AGGRESSIVE TURKS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1708, 26 March 1906, Page 2

AGGRESSIVE TURKS.

By telegraph, Presn Aes’n, Copyright

Constantinople, Maroh 28. The Porte bases its olaim to Tabah on tho contents of tho Grand Vizier’s telegram on tho occasion of the Khedive a accossicn in 1892, Diplomatists expeot tbo British will make a naval demonstration, probably at Smyrna.

TURKS GETTING READY FOR FIGHT.

GERMAN ENGINEERS PLANNING RAILWAY.

By telegraph,. Presa 'Asa’n, CopyrTghi Received 4.45 p.m., Maroh 25. London, Maroh 24. Britain has again refused to accept the Porte’s view of the situation at Tabah. The Turks have received reinforcements. They now have 4500 troops and eight gun 9 at Akabe. German engineers are planning a railway in the vicinity of Akaba.

It was reported a month ago that Turkish troops bad occupied Tabah, a place in the Sinai Peninsula, near the head of the Gulf of Akabah. The Biitieh Government, on behalf of tbe Egyptian Government, entered a protest against occupation of tho place, and offered to refer tbo question to an Anglo-Turktsh Commission, provided that Tabah was first evacuated. It was next reported, that the Turks were trying to seize tbe island of Faraan, opposite Tabab, and that the oruißor Diana had prevented the operation being carried out. The railway being built by tbe Turkish Government from Damascus to Mecca, has thrown a branch to - Akabab, at the bead of the gulf of the same name, and Turkey doubtless requires possession of Tabah as a measure for the protection of the terminus. Since this a affair took placß it has been reported that the Egyptian Government had decided to establish military posts along the border, from the gulf to the Mediterranean. The Sinai Peninsula was the soene of the s wanderings of the Jews, and of the lawgiving of Moses. -i’,