OFFICERS SHOT.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20360, 18 July 1934, Page 1

OFFICERS SHOT.

Explanation Demanded From Turkey. British Official Wireless. (Received July 18, 12.45 p.m.) RUGBY, July 17. In the House of Commons, Sir John Simon was asked if he could state the circumstances in which the party of British officers bathing off ti.e island of Samos were fired on by Turkish soldiers and one British officer was killed.,

The Foreign Secretary said that, according to reports received by the Admiralty, the boat in question was a skiff belonging to 11.M.5. Devonshire, which was lying off the Greek island of Samos. The skiff had approached under sail to within 100 yards of the Turkish mainland when some ten soldiers appeared and, according to reports received by the British Naval authorities, waved the boat away. The boat immediately went about, but the soldiers opened fire, killing SurgeonLieutenant Robinson and slightly wounding Lieutenant Maunsell in the shoulder.

A search was being continued for Surgeon-Lieutenant Robinson's bedy. On hearing of these events. Sir John Simon said that he immediately asked the Turkish Ambassador to come to see him. He drew attention to the gravity of this occurrence, and Fethi Bey undertook to telegraph immediately to his Government. The British Ambassador in Turkey had also been instructed to take the matter up with the Turkish Government on similar lines.