A holiday memory of Atatürk...

In September 1908, a reactionary uprising broke out in Tripoli. The Arab population viewed the Constitutional Monarchy as heresy and believed that the Constitution was being introduced against the laws of the Quran and Sharia. For this reason, Arab tribes rebelled against the Ottoman State.

The date was September 20, 1908.

The Committee of Union and Progress sent Staff Captain Mustafa Kemal to suppress this rebellion. And he went alone.

And on September 22, Mustafa Kemal set off on a ship bound for North Africa. The ship, crossing the calm waters of the Mediterranean, approached the coast of Tripoli. A small Arab boatman arrived, picked up Mustafa Kemal, and took him to the shore.

After a series of efforts here, Mustafa Kemal suppressed the rebellion. His courageous behavior was worthy of admiration. Despite the Italian agents following him step by step, he ensured the state's authority in Tripoli. He explained to the public that the Constitutional Monarchy and the Constitution were not heresy. The Tripoli mission is a subject for another article.

Let us return to Mustafa Kemal's holiday memory.

After suppressing the rebellion in Tripoli, Mustafa Kemal received a letter from Dr. Mahmut Şevket, who was in Benghazi. In the letter, Dr. Mahmut Bey said;

-“Do not leave without stopping by here.”

Because there was also an uprising in Benghazi. The rebellion there also needed to be suppressed.

Mustafa Kemal left Tripoli and arrived in Benghazi by ship. The date was October 19, 1908. In the bay, there were boats that had come to welcome him. They had come to greet Mustafa Kemal because the courageous and successful work Mustafa Kemal had done in Tripoli had been heard of here as well. He stepped ashore amidst applause and cheers. Among those welcoming him was Dr. Mahmut Şevket. Mahmut Şevket Bey took him to a small hotel near the coast. He had set aside a small bedroom and a small living room for him at the hotel. While Mustafa Kemal was talking to Mahmut Şevket in the living room, a commotion began inside. Benghazi Police Commissioner Hüseyin Bey entered the room in a hurry. In an excited tone, he said;

-“His Excellency Sheikh Mansur is arriving, sir,” and he took his position by the door and waited.

Five minutes later, an imposing Sheikh entered. His name was Mansur. Mustafa Kemal had heard of who Sheikh Mansur was before. Mansur was like the king of Benghazi and its surroundings. Even though the Ottoman State had a District Governor, Gendarmerie, and Police Chief in Benghazi, Sheikh Mansur was like the administrator of Benghazi. In fact, the Police Commissioner's behavior explained everything. Sheikh Mansur entered furiously with his men. He walked a few steps into the small living room. Mustafa Kemal did not lose his composure at all. He did not even invite him to sit. He confronted Mansur directly and sternly;

-“Sheikh Mansur, are you not ashamed at all? You are engaging in various activities, thinking you can bring the state organization here under your own rule. Do you not see the degree of your insolence? I will teach you your place,” he said.

Sheikh Mansur was surprised. Who was this officer in official uniform? Where had he come from? He did not respond. He was intimidated.

But this stern outburst from Mustafa Kemal had startled Sheikh Mansur. Sheikh Mansur, who had taken the state under his own authority in Benghazi, turned and left. This unexpected attitude of Mustafa Kemal also surprised the police and Gendarmerie there. Mustafa Kemal asked them the reason for this;

-“Why are you surprised?”

-“Sir, Sheikh Mansur dominates this entire region. The Governor used to act on his orders,” they said.

After this incident, Mustafa Kemal had two things to do. To restore the state's authority and to establish the foundations of the Constitutional Revolution in Benghazi as well. He had to break the power and reputation of the sheikhs and tribal leaders who had become a thorn in the side of the state. He had to teach them a serious lesson.

But he had to do this skillfully. Otherwise, if he carried out a direct operation against Sheikh Mansur, the local people could rise up.

It was January 3, 1909, the first day of Eid al-Adha.

The Regimental Commander in Benghazi was Colonel Arif Bey. A day before Eid al-Adha, Mustafa Kemal asked Arif Bey to assemble the soldiers on the day of the holiday. A holiday greeting ceremony was to be held. After all, Mustafa Kemal was a Staff Officer. He had weight in the army. Unaware of anything, Arif Bey accepted this request. The holiday greeting was held. Sacrifices were made. That day, Mustafa Kemal made a request to Colonel Arif Bey;

-“Commander, it is a great honor for me to have all our soldiers ready and to greet them on this blessed day. May I request this of you?” he asked.

Upon receiving the answer “Of course,” Mustafa Kemal addressed the soldiers of the regiment;

-“Friends, now we will conduct a short exercise,” he said.

He also invited Dr. Mahmut Şevket Bey and Governor Galip Bey there. Mustafa Kemal had a plan, but what was it? He took control of the unit. For this, he thanked the soldiers and officers there for representing the Ottoman State in the best way possible in the African deserts, which are at the end of the world. He gained their trust.

And then he explained the subject of the exercise to them. The regiment was outside Benghazi. He faced the city and began the exercise. He sent the soldiers toward the city armed. But there were no bullets in their weapons. Mustafa Kemal had an idea, but what was it?

The soldiers were following Mustafa Kemal's orders; he would say the enemy is coming from the right, they would go there; he would say the enemy is coming from the left, and this time the soldiers would go there. Then, Mustafa Kemal suddenly gave an order. When he shouted, as per the scenario, ‘The enemy is the armed units in Sheikh Mansur’s house,’ the soldiers headed there. After all, it was an exercise. Since they thought of the event as an exercise, none of the soldiers or officers objected. Finally, the soldiers, on Mustafa Kemal's order, surrounded Sheikh Mansur's house. Sheikh Mansur, unaware of anything, was frightened when he saw the scene; he thought it was real. Thinking his house was under siege, Sheikh Mansur sent a man with a white flag to Mustafa Kemal and shouted, “I surrender!”

Now it was understood.

Mustafa Kemal's goal was to surround Sheikh Mansur's house in front of the soldiers and the Governor and to intimidate him. He had done this under the pretext of an exercise.

Mustafa Kemal called Sheikh Mansur to the hotel in the evening. Sheikh Mansur and his men came to the hotel where Mustafa Kemal was staying, and the man who roared like a lion had turned into a kitten. But Mustafa Kemal did not treat him harshly that evening. He explained the power of the state. He explained the necessity of the state's power. He spoke of the benefits of the Constitutional Monarchy and the beauty of freedom. He emphasized unity and solidarity in these lands under Ottoman sovereignty.

Sheikh Mansur, on the other hand, said he would obey the orders on the condition that his own reputation and respect in the region were preserved. Mustafa Kemal accepted. Just as in Tripoli, the power of the tribe had now been broken in Benghazi, and the power of the state had been established. It was no longer Sheikh Mansur who ruled Benghazi, but the Governor of the Ottoman State; its soldiers, police, and gendarmerie were in charge. The Constitutional Monarchy prevailed, and the orders of the Constitutional Monarchy prevailed.

Mustafa Kemal had stayed in Tripoli for about 1 month and in Benghazi for 1 month and 20 days. Here, he gained great experience in managing the psychology of societies that rebel, breaking their power, and dominating the society.

This experience was very useful in defeating and suppressing the reactionary traitors who rebelled during the War of Independence.

The Republic of Turkey was not founded while passing by on the road.

There is an intellect that founded this state. It was founded thanks to the high intelligence, genius, and alertness of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

We need that alertness so much these days...