IS IT WAR?

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 235, 18 September 1922, Page 5

IS IT WAR?

ENGLAND FORCED

To Protect Dardanelles

CALL TO OVERSEAS DOMINIONS

NEW ZEALAND'S PROMPT RESPONSE

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.! The news from Europe to-day is the worst that could he suddenly sprung upon a war-weary world. It discloses that the British Empire is faced with a crisis of equally grave magnitude and serious ness to that which it was confronted with in August, 1914... The cable we published on Saturday that Britain was reinforcing her troops in the near East is confirmed and further, she is asking Rumania . Jugo-Slavia and Greece to participate in the defence of the neutral zones.. Britain’s invitation to the Dominions to send contingents to defend the interests for which they hav e already made enormous sacrifices and the soil hallowed by the immortal mem cries of Anzac has beep generally accepted, New Zealand being among the first of the free countries overseas to offer for military service. The British Fleet in the Mediterranean has been commissioned to oppose any infraction of the neutral zones or any attempt to cross to the European shores of the Bosporus and Sea of Marmara. According to advices at Paris from (Angora, the Turks’ terms are very drastic. They demand that the Greeks, shall unconditionally— Hand over the whole of the occnpi ed area with troops and munitions. Recognise Turkey’s absolute sovereignty over Asia Minor and Thrace, and renounce all aspiration thereto. Repair all damage done and bear all the Turkish expenses. Hand over those guilty of atrocities during the invasion. It is added by the Turks that no othe r terms will be accepted—(A. and N.Z.)

BRITISH OCCUPATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. GROSS STRATE GIC BLUNDER. GENERAL TOWNSHEND’S ADVICE. (Received 18, 9.40 a.m.) London, Sept, 17. General Townshend, interviewed by the “Daily Mail,’’ declared the occupation of Constantinople was a piece of folly, a gross strategic blunder, a tactical mistake and a political error uf the first magnitude... It woke up the Turkish Nationalist Party, who ran to arms immediately.*’ With the Dardanelles in my hands and a powerful fleet anchored 600 yards from the Sultan’s |”alace, the onjy troops I would have landed would have been a corporal and marines to bring off officers’ washing on Saturday night. The sooner we evacuate the better for our dignity. The Government must wring its hands over the rejection of my advice in 1918, when it contempplates the Mesopotamia Punch and Judy show to»day.. Will not the Government understand the whole world of Islam stretches in a broad belt from Morocco to China, Turkestan to Congo? Government selected its experts from gentlemen of office in blotting paper The results are evident when one compares French North Africa and out Empire of India.