Part 15
The meetings that began in the National Assembly on August 4, 1921 were continued the next day with the same excitement. Mustafa Kemal Pasha had not been in the debate before. The case that he did not speak so far, aroused above all with his opponents in the National Assembly the thought that also Mustafa Kemal Pasha saw the end of the whole as hopeless. But the presidency of the Assembly had to take action against these allegations and he answered with the words:
"I accept the position of the commander-in-chief at the request and wishes of the members. I accept this task to strengthen the army both materially and spiritually. For this I will use all means at my disposal and which I have as President of the National Assembly. I would also like this power to be limited to a short period of 3 months to reaffirm that I am doing my work and services as a faithful servant of national sovereignty.
This proposal that he should continue to be the President of the National Assembly raised some objections. However, the situation was an extraordinary one, like the struggle for survival. The position and task accepted by Mustafa Kemal Pasha under these circumstances was really big and important, in other words, the fate of the Turkish nation was in his hands. It was only possible to make the quickest and most accurate decisions on the enemy's front, but also to use the forces of the National Assembly.
Mustafa Kemal Pasha's request that his position and his task to be limited to three months showed an unshakable respect for the national will. Finally, the parliament complied with his request. As a result of the negotiations, on August 5, 1921, "the law to give Mustafa Kemal Pasha for three months all the powers of the military and the National Assembly for the good of the whole nation" was unanimously adopted by the Great National Assembly.
The law contained the following words:
"By the supreme power of the Great National Assembly of Turkey, which has the destiny of the country in its hands, Mustafa Kemal Pasha becomes the commander-in-chief of the military, who is also the president of the National Assembly. As commander-in-chief of the army, he becomes an official military officer in order to increase and strengthen the physical and mental strength of the army. In order to use the administration and affairs of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey to carry out this position in its full power, he has authority in the name of the National Assembly. This position, task and power of attorney are limited to three months. If the Assembly deems it necessary, it may remove this position and this task before the expiry of this period."
Mustafa Kemal Pasha came after passing the law, once again in front of the parliament.
Again he expressed his unshakable belief that the country had to be saved from the enemy's invasion and gave the following guarantee:
"Gentlemen, my faith and my confidence that we will surely defeat the enemies who want to enslave our poor nation will not be shaken for a second. Now, in this minute, in front of you all, I declare my firm faith in the face of the great national assembly, in the face of the nation, in the face of the whole world and in the face of the entire universe."
On the same day he also made a statement to the army and the nation.
This statement also contained the following sentences:
"... The assembly that gave me this task and the absolute will of the nation will be at the center of my movement. This final will, which cannot be changed for any reason, is to achieve salvation and independence by suffocating the enemy's army and suffocating this army, which consists of the Greek armed forces, in the sacred furnace of our homeland."
The commander-in-chief had now made his plan and begun with the exact conversion. The aim was to take all measures that would lead to success. Within this framework, the tax law entered into force with the signature of the commander-in-chief on 7 and 8 August 1921.
According to these orders, a "National Tax Commission" was set up in each district. For the needs of the army, a piece of clothing, a pair of socks and a pair of shoes from each household would be desirable. Forty percent of the stock was confiscated from the merchants to replenish the army's supplies, with the note and guarantee that everything would be repaid after a victory. The people were asked to pass on forty percent of their stock, expressed in grain, food,s animals and thier feed, to the army, with a note and guarantee that everything will be repaid after a victory. All weapons, ammunition and military equipment that were in the hands of the people should be available for the war and should be handed over to the army within 3 days. A list of all blacksmiths, smelters, carpenters and industrial manufacturers in the country should be drawn up and the names of their owners should be determined. So the whole country was invited to an extraordinary preparation for the future victory. The nation and the army prepared for a great battle. After the commander-in-chief had issued the National Tax Orders, he arrived on August 12, 1921 at the front headquarters at Polatlı, Ankara.
From now on Mustafa Kemal Pasha was at the front and the head of the Turkish army.
