Turkey Greatly Stirred Over Korea; Heavy Casualties; Resoluteness

Wanganui Chronicle, 19 December 1950, Page 5

Turkey Greatly Stirred Over Korea; Heavy Casualties; Resoluteness

LONDON, Dec 18 (Recd 6 ») ' Correspondents in Istanbul emphasise how deeply stirred the Turkish people have become at the Korean crisis, particularly in view of the hea.y fighting in which the Turkish Contingent has been involved and the casualties it suffered. Prayers for the dead are being said in mosques all over Turkey and the Press gives much space to the deeds of the Turks, losses among whom arc estimated at 1000 killed, wounded and missing out of a total of 4500 men. “The Times” correspondent says. ‘There is no doubt that Turkey is one of ’he rare European or Asian countries which favour stern measures, with no concessions whatever to the Communists. Several articles in the Turkish Press have gone so far as to denounce what is described as the half-hearted attitude of some European powers as opposed to the American decision to counter Communist aggression in any form. -The Turkish attitude is understandable in view of the fact that the Turkish army has been maintained in a state of mobilisation for many years, and that Turkey is one of the countries most exposed io Russian imperialism. -The Turks, having made up their minds to fight and in Korea they pr-.ved their willingness—dislike what

I they consider to be an alternative I drifting along in a vain effort to ap- • rase lhe Communists. The Turks view the latest, proposals at Lake Success with scepticism. They consider that they may contribute to postpone the crisis, but that no definite settlement can be reached as long as countries inspired by Moscow are intent, on pursuing a policy of intimidation and blackmail.” (Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent).