ARMISTICE APPEAL

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 210, 5 September 1922, Page 5

ARMISTICE APPEAL

ISSUED BY GREECE.

ADMISSION OF DISASTER.

COMPELLED TO EVACUATE. TT7BKS USING TANKS. BATTERIES OF FRENCH GTTNS. (Bj Cable—Press Association.—Copyright) (Received 12.30 p.m.) PARIS. September 4. Tbc Greeks have appealed to the Kcmalists for an armistice. They admit that they will be compelled to evacuate. Asia Minor. The "'Evening Standard" says that. Britain lias approached the Allies with thr object of bringing about an armistice between the Greeks and the Turks. The cruiser Iron Duke has been sent to Smyrna in order to protect British interests and the safety of refugees. M. Vcnizelos. ox-Premier of Greece, is considering an invitation to return to Athens, where the Government is faced with a critical situation. A message from Athens states that the Greek Press announces that the Kemalists have taken Ushak. 20 miles cast of Smyrna, after 48 hours' fightin.?. Tanks were employed for the first time, the Turks using seven, and also many batteries of French 7;Vs. The occupation of Brusa, eastward of the Sea of Marmora, is imminent. — (A. and SZ. Cable.) LATER GREEK CLAIM. BROKEN ARMIES IN TOUCH. AN OBDEBIjT RETREAT. r< ; (Received 12.30 p.m.) ATHENS, September 4. A Greek communique claims that the military situation has materially im- j •roved. Contact with the different.units . •f the Greek army lias been effected ■long the whole front. The retreat continues without enemy pressure. Maesiicrcs of nou-Turkish element* are low taking place in the areas evacuated by the Greeks.—(A. and N.Z. Cable) COMPENSATION 111 THRACE. TROOPS TIRED OF THE WAR. i Received 1 p.nO PARIS, September 4. The "Temps" suggests that King ConMantine of Greece is eager to evacuate Asia Minor, believing that England .rill =ecure to Greece compensation in Thrace, which, will lead the Greeks to the gates of Constantinople. This is a senseless ambition. The "Temps' , discredits the statement that the Greek army is tainted by 801-! pheviem. The fact is that Grwk troops do not want to continue fighting for territory, which Greece cannot keep. Diecontent has triumphed over discipline, the unavoidable consequence of the mad policy which Greece has followed in thy past three years.— (A. and N.Z.)

A TURKISH SUMMARY

CAPTURE OF KUTAYAH.

PARIS, September 4

Summing up tho results of the battle in Anatolia, a communique issued from Angora claims that the Turkish offensive in the Afium Karahiesar sector, after being pressed without interruption for five days, ended in the defeat of the bulk of the Greek army, which is split in two. The northern * army wae completeJy destroyed and dispersed, while the •Outhern suffered severe set-backs and is retreating toward Ushak. Large quantities of war material and 150 guns were •aptuied. The communique adds that Kutayah, between Afium Karahissar and Eekishehr, has been occupied by the Turks.—Renter. The Italian Government has bci>n formally requested to convene a conference on the Near Eastern situation, »n agreement between Britain and France regarding the terms of tbo Convention baring been reached. The "Temps" declares that the Turkish resumption of hostilities due, firstly, to the Greek proclamation of autonomy for Smyrna; secondly, Mx. Lloyd lieorge/e epeeeh encouraging Greece; thirdly, the non-recognition of Fethi Bey'e mission to London.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.)

KutAT&h i* the point where the Oreeks'had their greatest *uc>cees over thu Turks in their advance nearly two jtsars ago. the Kemaliebs being arcrwhclnwd. Situated on the Pursak River, TO miles south-east of Bruea. and 180 miles north-east of Smyrna. Kutayah \e on the route between Constantinople «nd Konia. It is on the eidc of an extensive upland plain nearly r>o milos long by 'iO wide, a.n.l more than 4000 ft above "the level of the Black- Ssa. It contains a large number of mosque*, khans I unfurnished buildings provided throughout Asia Minor for the accoraodation of travellers), fountains, bazaar?, and about 10.000 houses? nearly all with tiled roofs. Subterranean aqueducts run beneath the streets. Clnse by. on a hill to the eouth-Avest, i« a large castle, por. tion of which is very ancient. About 17 miles to the south-east are the interesting Phrygian remains, with inscriptions, and the troglodyte habitation:- of l>oganlu. supposed to be the ancient Nicoleia. Kutayah is the usual residence oi theh Vizier of Anatolia, and was the prison of the refugees from Hungary after the war of 1840. Hw town is connected with Brtifw. ami Eshishehr by railway, and is the centrr of the tract where the famous lurkey carpsts are made. Its population is ebout 45,000.