CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE NEAR EAST.

AUSTRALIAN AND N. 3. CABLE ASSOCIATION. REFUGEES REPORTS. OF RAPINE AND MURDER. ATHENS, Sept 15. Arrivals at Mitylene-, from Smyrna, state a reign of terror prevails in the city. Turks are despoiling the remainder of the l populace. The sufferers include Europeans. Even large buildings guarded by French marines have been pillaged. Many Greeks have thrown themselves into the sea in order to escape the Turkish fury. Several were rescued by Allied warships. The Britsh Admiral who landed marines at Smyrna withdrew them in order to avoid provoking the Turks. Several villages were set afire and many inhabitants massacred. Many English families have left tho city. Refugees from Smyrna who have arrived in Athens recount even more terrible stories of Turkish ferocity. Im mediately after entering the city, the Kcmalist soldiers, massacred and robbed the citizens. The quays are littered with the corpses. The Greek Metropolitan of Smyrna (Bishop Chrysostomos) was .tortured and murdered. A Greek ‘journalist was shot dead after being dragged through the streets tied to a motor car. A building containing eight hundred women and children and old men, uas burned. The British Admiral at Smyrna warned tlie Turkish authorities that if massacres continued, the Turkish quarter will he bombarded. An American passenger from Smyrna says he saw nine hundred Armenians forced by the Turks to embark on a lighter, and then were shot down from the shore. Theiir bodies were left in the water. Flames last night were entirely beyond control and aae

approaching the British .Consulate. All the Foreign Consulates are probably doomed. The American one has been burned. There are three hundred thousand refugees in the city. All the Allied warships have been filled. An American destroyer containing the American Consul and several Americans and numerous Armenian refugees arrived at Piraeus Ihe S state that Wilkinson, head of the Bntisli Post Office and two other Britishers were killed, also other foreigners. The Consul will draw the' attention of United States to the matter m a detailed report to Athens Legation The last troopship will leave Asia Minor in a few days. The newspapers unanimously decline nfter tho evacuation ot Asia Minor ,the Greeks must defend Thrace to the very last.

TURKISH MOVES. PARIS, Sept ToAn Angora despatch Husiem Raouf has addressed a note Monish represntatives in 1 ‘ ~‘ n d nilferdon protesting against hies a P ” in** attributed to the Greeks dm if, shortly to muss huge foncs • to Allied squadrons .n the

p.e w*«~rs ' J[or BrUi* -»* i i?r»; i- ”■ isie - I gram. BRIT.ax GOXORNTRATING TROOPS I LONDON, September I<It is announced that Britain is strong'iy reinforcing her troops at ConstanttI it is announced that Britain is ashing the Dominions to send con tin gen s for the defence of British interests of Anzac. | appeal TO THE dominions. j LONDON, September IG. I lt is announced that Britain has m- | rated the Dominions to send contm- ! .rents to defend the interests for arhic-i they have already made enormous saci fiees, and for soil that is hallowed by S the immortal memories of Anzac. ' MR, MASSEY MAKES NO STATE- . MEXT. WELLINGTON, September 17I Interviewed to-night, respecting the sending of a contingent from New Zealand to the Near East, as is suggested in the cable message, the Premier said he had received a communication on the subject; but said that, at present, h« could add nothing to what was said m the cables.

VOLUNTEERING TN WESTERN I CANADA. !■ VANCOUVER, September 16. The Governmental authorities here have transmitted to Ottawa offers from hundreds of veterans to join a contingent for tlie Near East. BRITISH APPEAL TO EASTERN POWERS. LONDON, September 10. In addition to strongly reinforcing her troops at Constantinople, Britain is asking Roumania, Jugo-Slavin. and Greece to participate in flic defence of Dio neutral zones. j BRITISH FLEET TO DEFEND I NEUTRAL ZONES, j LONDON, September 16. It is announced that Britain lias had orders given to the British Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea to oppose any infraction of the neutral zones, or any attempt to cross' to the European shore, that is made by the Turiksh Army. TURKS PURSUIT OF GREEKS. CONSTANTINOPLE, Sept 15. The Turkish Ivenialists are continuing their pursuit of the remainder of the Third Greek Army Corps. The latter are retreating} towards Panderma. A Greek embarkation is proceeding at Pandemia, under the protection of warships. BLOCKADE ON THE DARDANELLES. PARIS, Sept 15. The Allies (Britain, France, and Italy) are instructing the Allied fleets at Constantinople that no Turkish troops are to be allowed to cross from the Asiatic side to Europe. PARIS, Sept. 15.

Britain, France, and Italy are all now sending reinforcements to tlie Near East.

TURKS RESIST ALLIED LANDING. ATHENS, ISept 16. The Komalists aro massed on the quay at Smyrna, TJiey Jiaye pwywt*

ed detachments of the Allies from landing. The Greek cruiser “Kilkis” has bombarded the Turkish quarters of Smyrna

BULGARIANS ARMING. BELGRADE, Sept. 16. The paper ‘Tolitik” states: “Greece has drawn the attention of Jugo-Slavia to Bulgarian military, preparations that are proceeding on the Greek frontier, and she has asked for the co-operation of Jugo-Slavia in supporting the Greek viewpoint regarding Tlirace>.

JUGO-SLAYS NEUTRAL. PARIS, Sept. 15. Regarding the Turkish, situation, “Le Matin” , quotes the Jugo-Shiv Foreign Minister, who is no|w in Pans ,■ as saying:—“Our population is good terms with the Turks, whose conduct towards the Macedonians has always been correct. We shall conform to any Fra neo-British arrangements made regarding the Turkish frontier, believing that they will constitute a sufficient guarantee.”

TURKS AIMS. COPENHAGEN, Sent. 15

The Turkish Diplomatic Represent.-!-, live, Houloussi Fuad Bey, when interviewed by the “Berlinske Tidende ’ said that the Kcmalsit Movement only aimed at the national restoration of Turkey within her old frontiers. Turkey he said, will naturally have the sympathy ■ of the Mohammedansthroughout the world, and especially those in Afghanistan and in India. He added that “a Pan-Islam rising is not designed, though, naturally, a great danger threatens Britain if she opposes our national aspirations. Mv conviction is that the British Mohammedan subjects will not peacefully witness such n course. A Mohammedan rising would be the result of the trampling of Turkish rights under- , foot.”-

ALLIED NOTE TO TURKS. * LONDON, Sept. 15

The British Cabinet to-day had a meeting that- lasted for two and a half

hours. It is understood that the British Government is in complete accord with France and Italy, and that the three countries are sending Kemnl Pasha, Turk leader, a joint Note, informing him that the neutrality of the demilitarised zone and the Dardanelles and other straits must be observed, pending permanent arrangements being made. The Allies are also sending tlieir reinforcements to the neutral zone, and are instructing their llcets to prevent any of the Turkish troops leaving the Asiatic side. The fleets are also instructed to prevent any transports collecting for the conveyance of the Turks to Europe.

DEFENDING NEUTRAL ZONES. PARIS, Sept. 15. France, ill replying to the British - Note, agrees regarding the necessity for maintaining the neutrality of the Dardanelles. France says her Government has instructed her High Commissioner at Constantinople to make representations to the Angora Turkisli) Government, in conjunction with the British and Italian representatives urging them to conform to the desires of "the Allied Governments.

FRENCH ATTITUDE. LONDON. Sept. 13. The French Government has sent a Note to Britain, but this reply gives no details regarding the extent of French support of the Turkish chums. The French newspapers confidently predict the restoration of Thrace and Adrianoplc to Turkey. u The paper “Le Matin” states:— “Gallipoli must be. banded back to Turkey.” ~ Other papers suggest that prance favours an Allied Turkish Commission to administer Gallipoli.

TURK ARMISTICE TERMS. , PARIS,Sept. 15.

According to advices from Angora, the Turkish armistice terms are very drastic. They demand that the Greeks shall unconditionally hand over the whole of the occupied area, with the Greek troops, and munitions; and shall, recognise Turkey’s absolute sovereignty over Asia Minor and Thrace. They also demand that Greece shall 'renounce all aspirations to Thrace and Asia Minor, and shall also repair all the damage done, and shall bear all the Turkish expenses : and filially, that Greece must hand over all those guilty of atrocities during the invasion. , ... , No other terms, it is stated, will h<accepted l»y the Turks.

GREEK PROTEST AGAINST MASSACRES. ATHENS. Sept: 16.

Greece has protested to the League of Nations, the Allies, and the United States, against the Ivcmalist m. . nacres. r . . Refugees state that many Greeks and Armenians have been Bum "' a " l l ' shot on a charge that they helped th GrSk Army or committed imaginary crimes. , One American states he saw t..e headless bodies of Greek soldiers tied together. BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE. STATEMENT OF POSITION. rroter’s telegrams. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, September 16. The British Government’s statement regarding the Near East, says the Kemalist demands involve the entire loss of the results of the victory over Turkey, in the late war. Britain is prepared to use great exertions to defend the freedom 'of the Straits. She is gratified tluit her views are shared by France and Italy,' the two othei great Powers who are principally concerned. The question of Constantinople is some- . what different. The Allies at the London Conference in January 1921 announced the intention of restoring Con- # statinople to the Turks, subject to a satisfactory adjustment of other matters. Britain desires the Conference he held as speedily as possible in oidei to secure a stable peace with but a Conference is impossible while there is the question of Kemalists attacking neutral, zones. Commissioners at Constantinople have been instructed to notify Kemal Pasha that the neutral zones must be respected, but it would be futile and dangerous to trust. diplomatic action alone in view of the excited mood and extravagant claims of the Kcmalists. The statement adds that an adequate force is necessary to guard the Straits. It would lie most disastrous if the Allies were driven out ) of Constantinople by Kemalists. It would doubtless produce far-reaching reactions not merely in Moslem countries but In all States defeated in the late war, who would be profoundly en, couraged by the spectacle of the un» tjreniqf of success of Pm comparatively

weak Turkish forces. Moreover, the ' reappearance of the victorious Turks on the European shore of the Straits would provoke the gravest situation in the j Balkans, likely to lend to extensive bloodshed in the regions already. cruelly devastated. It is the duty of the Allies in the late war to prevent this great danger and to secure orderly, peaceful conditions in the Straits, permitting the conference to conduct its deliberations with dignity and efficiency to reach a permanent settlement. Britain had addressed herself in this sense to the other great Powers associated in the defence of Constantinople but the other Allied powers of Balkans, are vitally affected. Roumanin was ruined in the war by th strangulation

of the Straits. A Turco-Bulgarian Union would have deadly consequences to Jugo-Slovia. The whole Danube trade would be subject to strangulation il the Straits were closed. The effects on Greek interests lire also self-evident. NEW ZEALAND’S OFFER. TO SKND CONTINGENTS. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. ' ~ I_,. ,1 4-in rletr nf R fl TTI

(Receiver! this tiny at ss.oit a.ni.; LONDON, Sept. Hi. Much interest has been aroused by j New Zealand’s prompt response to the, general invitation to the Dominions to i assist to protect the Dardanelles and her immediate offer to send contingents. Even severe critics oj the Government’s diplomacy declare it must be supported now. j SMYRNA SCENES. j (Received this day nt 8.00 a.m.) j LONDON, Sept. R>. j Mi- Ward Price describes . the attempts by panic stricken Greeks in Smyrna to rush liritish picket boats to which guarded hatches of British'-is were being marched from the Consulate. Blue Jackets with pitying fares and cheering words pushed hack the screaming throng. A British guard with levelled revolvers, and swinging rifle butts prevented the embarkation of other than British. Meanwhile gangs of Greek Armenian prisoners were being constantly marched to the quay by Turkish soldiers. Ail Armenian emboldened by tlie presence of the British plunged into the sea, Turks bred over the picket boat and killed him. Ft is alleged those who started tl.o fire were summarily floated past our feet. Blue Jackets brought aboard the inmates of the British maternity home, three mothers lying on stretchers with new born infants wailing undor the blankets.

X ' A N ADI A X A TTIT I ; DK . (Received this ci.'V at 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, Sent. It*. When Mr .Mackenzie Ring ( Prim" Minister) was informed of the London announcement that Britain intended to ask Canada to send a contingent to tin* Near East he replied—U is entirely for Cabinet council. Canada will •fake whatever action it deems necessarv. The Council meets on Moml.ij - it is also nnderstotal that an extra session of Parliament, may lie called consider the situation.

\ CSTKALIA N ACTION. MELBOCRNE, September 18. Mr Hughes is notifying Hon. Lloyd Geor-'c that the Commonwealth desired to associate itself with Britain in whatever action is necessary. If the circumstances require it. he is prepared to send a contingent of troops. The matter will he brought before Parliament on Tuesday. Mr Earl Page said the Country Party would support any movement to co-operate with the other Dominions for the purpose of Imperial defmiee. Mr Charlton stated the Labour Party would not support the Government if it decided to send a contingent. unless the people wore consulted by n referendum. Whilst he favoured Australia’s participation in the last war he could see no reason why Australia should he involved in a struggle against the Kemalists.

townsend’s vrcws. united service teeforams (Received this day at 10.15 a.in.) LONDON. September 17. General Townsend, interviewed" by the “Daily Mail.” declared the occuj ation of Constantinople was a jnece of folly gross, a strategic blunder, a tactical mistake and political error of the first magnitude. It woke up the Ttnkish Nationalist Party, who ran to arms immediately. With the Dardanelles in my hands, and a powerful licet anchored GOO vards from the Sultan’s palace, the only troops T would have landed would have been a corporal of marines to bring the officers washing on Saturday night. The sooner we evacuate the better for our dignity. The Government must wring its hands over the rejection of my office, in 1018. when it contemplated the Mesopotamia, punch and jud.v show. To-day. will not the Government understand the whole world of Islam stretches in a broad belt from Morocco to China and TurlvPHtun to Congo. Our Government- solee ted its experts from gentlemen of office in blotting paper elift's. Tile results are evident when one compares the French North Africa and our Empire of India.

NEAR EAST POSITION. PRESS VIEWS. UNITED SERVICE TF.t.KCRAMS. (Received this day at 10.15 a.m.) LONDON. September 17. The “Observer” says Indian discontent might be tbe inevitable price of tbe policy which laid a better foundation for peace between further Europe and Ifinter Asia, but what the Government has done is to inflame Islam, without assuaging the lot of Christendom. It has aroused Turkish contempt, for “rAnpotent enmity, and Greek resentment Tor fruitless friendship. The paper .records in its news columns that two main sources of strength whereon the Kcmalists won the victory, luiv been French and Bolshevist arms and ammunition. It is stated that Rus sian aeropl a lies played as big a part as the French guns in Kemal’n offensive. Commenting on the position the “Observer” declares if Turkey springs free from inhalations of any will but its own, why not Bulgaria, Hungary, Austria and Germany. We need not examine the vista too minutely. French logic and realism lias probably given it already some definition. The “Sunday Times” says that triumphant Turkey is clearly going to give Uurone a]l the trpuble shp cpn, The

i whole of south-Eastern Europe is in a state of chaos. Wc may have the Balkans ablaze again before very long and j may find ourselves - though it will to* criminal if we do find ourselves actually at war with Turkey. Unquestionably we have blundered anil misjudged in wavs which cannot easily lie excused. The only thing left to do now is to concentrate all on importance of the question of the Dardanelles. For the rest, we must make with such grace ns we can, such concessions as the Turks, have every right to demand and are almost in a position to enforce. RELIEF FOR REFUGEES. (Received this day at 0.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON. Sept. R 5. The State Department has communicated to the Allies a proposal L> co-operate with them in affording relief for refugees from Smyrna and Asia Minor, hut has not yet received a reply. Tine American Red Cross has empowered Admiral Bristol, United States High Commissioner nt f'oti--lantiiiople, to expend twenty-five thousand dollars in temporary relief in Smyrna, and stands ready to co-oper-ate in any feasible plan of int'rnntional relief. ANGORA ADVICE. PARIS, Sept. 10.

Advices from Angora state the Grand Assembly has issued an official communique to tfio people of Constantinople urging them to await the interventoin of the National Army and not indulge in any insurrectionary movement. STATEMENT BY PREMIER. | WHEN THE EMPIRE CALLS. j WELLINGTON- September 18. ! The iVime Minister issued the to!-' lowing official statement to-day—“ The British Government have been in communication with the Government of New Zealand since Inst Saturday night, with regard to the possibility of Turkish aggression in Europe, in protection of British and Allied interests in Constantinople and maintaining the freedom of the Straits bv securing firmly Gallipoli Peninsula and We have informed Hon. Lloyd George through His Excellency the Governor-General, confirmed by full Cabinet this afternoon, that the New Zealand Government wishes to associate itself with the

Government of Great Britain n any course of action decided upon and is prepared to send a contingent. Mr Massey further stated—l Hope even yet war may be averted, hue if peace is to he maintained then the , present difficulty has to be faced fiii’dy. promptly and without delay. r he Dardanelles must he kept open and Turkish forces from Asia must not be allowed to concentrate in Constantinople. I had hoped the British Empire would have recovered from the last war before being called upon to take part in another. We don’t want war, hut duly comes first. The Empire must ho preserved and whatever happens or whatever becomes necessary, British cittzens both in Britain and the Overseas Dominions will rise to the occlusion. When the Empire calls, there is only one answer possible on the part of loyal eitieziis.

GENERAL RUSSELL'S VIEWS, HASTINGS, Sept 18,

Asked for his views on the European situation. General Russell said the question is:—Can the trouble he localised and confined tn tbe Near East. The possibility of this crisis leading to general trouble among subjects of Mohammedan races has become a probability not to he overlooked. A very few days will decide tin’s. In tbe latter events, the aid Australia and New Zealand can give by sendinghelp to the Far East will be invaluable to the Empire. K.S.A. SUPPORT. WELLINGTON. Sept. IS Ait emergency meeting of the Dominion Executive of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association, was held at noon to-day to consider tb.' Near East. The following resolution was carried “That in the event of New Zealand contingents being called for by the Imperial Government at t!i > present time tbe N.Z.R.S.A. assures the Government of the emphatic support of tbe Association in such action as mav be necessary, believing that prompt action bv every part ol the Empire will conserve Imperial intcresl < in the Near East and India and will preserve the peace and integrity of the ■Empire.” Recruiting is proceeding at the barracks, ISO being in li.v noon. OFERS FOR SERVICE, lot) MEN. NELSON, Sept 18. Up to noon to-day tlier have been 150 applicants for enlistment at the Defence Office. OFFERING FOR SERVICE. NEW ’PLYMOUTH. Sept 18. Thirty-seven men. including a number of returned soldiers banded in their names this morning at the Defence Office, as ready for active service. Waitara defence officer has also received many enquiries.