TURKEY & THE PERSIAN GULF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2481, 2 October 1901, Page 19

TURKEY & THE PERSIAN GULF.

THE BRITISH WILL STAND NO

NONSENSE

LONDON, September 28

The Times correspondent at Bombay wires that Commander Pears, of the Perseus, inquired the object of the Turkish vessel's visit to the head of the Persian Gulf, and was informed by the commander that he had been instructed to land" 500 troops. Commandant Pears advi&ed the Turkish commander to return to Bu&ra, but the ve&sel weighed anchor, entered the harbour, and prepared to land troops. The Perseus immediately cleared decks, for action, and kept the searchlight on the Turk's decks. The Turkish commander announced that he was returning to Fao in order to communicate with Constantinople. The vessel remains at Fao. Eclhem Pasha meanwhile- is massing troops ' at rßu&ra.r ßu&ra. The Sheiks of Marahoukh have declined the request of the Vaii of Busra to discourage the calls of British warships and steamers. The Times says the l&heiks may count on British support

September 29. Edliem Pasha commands 30,000 troops at Busra.

Resides the cruiser Perseus, the cruiser Marathon, the torpedo gunboat Assaye, and the special service vessel Sphinx are in the Persian Gulf. The cruisers Highflyer and Pomone are also proceeding thei"e.

September 30

The Sultan of Turkey is assisting the Sheikh Abdul, the enemy of Mabaroukh, •Sheikh of Koweyt, who favours the British.

[The Arabian shore of the Gulf is inhabited by semi-independent Arab tribes, who are bound together under treaties with the Indian Government to maintain a maritime truce for the prevention of piracy and the slave trade, and for the cessation of hostilities at sea. The British Political Resident in the Persian Gulf, who resides ordinarily at Bushire} on the Persian side of the Gulf, is thfe recognised arbiter in the quarrels of theae^ tribes, and the peace of the Gulf is maintained by the British flag. Evidently some trouble ha 3 arisen between Turkey, whose territpry (El Hasa) lies just behind the coas£ and the Arab tribes on the coast itself, and in order to keep the peace- the Brit'igbt, commander of H.M.S. Perseus intervened.]