PERIL OF TURKEY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 5

PERIL OF TURKEY

MILITARY SAFEGUARDS. OCCUPATION OF CONSTANTINOPLE. By TilegMph—Prtra Asm.—Copyright, Received Mareh 12, 9.35 p.m. London, March 11. The Supreme Council met yesterday and issued a communique announcing that it considered the measures which were being taken to ensure the protection of Armenians and other minorities in Turkey. It is significant that Air. Winston Churchill (Secretary for War), Mr. Walter Long (First Lord of the Admiralty), Lord Beatty, General Thwaitea, and M. Venizelos (Premier of Greece) attendedIt is stated the Council ordered the disciplinary occupation of Constantinoble a* well as a number of strategic points in Asiatic and European Turkey forthwith, while America has been urged to participate in the measures for the protection of the Armenians. The Supreme Council is stated to be also considering military measures for providing against a possibility of active co-operation between the Turkish Nationalist forces and sections of the Arabs in Syria. Official circles are of the opinion that the Allied forces, with troops which Greece is believed to be ready to furnish, assure the Allies of military superiority sufficient for any emergency in the immediate future, but the outlook is anvious owing to the extent of the regions which the crisis may affect. General Desperey is doe at Constantinople to-day to re-assume command of the Allied armies-—lmperial Service.

TROUBLE IN ASIA MINOR. A STATE OF WAR EXISTS. FRENCH OPPOSED TO TURKS. Received March 12, 7.30 p.m.. London, March 11. It is semi-ofncially stated that the political situation in Damascus is serious. Emir Feisul has summoned the Syrian Congress, which intends to declare the complete independence of the country and proclaim him King. The excitement is so great that he Till probably be compelled to yield to their chief demands. The situation in Cilicia is becoming more serious- A state of war exists between the French and Turkish nationalities in the province of Alexandretta, where the French garrison is small and the insurgents strong, but the French garrison at Mersina and Adna is strong ' enough to maintain order.—lmperial Service.

A CRAVE OUTLOOK. SOLITARY CONTINGENCIES. Received March 12, 12.40 p.m. London, March 11. The Turkish outlook is grave. A wide area of the affected regions presents a military problem of considerable magnitude. The presence of Admiral Lord Beatty and the Secretary of War at Wednesday's meeting indicates the importance the Supreme Council attaches to the issue, which is not confined to Constantinople.

The Council considered not only military measures for the protection of Armtmans, hut the contingency of combined operations by the Turkish National forces with a section of Syrians and Arabs—Times Service.

DELAY W THE TREATY. . AMERICA REFUSES BLAME. Received March 12, 2.4 pm Washington, March M. The State Department has refused to admit American responsibility for delay in the Turkish settlement as suggested in Lord Curzon's speech. It is pointed out the Supreme Council has not informed the United States of its decisions, nor asked the United States lor Its opinion. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

MASSACRE OF ARMENIANS. THOUSANDS OF CATHOLICS KILLED. CRUEL FATES FOR BISHOPS. Received March 1-2, 1.10 p.m. Paris, March 7. The Figaro !b informed by an Armenian Bishop that there are only 50,000 survivors of 150,000 Armenian Catholics. One hundred and forty priests were shot and four bishops died of want and exhaustion. The Bishop of Marah has disappeared, the Bishop of Diarbekr was buried alive, the Bishop of Malakia was burned at the stake, tod Bishop of Mandin was shot.—Times Parrice.