BATTLE FOR ANGORA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17880, 7 September 1921, Page 7

BATTLE FOR ANGORA.

FORTNIGHT OF FIGHTING,

GREEK GUNS SMOTHER TURKS

KING LIVING IN A BARN. By Teleeraph—Press Associationr-Copyright A. *nd N.Z, LONDON. Sept. 5.

The correspondent of the Daily Telegraph at Smyrna. Mr. A. Beaumont, who has been on a long tour of the Greek front, cables -that the battle has now lasted a fortnight, and is one of the hardest fought between Greek and Turk since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Turks call Angora their "Verdun"; but the Greeks expect to enter it this week.

Mnstapha Kemal's difficulty is lack of guns to match the Greek artillery, which prepares for the advance of Greek troops by furious shelling -of the Turkish trenches. The Greeks lost very heavily in bayonet attacks, especially at the beginning. They are now fighting 312 miles from their chief base at Smyrna, whereas the Turks are in their own territory. The Turks, however, are only provided with sufficient supplies for the moment, and these will soon be exhausted, as the Bolsheviks are conveying great stocks of food from behind the Turkish lines to the Caucasus for the use of Russia. Soon Kemal will be forced to use men to fetch food.

Mr. Beaumont interviewed King Constantine, who is in poor health. He is living at Eskishehr, in a white-washed barn, and is suffering from heat and bad food. He said he would much prefer roughing it with the soldiers at the front. Constantino fainted during lunch, to the consternation of his aides, but soon recovered.

During the interview he said: "If Kemal accepts battle we shall destroy his army, which cannot be more than 50,000. We shall not remain at Angora" more than a few days. When we have destroyed the military depots, and taken the railway rolling stock, we will retire. There is no question of going to Constantinople at present. The Powers do not want us there."

NO DECISION REACHED. TURKS STILL RESISTING,, Renter. LONDON.. Sept. 6The Greek advance in Anatolia .appears to have been somewhat arrested. The Turks are now stiffly resisting, and very heavy fighting is in progress in the neighbourhood of Sakaria River. The advantage, if any, rests with the Greeks, who have made very slight progress. They have crossed the Sakaria River near the Angora railway, but have done nothing decisive. Fighting continues.