French Military in Epirus Witnesses Albanian Sacking of Epirote Villages

 L'Illustration was a weekly French newspaper published in Paris from 1843 to 1944. It was founded by Édouard Charton, a French journalist editor and politician.

This article below is written by Jeune Leune a French war journalist and correspondent who followed the army of Epirus and took pictures of them.

The article below describes the visit of French General Joseph-Paul Eydoux and other generals of the French mission to Epirus. 

Translation of main points in the article:

“GENERAL EYDOUX IN EPIRUS

Athens, April 16, 1913

Since the fall of Janina, General Eydoux, head of the French military mission in Greece, cherished the project of going to Epirus to study on the spot this extraordinary terrain where the Greek army had so heroically fought...”

The Greek government had placed it at the disposal of the general, the officers, and the persons who accompanied him, a small steamer and several automobiles…

… General Eydoux set foot on the land of Epirus and a thousand times repeated Vive la France! To which they replied immediately with: "Long live Greece!" 

After him, M. David, deputy of the Dordogne, transmitted to the population the fraternal greeting of the Parliament of France. He was able to eloquently express France's great sympathy for the Hellenic nation in general and for Epirus in particular. He even spoke of an indispensable and possible alliance between two countries where all courts have beaten and will always beat in unison, whenever it has been and will be a question of fighting for Greek civilization….

Then they pushed on to Argyrocastro. All along the road, the populations of the villages, led by a priest, with icons, crosses, and banners, had come to greet General Eydoux. The school children sang the Greek anthem, then the women, in festive costumes, began to dance to express their joy.

… He said again of all the satisfaction he had felt in collaborating with men like the Greek soldier and officer, and, finally, all the admiration he felt for the Hellenic army and its leader, King Constantine. , after their fine victories in Macedonia and Epirus…

…At Argyrocastro, the reception was no less enthusiastic on the part of the Greek population. Triumphal areas were erected, very simple indeed, made of two stakes, a beam, and a section of trellis through which ran a few green branches, but the resources of these villages are very modest, and above all the excellent intention was there, making up for the rest. French and Greek flags everywhere mixed their folds. Shops were closed as a sign of celebration…

The end of this interesting journey. Yesterday, General Eydoux returned to Athens, enchanted with all he had seen, and proud, more than ever, of the work accomplished by the Greek army, prepared by him and led by his king.

The second picture below shows the visit of Rene Puaux to Nivitza, Loukovo, Himara.

René Puaux (1878-1936) was a French historian and journalist. During the Balkan Wars, he was the war correspondent of the French newspaper Le Temps. He was an ardent supporter of the Greek cause.

His notes on North Epirus in the picture below:

“These are beautiful landscapes with noble lines, where dark cypress trees raise their classic silhouettes against clear skies; then, inevitably in this region where racial hatreds are ardent and where the struggle was fierce, lamentable visions of ruins…unexpected spectacle…”

You can see people in Nivitza with the Greek flag in front of their door and Rene Puaux standing in front of the door with Epirotes.

Translation of the main points of the photo below:

Himara remained Greek throughout the entire Turkish invasion.

Cheers: Zito Hellas! Zito Gallia! Zito Enossis! (Long live Greece! Long live France! Long live the Union!) salute these words. These are cries that will quickly become familiar to the ears of Mr. René Puaux, for they will resound on his route at each stage, at Saint-Basile, at Loukovo, at Pikerni, at Chimara, at Delvino, at Argyrocastro

“The Albanians, on the evening of last December 13, set fire to most of the houses which their inhabitants had hastily left on their approach. There remained five crippled old women and two old men who were thrown into the fire…

…This enthusiasm for Greece, like these visions of horror, quickly converted M. René Puaux to the convictions of these brave people, to their hopes. With them, he firmly believes that they can no longer be abandoned as hostages to the fury of their Albanian oppressors…

“Chimara's rights to union with Greece are as much motivated by its traditions, its patriotism, as by its geographical and economic situation. It is the last nail planted in the blue and white flag at the top of the pole of the coast of Epirus; but it is so well sunk that no storm will be able to tear it out; the whole stuff will sooner yield!... Chimara cannot be but Greek, because she already is. The Chimariotes are famous throughout the Hellenic Kingdom. They are cited as an example of patriotism. They are entitled today to the reward of their attachment to the mother country.

When. finally, he witnessed the manifestations of respect, attachment, and love, which was the object, at Korytza, the new diadochi, visiting the conquered country, it seemed to him very decidedly that the voice of this people was the voice of God himself.

A map of Greek schools and monasteries and villages burned by Albanians published by the L’illustration magazine in 1913.