THE NEAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 19330, 15 September 1921, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST

BATTLE OF SAKARIA RIVER POSITION OBSCURE AND UNSATISFACTORY BOTH SIDES EXHAUSTED. By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, September 13. Questioned as to the position in Asia Minor the Foreign Office said it was obscure and unsatisfactory. Britain had relied on communiques from both sides pending verification. Discussing the progress of the warfare the Foreign Office pointed out that after the Greeks made a succession of strong attacks the Turks entrenched along the line of the Sakaria River and occupied practically impregnable positions in the mountains overlooking the winding river. Some places were entrenched 3000 feet above the. river. The Greeks advanced a considerable distance, many getting over, but progress towards Angora was held up. The Turks at the end of July, fearing Angora was about to be captured prepared to remove the seat of government to Kaisarieh, but stopped operations at the last moment. The Foreign Office has received information that both the Turks and the Greeks are exhausted and unable to advance. The Turks had depended mainly on supplies of arms and gold from the Bolsheviks, who, despite asking the Allies for forty millions seemed to have plenty of maney for proaganda purposes. They sent large quantities of ammunition which enabled the Turks to continue their resistance. On the other hand the Greeks are handicapped by Britain’! embargo on munitions going to either side. Britain is not pre>ared to mediate until both sides are ready to accept the previous offer of mediation which they had refused.

A GREEK COMMUNIQUE. ATHENS, September 12. (Received September 14, 8 p.m.) A communique states: The enemy attacked our centre and left in great strength, but w'ere repulsed. CONSTANTINOPLE PLOTS. LONDON, September 13. (Received September 14, 8.30 p.m.) The Daily Telegraph’s Constantinople correspondent states that the discovery of a new plot against the Allies might suggest that Constantniople is a centre of revolution. Really complete calm reigns. The Allied occupation is universally accepted, and is bearing lightly on the population.

General Harrington, however, owing to the fresh conspiracy, warns the population that such intrigues may bring a more vigorous application of the occupation. General Harrington has given the Turks a week to hand over suspects for trial by an, Allied court.