War of Independence Articles: “Activities Conducted on 10 November 1918” (Chapter 14)

Mustafa Kemal Pasha sent the text of the protocol regarding the occupation of Iskenderun to the Chief of Staff at noon on 10 November. In this telegram, it was stated that the surrender of the city took place peacefully. In Iskenderun and Antakya, government officials, police and gendarmerie were left in place. A military force of 50 people was left in Antakya. In the districts where the British entered, the existence of the government was maintained in spirit, if not in fact.

Although the Iskenderun city region is mentioned in the text, no clear information is given about its border. However, it is understood that the British will insist that this line is within the Syrian border, as the previous day they talked about the need for the army to be within the Syrian border and the troops to be taken to the north of the Payas-Kilis line. If there is an agreed line between the government and the British government, called the Syrian border, other than the Syrian province border, this should be notified. A British staff major and a fortification officer will explore the Katma-Belen-İskenderun road today.

The fact that Mustafa Kemal Pasha signed this telegram by writing only Mustafa Kemal under it suggests that he was aware that the Yıldırım Army Group would be abolished. Meanwhile, occupations began in other parts of the country. The British, who deployed troops on both sides of the Dardanelles on 9 November, completely dominated the region on 10 November. On November 10, a 100-man French force, followed by a regiment, entered Uzunköprü from Bulgaria.

Following these developments, Ahmet İzzet Pasha announced that the Yıldırım Army Group Command was abolished and Mustafa Kemal Pasha was placed under the command of the Ministry of War. Mustafa Kemal Pasha announced that the armies would be abolished but his title would be preserved, and that he would serve with this title, content with being its commander.

Ahmet İzzet Pasha made this offer; “Do you want to provoke the victorious states again against our defeated state and destroy the foundations of our state?” He replied: According to Cevat Abbas, Mustafa Kemal Pasha said; “His Excellency Pasha, as long as you remain in this mentality, I am afraid that you will soon be expelled from the Grand Vizier chair by enemy bayonets.” he replied.

Ahmet İzzet Pasha informed the 2nd Army that the Yıldırım Army Group and 7th Army headquarters were abolished and that he was appointed as the 2nd Army Commander to command all units in the region. Following this order, the 2nd Army Commander took command of all units in the region as of 20:00. The Grand Vizier, who was offended by Mustafa Kemal Pasha's words, called him back to the machine after a while and told him that he was withdrawing from the government and that he needed to come to Istanbul as soon as possible and consult with him.

According to some writers, Mustafa Kemal Pasha said to those who came to see him off at the train station while leaving Adana on the night of 10/11 November; “People of Adana, the war is not over for us. The real battle will begin from now on. "Be in control of your weapons." he said. He also told his trusted officers, "Prepare for gang war in groups." He gave the order: It is also claimed that before Mustafa Kemal Pasha left the Yıldırım Army Group Command and went to Istanbul, he distributed horses and weapons to the discharged soldiers in Adana, which would have fallen into enemy hands anyway.

Although it was said in these claims that he was preparing the people and the notables for a future struggle, in a speech he made after the War of Independence; He said that he saw the flaws in the armistice at that time, that he tried to warn the government, and that if the armistice was implemented as it was, the country would be occupied from beginning to end, and if everything the enemy said was done, the invaders would dominate the whole country.

In a speech he made at the Turkish Hearth in Adana on March 15, 1923; He said that the idea of making an attempt for salvation emerged in Adana, and that he made some attempts to prevent the nation from being dragged into disaster, but this attempt was not possible at that time. It is understood from these statements and documents that Mustafa Kemal Pasha wanted to turn the existing forces into an army and protect the rights of the nation with these forces. Their activities, such as secretly distributing weapons to the public, can be considered as a precaution against foreign committee members who started to enter the country from Syria.