Dardanelles Zone

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 242, 26 September 1922, Page 5

Dardanelles Zone

VIOLATION OF NEUTRALITY. TURKISH CAVALRY INVASION. CRITICAL MOMENTS. London, Sept. 24. The “Times” gives a detailed story of the Turkish invasion of the neutral zone. The discovery that the Turks had entered the neutral zone was made by a British cavalry patrol of the Third Hussars, which was on the usual rec onnaisancc. On Saturday it entered Sarachelli, 27 miles south of Chanak, and found it occupied by 200 regular Turkish cavalry. After obtaining information from the inhabitants, the British commander rode up and asked the Turk commander what he was doing on this side of the neutral boundary. The Turk replied that he did not know’ he was in neutral territory. This was obviously untrue. The Turk added that he saw no British flag on the boundary. He had come in pursuit of Greek armed bands. He was then requested to withdraw, but replied that he was unable to without orders. He was then requested to halt end ask for orders. He was warned that any further encroachment might entail serious consequences. The British patrol then withdrew, but kept observation. There was no further movement for a few hours, when Turks, estimated at 800, advanced along the main road. A further body of cavalry of unknown strength was observed advancing from Bairamich. . . A British officer, with a British flag, rode forward and asked 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 Brit ish refused to consider their conditions. The British patrol then withdrew, and reported the situation to the Commandant of the Dardanelles urea, vho inatru. te.l the Turkish Governor .it Chanak to telephone the Turkish com Blander and warn him of oerwus results

to Turkey. The Governor complied, but stated that the commander would not listen to him. Meanwhile the Turks continued to advance, and passed north of Erenkcuy by the road between Chanak and Erenkcuy. They demolished three selected spots, and after the demolitions the Turkish commander rode forward with a white flag and asked to see the British commander the following morning near Perez. A reply was given that although the Turks appeared deliberately to have violated the neutrality, despite a warning, the British commander would meet him, provided no attack was made in the meantime. While the conference may end in a new crisis, it is noteworthy that the Turks have already secured a sufficient coastal area to enable them .to mount heavy , guns covering the Straits. An earlier message from Chanak stated that there was evidence of a second Turkish army moving towards the Dardanelles. Strong forces of cavalry occupy the line, Bigha-Baira-mich-Ezine. Bigha’is held by a large force of cavalry, supported by infantry, and Ezine by 10,000 Turks. Greek refugees have left for Gallipoli, fearing a bombardment. Work on the Chanak defences continues day and night. Turkish aeroplanes bombarded Mitylene yesterday. The French and Italian detachments inarched out. A later report states that the Turks retired to Bairamich ,outside the neutral zone. —(A. and N.Z.) BURNING OF SMYRNA. .NOT THE WORK OF KBMALISTS.. Constantinople, Sept. 24. Investigations by French authorities regarding the Smyrna fire show that there is no ground for the refugees’ statement that the Turks sprinkled the streets and houses with petrol. On the contrary, before the fire Armenians are alleged to have thrown bombs from houses and otherwise acted hostilely, which it is sinisterly. stated caused repressive measures of which the Armenians were the principal victims. —(A. and N.Z.)