THE NEAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 18971, 19 June 1923, Page 5

THE NEAR EAST

TURKISH PROHIBITION. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CONSTANTINOPLE, June 17. The Governor has postponed the commencement of the dry regime till the first of August, as he found the enforcement would be particularly injurious to the interests of Turkish traders. THE LIQUOR BAN. (Reuter’s Telegrams.) CONSTANTINOPLE, June 17. Governor Adna Bey has informed the Allied High Commissioners that the Turkish prohibition law will be enforced from Saturday. Special arrangements will be made for Allied troops, also foreigners, until peace is concluded. It is officially stated that 2500 establishments will be closed. Traders will be given two months in which to re-export their stocks, whereafter the balance will be liable to confiscation. Drunkards will be bastinadoed. The effective enforcement of prohibition is doubtful, as even in the interior of Anatolia, including Angora, spirits are easily obtainable. The measure is regarded as a case of cutting off the nose to spite the face, because, in view of the fact that alcohol is forbidden to the Moslems by the Koran, it is obviously intended to annoy or injure native Christians, even at the cost of considerable revenue. IN PALESTINE. ANOTHER BRITISH OFFICER KILLED. JERUSALEM, June 16. A sensation has been caused through another ambush between Ramleh and Jaffa. The paymaster of the British Gendarmerie, Captain Swan, was shot dead while motoring. It is not known whether his assailants escaped.