TURKEY’S POWER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 July 1939, Page 9

TURKEY’S POWER

ANGLO-FRENCH AID MAV “MAGINOT LINE” i REBUILDING THE NAVY i i LONDON. 28th June. | Early proof is being afforded that the Anglo-French mutual aid pacts with | Turkey are having teeth put into them j Linked with the agreements are plans , to make Turkey a formidable naval i as well os a military Power. Alexandretln. ceded by France to j Turkey this month, is to be made into an important naval and air base. Eventually Alexandrelta will be second only | to Smyrna in the Turkish defence sys- j tern Turkey is being assisted to build a | modern fleet. It will include 17 sub- j marines. 13 destroyers, and two j cruisers. Turkey also has two old cruisers and j a refitted capital ship—the former Gcr- ' man battleship Goeben. With .British capital and French experts. Turkey will build a “Maginot j line" on the north of the Sen of Mar- j mora. covering the Dardanelles from Adrianople to the Bosphorus. Thesa defences will be financed from the British £16.000.000 loan to Turkey. The line will defend Turkey's remaining foothold in Europe, and will ensure a safe passage in wartime for the Anelo-Frcnch fleets through the Dardanelles. , Following the signing of the Franco- | Turkish agreement, the two Governments have agreed that the formal transfer of sovereignty over the Sanjak of Alexandrelta shall take place on 22nd July. The last. French and Syrian troops will leave the territory on that date. There will follow a six months' period in which the non-Turkish population j must decide about their nationality. If they elect to become Turkish subjects they can remain in the territory. If they choose Syrian or Lebanese citizenship they must sell out their hold- ; ings and leav e the territory within 18 j months.