CYPRUS REVOLT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 253, 26 October 1931, Page 7

CYPRUS REVOLT

ARRIVAL OF WARSHIPS ADMIRALTY ANNOUNCEMENT TROOPS SENT BY AIR [British Official Wireless.] RUGBY, Oct. 23. In connection with the Cyprus disturbances, reported yesterday, the Admiralty announces that the destroyer Acasta arrived at Puphos and the cruiser Shropshire reached Limasol this morning. The cruiser London, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Henley, and tho destroyed Achates arc also arriving at Cyprus to-day. A company of troops has been sent by aeroplanes from Egypt. AEROPLANES LAND FORCES FROM EGYPT. FEAT OF EXPEDITION. LONDON, Oct. 23. A Nicosia message states that seven Vickers-Victoria troop-carriers landed at 11 a.m., bringing 150 fully-armed and equipped Air Force men and infantrymen from Egypt. Tho aeroplanes covered the 550 miles in 7} hours. It is believed that 15,000 of the total population of Cyprus—3so,ooo—participated in tho anti-British demonstrations. SITUATION CALMER DISPLAY OF POWER AIM OF AGITATION. LONDON, Oct. 23. The Colonial Office has issued a statement to the effect that the situation in Cyprus has calmed down since the arrival of the warships, though it is still unsettled. The cruisers London and Shropshire and the destroyers Acasta and Achates have arrived at various ports in Cyprus. The rebels have little ammunition or money, and it is believed that a display of naval, military, and air power will quickly cool tempers. The ftgitfttion further is likely to be carried on in the hope of inducing British concessions, especially taxes The Cyprus

3 Government is enforcing a censorship, ? and code telegrams are accepted only if the key is supplied, enabling thb contents to be deciphered. . “In tho name of God and the ’ Fatherland,” the Greek Orthodox Bist hop of Larnaca, raising the cross at 5 Limasol on Tuesday, appealed to a mass ’ meeting in the stadium to fight for union with Greece, thus lighting the ’ torch of revolt which spread through- ’ out Cyprus. The police and soldiers . have erected barbed-wire barriers around the Government offices at Nicosia, and they told a threatening mob that they would not hesitate to answer violence with bullets. The malcontents soon dispersed. GREEK DISCLAIMER CYPRUS MANIFESTATIONS. , ATHENS, Oct. 23. i “The differences between the people • of Cyprus and Britain cannot create a conflict between Britain and Greece,” declared M. Michaia Copoulos, the Greek Foreign Minister. He said that the Greek Gov.ernment did not encourage or support, directly or indirectly, the Cyprus manifestations. STILL UNSETTLED NO CASUALTIES REPORTED. STATEMENT BY MINISTER. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, Oct. 23. A further Colonial Office statement on the Cyprus situation reports disturbances in Paphos and riots in Limasol, where the Commissioner’s house was burnt, but no casualties are reported. Tho situation calmed down on the arrival of naval vessels this morning, and is stated to be smoothing over generally', though still unsettled. No casualties are reported other than those in Wednesday night’s nets, though one rioter has since died of his injuries. Tho statement refers to certain political loaders of the agitation for union with Greece, who for some time have maintained an obstructive attitude to tho Government and are now making desperate attempts to obtain publicity for their cause in order to break down the tendency towards understanding and co-operation, for which the Government has been working. For this purpose, the criminal propensities of certain elements in the population have been exploited, and on this occasion the situation passed completely beyond the control of the instigators. Tho Governor, Sir Ronald Storrs, this morning telegraphed the military ru-

thoritics in Egypt cancelling the dispatch of a further company of infantry to Cyprus. Tho Colonial Minister, Mr. J. H. Thomas, interviewed to-day, said that, although the reports were serious and showed that sinister influences were at work, which required to be dealt with very firmly, there was no cause for apprehension and the situation was well in hand. His latest information was reassuring. RINGLEADERS ARRESTED DISTURBANCE AT LIMASSOL POLICE FIRE ON CROWD Received Oct. 25, 8.20 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 24. The Colonial Office has received a telegram from Sir Ronald Storrs reporting a disturbance at Limassol following the artest of the archbishop. Tho police fired on the Crowd, wounding three. Marines and seamen, landed at Larnaca, to protect Government property, had to assist tho police to quell a demonstration. The cruiser Colombo has been ordered fron. Malta to Cyprus. Nicosia reports tha military motors, unannounced, entered at three o’clock and mustered five ringleaders of the revolt, also the Greek Bishop Kitium. All were taken aboard a cruiser. The situation is now peaceful, and apart from sporadic demonstrations the revolt appears to have ended.

ART TREASURES LOST

SIR K. STORRS’ COLLECTION Received Oct. 25, 6.10 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 24. Nicosia reports the old story of mobs getting out of hand while the leaders slunk away. Fanatics set fire to tho Governor’s house in five places It is revealed in details of the revolt that Sir Ronald Storrs lost tho whole of his wonderful collection of Greek sculptures and Byzantine treasures. Cyprus was formally annexed by Britain in 1914. Tho Government is administered by a Governor, assisted by a Legislative Council of 24 members, nine being official and 15 elected. The capital is Nicosia, an inland town of 19,000 inhabitants. Tho other chief towns are Larnaca (9768), Limassol (13.350), Famagusta (6900) and Paphos (4200). The total population is 310,715, of whom about 20 per cent, are Mahonimedans, the remainder being mainly members of the Church of Cyprus, a branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Cyprus has been dominated in turn by Egypt, Assyria. Persia, Greece and Rome in ancient days. Richard I. of England conquered the island in 1191 and later it was held by Venice and Turkey. In 1878, by the Treaty of Berlin, it was placed under British administration.