusration, Athens, 1992 James, Lionel, With the Conguered Turk, Boston, 1913, Kaightley, Phillip, Prva Srtva, (The First Casualty) Opatja 1977 Kyroneeates, Bopne, Jmrowarisecka m uarepuaua neyipena or Pycis wa Burana tna Baaxauckara oliia 1912-1913 r, Cops (Kujomézhiev, Bors, Diplomaric and ‘Support of Russia to Bulgaria during teh Balkan Wars 1912-1913, Sofia). 1968, ‘Mavrogodsto, Jahn, Letters from Greece concerning the War ofthe Balkan Allies (1912-8 don, 1914 “Ton, Jam, “Kako je Gao. nosimapesn wweurrauts", Jenn noGena Cpiey pparogua : 1912-1913 , Beorpaa, 1988,,(Towtc, Jasha “Traveling with War C The Diary of Victories: Serbia inthe Balkan Wars 1912-1913,) Beograd, (36-41). ‘Trapmann, A. H., The Greek Triumphant, London, 1915.