Turkey Will Be Ready

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 44, 21 February 1940, Page 7

Turkey Will Be Ready

EVENT OF WAR Government Invokes Terms Of Defence Law MIDDLE EAST MENACE

(United Press Association— Copyright.—Received 11 a.m.) ANKARA. February 20. Turkey hu decided to invoke the national defence law authorised by Parliament on January 18. The application of this law » interpreted to mean that Turkey feels she is, or the Allies are, threatened in the Balkans or the Middle East. The law embraces measures for strengthening the defences, controlling imports and exports, and industrial reorganisation to enable supplies to be made available for the armed forces. The invoking of the law caused surprise and some alarm because it was not expected so soon. The National Assembly will probably meet immediately to confirm its implementation, but Cabinet might not await the Assembles approval before applying the law which gives the Government power to "fortify the constitution of the nation in matters of economy and national defence" consequent upon, (1) partial or general mobilisation, or (2) the probability of the nation entering war or war between foreign nations affecting Turkey. * The newspaper "Cumhuriyet." which is the mouthpiece of the dominant People s party, warns its readers that the coming spring will bring a bitter struggle, but its outcome is already known, one paper says, because the democracies are successfully carrying out their task. «wuiiy

CO-ORDINATION WITH THE ALLIES.

PLANS DISCUSSED. Franco-British Military Mission. FORTIFICATION WORKS. Halted Prw« Association.—Copyright. (Received noon.) ANKARA, February 20. The War Council is reported to h»*a discussed co-ordination of the Turkish and Allied forces under General Weygand and Sir Archibald Wavell. A British and French military mission will participate in the Supreme Council. A message from Sofia (Bulgaria), received in Berlin, states that 50 British officers arrived at the Turkish fortified town of Adrianople to assist with the extension of fortifications. _ Other British artillery and engineering experts are supervising fortifications elsewhere in Turkev, this message •totes. . A message from Jerusalem says Sir Archibald Wavell arrived by air from EfTpt to inspect the Anzaea.

RED DESERTERS.

REMARKABLE STORY. Strange Attraction Shown For Turkey. HfUSB TO WSAVE COUNTRYBaited Preaa AjsoeUHon —Cop/-t«ht. (Received 11 a.m.) HOME, February 20. As Italian news agency tells a remarkable story of the strange attraction Turkey has for Russians. RWsiian infantrymen crossed the Caucasus frontier and took refuge in Turkish territory. The authorities disarmed the soldiers and informed th» Boviet that their arms would be Pit at Russia's disposal. the Soviet s«Bt a cavalry squadron *• escort the deserters, but when the •avalrymen reached Turkish territory ttdT aleo. refused to return to Russia, aad are still in Turkey. Caaarmation is received from Jstanhal that a number ef Russian techaleisns, working in Kayseri factories, refused to return to the Soviet. Turkey Odcially ignores the matter.

AID COLONIES.

I XBW BRITISH LEGISLATION j£". ■ . i (Received 10.30 a.».) LONDON, February 20. I| *t >• officially stated that legislation ; ; >• to be introduced providing for f:\ *fwards of £5,000,000 annually for a h- 4|c%de for the assistance of colonial II Gswernmeats. m It also provides fa? tke establishment : of a Cfjenial Fsitareb Adviwry Cm- , aittee, with a separate allowance of Kg IMOjBQO annually.