SHOOTING OF NAVALS

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1934, Page 7

SHOOTING OF NAVALS

BY TURK SENTRIES. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, July 23. In reply to a Parliamentary question in regard to the recent incident at Samos, when Turkish sentries fired on a boat containing British naval officers killing on e of them. Sir J. Simon said that furtiher information indicated the tragic occurrence was the result of a. lamentable misunderstanding. The skiff in which the officers app (inched close to t*he Turkish coast was flying no flag, and th e officers were not in uniform. According to a statement by the Turkish Government, the Turkish coastal patrols had strict order-, to summon gjiy suspect craft to be questioned, and in the present case the soldiers beckoned to the boat to approach There is reason to think the signal was misunderstood. At any rate when the skiff moved away the Turkish guards repeatedly fired with the result that Surgeon-Lieut. Robinson was killed and fell into the water. Lieut. Maunsell was slightly wounded. Robinson’s body had not yet been re. covered. The Turkish Ambassador had expressed his Government’s very sincere regret that this tragic misunderstanding had occurred and tihe Turkish Government informed the British Ambassador that they were deeply distressed at the occurrence. The funeral ceremony was 'held in Turkish territorial waters, at which there were present H.M S. Queen Elizabeth flying the flag of the Commander-in-Chief of t-he fleet. The London flying the flag of RearAdmiral commanding} th e first cruiser squadron, and the Devonshire in which Robinson was serving. By order ( f the Turkish Government, a Turkish de stroyer also took pt-.rf and cast a wreath into the with an inscription expressing the sympathy and regret of the Turkish Government. The Turkish Government also spontaneously expressed a desire to pay a compassionate grant tio the relatives of the deceased officer.