TURKS ENTRY INTO NEUTRAL ZONE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 228, 26 September 1922, Page 5

TURKS ENTRY INTO NEUTRAL ZONE.

STRONG FORCE ADVANCES TO THE STRAITS. SUBSEQUENT RETIREMENT TO FORMER POST. LONDON, September g4. Reuter"s correspondent at Constantinople reports that a strong force ot Turkish cavalry crossed the frontier cf the neutral zone in the Chanak region, near the village of Krenkeui, on Saturday, within gunshot of the British lines. The Governor of Chanak sent to warn them to retire, as they were transgressing the neutral zone, and arranged for General Shuttleworth to meet the Turkish representatives on Sunday, with a view to obtaining an amicable withdrawal of the Turks. General Sir Charles Harington. Commander-in-Chief ot" the Allied Forces in Constantinople, summoned the representative •I the Angora Government for the purpose of making similar representations.* TURK COMMANDER'S REFUSAL TO WITHDRAW. _ The "Times"' gives a detailed story of the Turkish invasion of tbe neutral zone. The discovery that the Turks had entered the neutral zone was made by a British cavalry patrol of the Third Hussars, which, on its usual reconnaissance on Saturday, entered Saracchelli. -27 miles south of Chanak. and found it occupied b?*2oo regular Turkish cavalry. After obtaining information from the inhabitants, the British commander rode up and asked the Turkish commander what he was doing on this side of the neutral boundary. The Turk replied that he did not know thnt he was in neutral territory. This was obviously untrue. The Turk added that he saw no British Hag on the boundary, and that he had come in pursuit of armed Greek bands. He was then requested to withdraw, but replied that he was unable to do so without orders. He was then revested to halt and ask for orders, and was warned that further encroachment might entail serious consequences. The British patrol withdrew, but kept observation. • There was no further movement for a few hours when a Turkish force. estimated at 800. advanced along the main road, with a Hank guard between them and the sea. A further body of Turkish cavalry of unknown strength was observed advancing from Bairamich. A British officer with a BritiU. Hag rode forward and asked to be allowed to speak to the officer commanding. who was a colonel. The latter stated politely that the Turks did not wish to embroil themselves with the British unless the British refused to consider their conditions. The British patrol then withdrew, and reported the situation to the Commandant of the Dardanelles Area, who instructed the lurkisl. Governor at Chanak to telephone to the Turkish commander and warn him of the serious results to Turkey. The Governor complied, but stated that the commander would not listen to him. CONFERENCE WITH BRITISH COMMANDER. Meanwhile the Turks continued to advance. They passed north of the Eren'keui Road, between Chanak and Erenkeui. and demolished throe selected soot- Vfter the demolition, the Turkish commander rode forward with a white (He and asked to see the British commander the following morning near Perez * reply was given that although tho Turks appeared to nave deliberately violated the neutrality of the zone, despite the warning given, the British commander would meet him, provided m, attack was math- ~, the meantime. While the conference thus arranged may end in a new crisis, it ,s noteworthy that the Turks have already secured sufficient coastal area to enab.e .bom to mount heavy guns covering the Straits. An earlier message iron, , hanak stated that there was evidence ot a second Turkish arm, moving 1 ,he Dardanelles. Strong forces ct itirkn-h cavalry occupy a line " 3 ' rh'west from Bigha through Bairnnfth to Kzhic. P.igha is hold etUU supported by i.«y. and Kzine 1, l-bOOO Turks. .reek have left for Gallipoli fcartng bombardment. Work on .h----hlnak defences continues day and night. Turkish aeroplanes hombarded Mitvlene resterdav. and French and Italian detachments marched out. \ later report states that the Turks retired to Bairamich. outside the neutral zone.-(A. and N.Z- Cable..

- i ~. tn the -Uiatic shore of the Dardanelles, stands liev.vceu TienkL-u. close v chanak at the Narrows. It is about I.' miles Ix.tm Kale, at the entran ,? e^ n , a ic ; inbilld , . abo „t 2(1 mile- to the south of Knni south-west ot inland, is about "AI miles to the south-east X.'l". Bairamich. s 11 , , rt „ f th So „ „, .., . hanak. Big.ia. i. g of lhanak . Mitylene. or Lesbos. ,s a Marmora. » nd "* ar ',* „ f \ sia Minor to the north of the Gulf of Smyrna. P,T--e' S ho war itw« »" d * r Turkish *""* ! S nt - v - ,Ut *" ali " ;:oi :u <;r L " bg f'-e terms of the treaty of Sevres.