TURKEY AND GREECE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3513, 12 July 1921, Page 14

TURKEY AND GREECE.

CONSTANTINOPLE THREATENED. ISMiD PENINSULA OCCUPIED. LONDON, July 5. Constantinople messages report that the Kemalists have occupied nearly the whole of Ismid Peninsula. Some have even entered the neutral zone and are threatening Constantinople. It is reported that a private meeting of the Allied High Commissioners discussed the question of asking Rumania to send sufficient troops to defend the city if necessary. L’.OltlVl I’.LE GREEK ATROCITIES. CONSTANTINOPLE, July 5. A French eye-witness of pillaging at Isrn.i-1 by the Creek Regulars prior to the arrival of the Kemalists tells a revolting story of pV.rages. Women were violated and houses pillaged, and men were subjected to frightful tortures and murdered. I ho Creeks also attempted to set fire to a convent where 4000 refugees were quartered. Americans took photographs of 200 bodies which had been horribly mutilated. The Jewish and Turkish quarters of the town were almost entirely destroyed bv fire. KEMALISTS COXt'EXTRATTXG. LONDON, July 6. The Daily Mail states that official circles believe the Kemalists are concentrating their forces to attack Constantinople. The blow will be aimed direct at Creat Britain. The British Government's view is that the Kemalists’ attempts must be resisted in order to retain the city and to secure free navigation of the Straits, thus preventing the Turks joining the Bidgars who are intriguing to win back Western Thrace. It is estimated that the Allied forces in Constantinople number 10.000, including 5000 British. General Harrington (the French general) is conferring with Sir IT. G. M. Rumbold, High Commissioner, on the question of resistance. It is officially stated that Italy, Rumania, Jugo Slavia, and Czechoslovakia have signed an alliance to deal with Bulgaria in the svent of action being Jaken.

BRITISH FLEET ON THE MOVE. MALTA, July 6. Tiie continual movement of warships from Malta to the East is regarded as indicating that the situation at Constantinople is viewed with anxiety. The whole • Mediterranean Fleet, with auxiliaries from aircraft carrier to tugs, is now concentrated at or within easy reach of Constantinople. UN DESIRABLES ARREST ED. LONDON, July 6. i Replying to questions in the House of Commons Mr Cecil Harmsworth (Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs) said that ! the Commander-in-chief at Constantinople j arrested 52 undesirables, including 18 members of a Russian Trade delegation. This action was necessary owing to the discovery of a plot to commence a revolution beginning with the assassination of General Harrington. BRITISH PREPAR ATI OX S. LONDON, July 6. j The Daily Chronicle gives prominence to a new war cloud in the Near East, based on the announcement that the British Fleet has gone to Constantinople in view of the approach of the Kenialist army to the Bosphorus. The paper ss oi opinion that any attempt to enter the internationalised zone will bo resisted bv the allied forces. If the Turkish Nationalists enter the area policed by British, french, or Turkish troops it will he the bounden duty of the Allies to fight. This will require a substantial force of regular troops, and may involve war with Alustapha Kemal Pasha. There is also a danger of the Kemalists attempting a dash for Constantinople, though lack of heavy artillery makes a Kenialist- attack on the city unlikely. The Nationalists profess to be anxious to ticiu with the Allies. • GREEK PROPAGANDA ALLEGED. LONDON, July 7. The Paris correspondent of the Daily Express interviewed Bekir Sami Bey, the Nationalist envoy, who said that so far as was known there was no question of the Kemalists occupying Constantinople. The Greeks were deliberately inventing rumours to provoke British intervention- — it did not matter on which side. He said :

“I believe that the British will invite the Nationalists to enter the city. If not, only military means will he left. We can take Constantinople if we are obliged to, hut I am convinced that action will be unnecessary. ” IMPOSSIBLE DEMANDS. LONDON, July 8. The probabilities of a conference between General Harrington and Kemal Pasha are unlikely, owing to the Latter’s arrogant attitude in demanding acceptance of certain conditions, preliminary to a conference, which is regarded as impossible. These include the Greek evacuation of Smyrna, and what practically amounts to status quo ante helium as regards Turkey in both Europe and Asia Minor.