THE ALLIED NOTE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 243, 27 September 1922, Page 5

THE ALLIED NOTE

Reply Still Awaited BRITISH ACTIVITY. NAVAL AND MILITARY. REINFORCING THE STRAITS. IBy Cable.-—Press Association.—Copyright.! (Received 27. 11.40 a.m.) London, Sept. 26. No reply has yet been received from Kemal. The authorities in London do not take a serious view of the Invasion of the neutral zone, and suggest that it is due to some misunderstanding. The party of raiders, numbering 200, may be an independent force acting under orders given prior to the Allied Note, and with whom Kemal failed to get into touch. The Allies are makihg good progress with the removing of refugees from Smyrna. Contributed 25 ships for the purpose. The Americans are energetically organising relief in various ways A. and N.Z.) (Received 27, 12.10 p.m.) Official British circles are not perturbed by the non-receipt of Kemal’s reply, and point out that he will probably have to consult both Constantinople and Angora Assemblies. Authorities defend the continued reintcroement of British naval and military forces tn the Straits, and declare that it does not represent any new policy apart from the Allied decision, and is merely a continuation of the demonstration in force decided upon prior to the Paris negotiations.—(A. and N.Z.) (Received 27, noon) Cairo, Sept. 26. Two batteries of garrison artillery from Cairo and the Seventeenth Brigade garrison artillery from Ismailia. with a detachment of the signal corps, are proceeding to Chanak.— (A. and N.Z.) Situation Dangerous FORCES IN CONTACT. KEMAL CAVALRY NEAR CHANAK UNCERTAINTY WHAT WILX. HAPPEN. (Received 27, 1.5 p.m.) London, Sept. 26. Tho “Times” Chanak correspondent says the Turkish re-entry into ttic neutral zone has outwardly intensified tho seriousness of the situation Turkish machine-guns are mounted at Erenkeuy as well as on the slopes below. Thu Turks’ attitude is nonaggressive, but determined- It is evident fire will be opened if the British advance. Despite this provocation the British troops are steady and selfcontrolled. During the day small Turkish patrols advanced within lOOt* yards of our patrols. When challenged they raised the white flag, reiterating that they had no wish to commence hostilities against the British. Turkish officers refused absolutely to meet the British commanders, stating that o; dors forbade this. Turkish mounted patrols evade capture if approached by mounted men, hut permit dismounted to approach and parley. Simultaneously the Turks’ mounted patrol moved northward to within five miles of the Chanak defences. On*' patrol approached, a British observa tion post voider the white flag. An officer speaking English asked a British N.C.O. whethei the Chanak defences were wired and how many guns tho British had mounted and how many ships were in support. The, n.c.o. replied that he had no definite knowledge, hut the positions were strongly wired. This extraordinary bold reconnaissance and deliberate re-occupation of Urenkeuy outwardly gives the impression that Kemal intends to challenge the Empire, but it is considered the Turks do not intend to force the issue. In any case our defences are strong, and there is every reason to suppose the attackers have been checked sufficiently to avoid bloodshed. Later in the afternoon the Turks, from Bigha, violated the neutral line, moving due west, then commenced to close on the port of Karabigha. This is held by a British detachment of 30 men, with two destroyers in close support. Constantinople reports state that the Kemalists are continuing to mass troops on the borders of the neutral zone. If the armistice negotiations drag on. it is likely. Kemal argues, it will give the Greeks time to garrison Thrace, and he will demand permission to cross the Straits, threatening hostilities if refused. The arrival of reinforcements undoubtedly eased the strain, but the uncertainty ahead about Kemal’s policy and still more the intentions of the Bolsheviks, necessitates continuance of vigilance and preparation. There is little doubt that the Kemalist advance on the neutral zone is due to the withdrawal of the Franco-ltalians.— (“Times.”) OFFERS FROM ffcLHL HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS. (Received 27, 1.5 p.m.) Delhi. September 26. Colonel Gibney. of the, Anglo-Indian Association, lias offered the services of his community in coinfection with the nirkish trouble, receiving the names of hundreds of vohinfeers.—(A. and N.Z.) AMERICAN OFFICER R VIEW. OF THE ALLIED TERMS. (Received 27, 11.40 a.m.) Washington, Sept. 26. Answering an inquiry about the United States’ attitude regarding the Allied proposal to the Turks, Mr C. E. Hughes, Secretary of State, made a statement that the American Government was gratified to observe the proposal that the three Allied Governments should seek effectively to insure the liberty of the Dardanelles, the Sea of Marmara and the Bosporous ,as well as the protection of religious racial minorities. The points of the proposal are clearly in accord with American sentiment. The Government also trusts that suitable arrangements may be agreed upon in the interests of peace to preserve tho freedom of the Straits pending a conference to conclude a final treaty of peace between Turkey, Greece and the Allies. Mr Hughes declined to comment on the territorial questions.—(A. and N.Z.)