During a salvage operation in the mouth of Kızılırmak River (Hallys of the antiquity) the ship crew came together with the Turkish National Movement, who were fighting against the Allies as well as the Ottoman government.

On 5 February 1921, Alemdar with a crew of seven, sailed to Karadeniz Ereğli to change sides under the pretext of a salvage operation.

The revolutionaries decided to send the ship to a port in eastern Black Sea, where the Allied blockade was weak.

The Allies high commander gave strict orders to arrest the crew and bring the ship back.

The French navy was especially active in western Black Sea because of the coal mines in Zonguldak, which is situated to the east of Karadeniz Ereğli.

After a short voyage, however, the crew overtook the French boarding party by surprise, and redirected the ship back to Karadeniz Ereğli.

The gunboat opened fire, but fearing to wound the French seamen, they didn't use their heavy guns.