CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 September 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE NEAR EAST. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. TIMES REPORT. LONDON, Sept. 17. The “Times’s” correspondent in Constantinople states:—lt is now certain, in well informed circles, that Ketnnl Pasha will attempt to avoid a collision with the Entente Powers, but there is uncertainty as to whether he can rely on his officers in the neutral zones, or whether the Angora Turkish Assembly will bo prudent. FRENCH VIEW. PARIS, 'Sept. 17. The paper “Le Temps” says: At the League of Nations, the representatives of Britain, France, Italy and Czechoslovakia have agreed to ask their Governments to guarantee a loan of twenty-six millions sterling for Turkey.

Jt is believed that all the Powers fire agnJeabJe 'except! Britain.. Britain’s attitude is uncertain.

BRITISH ENTRENCH IN CHAXAK REGION. > LONDON, Sept 17. The “Morning Post’s” Constantinople correspondent reports that. British and Allied troops are digging trenches for six hours daily in the Chanak region, in order to protect the Dardanelles from Kemalist attacks. The British reinforcements'' are expected to land at Chanak, though not in sufficient force to resist a serious attack. It is not expected, however, that Kemal will begin an offensive until ho lias tried negotiations with the Powers. Small bodies of Turkish irregulars may, however, be sent into Thrace, in order to raise a revolt there among the Moslem population. Indeed, some hands already have been organised secretly. Greek officers have now gone to Thrace to stiffen the Greek Army there.

TROOPS SENT FROM MALTA (LONDON, Sept 17. Malta reports state that the First Battalion of the Gordon Highlanders there, and two hundred members of the Royal Garrison Artillery. with many heavy guns, and supplies of ammunition, have embarked, and other troops aru under orders to go to the East.

COMMENT OF FRENCH PEOPLE LONDON, Sept 18.

The “Daily Mail’s” Paris correspondent says:—The call of Britain to the Dominions is being criticised in France. It i s declared that if any dangu' is realy present, it is a danger which could not he met 1 by Dominion troops, who would he unable to arrive for a couple of months.

AGA KHAN’S VIEWS. LONDON, Sept. 17,

The Aga Khan, when interviewed, said: “Constantinople must belong to the Turks, and must become the centra of the Turkish Empire, and the seat of the KhaliTs, with unhampered administration.”

IU- added:—“Speaking, not only as a leader of the Mohammedans in India, hut as a British imperialist, I see nothing but peril to the British Empire in any other solution. The Indian Mohammedans are puzzled and pained by the British policy in the Near East, especially that formed in Turkey since the armistice. They now think that a, definite settlement should lie made. The Mohammedans throughout the world would view with mis giving any solution which left Adriatiople "outside the Turkish Dominions. They consider the freedom of the Straits must ,he safeguarded.”

PAN-1 ST. A MIC ENTHUSIASM. CAIRO, Sept. 10.

News of tho Kemalist claims lias heightened the excitement among the. Egyptian Nationalists and the extremists, who are convinced that Islam, as represented by victorious Turks, has established its domination over the European Powers in the Near E««t. . ,

The: extremists are publicly announcing an early Turkish invasion of Syria .Irak, Egypt, Tripoli and Inter India, if the Allies do not submit to KemaT.s terms. The Egyptian Government has requested the newspapers not to give prominence to Turkish victories or indulge over much in retrospection in editorial comment. Intelligent Egyptians fully realise that Turkey is quite incapable of actively helping on Egyptian independence!, but the majority of informed Moslems are anxious to demonstrate their sympathy with Turkish eflorts to restore Moslem prestige.

BULGARIAN ATTITUDE. SOFIA, Sept 17

The Bulgarian newspapers ■ are guarded and non-committal regal ding tho position. The Premier, M. Stamhoulinski, reaffirmed the Bulgarian desire for an Aegean Sea outlet, hut says the Government’s policy at present is against any interference in Thracean affairs. Thor are signs that the Turks will make overtures to the Bulgarian Opposition parties if the Premier fails to respond. Bulgaria s vionpoint is that it would gladly sec the East Thrace Turkish, and it wants the Greeks to evacuate West Thrace, making it either autonomous or Buignrian.

TURKISH ARMY MOVES. LONDON, Sept. 17

The London “Times” states that reports from Turkish sources indicate that the Turkish Nationalists are lieginning to move four or five divisions, of possibly fifteen thousand bayonets, in the direction of Isniid.

SMYRNA’S 200,000 REFUGEES. ATHENS, Sept. 17

There are British ships and many small sailing craft continually arriving here, crowded with refugees from Asia Minor. , , , It is estimated that two - hundred thousand people are now homeless m Smyrna alone. The Greek and Armenian refugees insist the fires were due to the Kemalists, who were using benzine, and petrol bombs. They say also that the scenes at Smyrna beggar description, the bodies of mutilated men and women and children lying about m the streets while all the churches were ablaze.’ Thousands of*refugees were caii'dit- inside the churches. The newspapers state that no Irene 1 subjects were molested by the kema - ists.

PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, Sept. 18. Coniim-nti.ii on the British standpoint, the “Daily Mail” says:- Apparently Mr Lloyd George has already sent a Fiery Cross around the overseas Dominions. He has even tried 0 plav upon the emotions of the Australasians, by invoking the immortal name of “Anzae! ’ LONDON, Sept. 13.

The “Daily Express’s” Geneva correspondent says—“ Delegates hero fear that if the Russians and Arabs join

with the Turks, the Balkans war will spread to Africa and to Asia, thus involving the black and yellow races in a conflict with the whites.” ITALY KEEPS OUT. ROME, Sept. IS. A semi-official Italian note says:— Italy, will not take part in any military operations in the Near East. The note states also that Italy did everything she possibly could to avoid these present complications. Nevertheless, adds the note, Italy remains lovnl to the Allies.

ITALIAN WITH TURKEY. ROME, Sept. 17. The Press of Italy is openly sympathising with Turkey. “Le Tribuna” publishes an apparently official statement with reference to a British note to Italy. This is one denying that any understanding among the Allies extends to their participation ill any collective military expedition. “La Trilnina” says—“ This cannot lie, and it is not, tiio ease. It would lie absurd for Italian soldiers to be sacrificed for a policy which Italian public opinion and the Government oppose ; because it would extend the controversy, and bring fresh bloodshed.”

FRENCH PRESSS AGAINST BRITISH POLICY. PARIS, Sept. 17. The Press of France almost unani- ** mcusly condemns the British policy on the East. The papers are declaring bitterly that Britain has persistently opposed any French military action against Germany, and now Britain seeks to draw the Allies into a conflict to force Turkey to respect a treaty. The “Journal des Debats,” on the contrary, supports Britain’s attitude, and upbraids its contemporaries, adding:—“Let us support British policy when it supports our interests. The Anzacs are proving that they' arc one * with the Mother Country over a question which affects their honour and civilisation in general.” BRITISH. PRESS COMMENT.

LONDON, September 17. The papers in Britain express themselves variously on the British policy in the Near Eastern crisis. None fail to point out that the character thereof is thci very gravest. All the papers here combine in-pay-ing n tribute to the spirit impelling New Zealand and Australia to respond to the invitation to send, men to fight the Turks.

The London “Daily Express” says: “The Government of the greatest empire in the world does not seek tho aid of the Dominions without urgent * cause, and Dominion Governments do not undertake to despatch troops to parade among the graves which consecrate! Gallipoli without cause. Mo face! grave issues.” The “Daily Express” continues:— “The concern of the Empire, with its Moslem hegemony, with the gates of India, with the Suez Canal, is manifest. The concern of Europe with the insurgent Nationalism on the one hand, and with militarist Bolshevism" on the) other is not less obvious.” Tlio “Daily Telgeraph” says: It is obvious that, while* Angora claims the light to shut the gates ot the Dardanelles, and the* Bosphorus, it is impossible! for any settlement to be made, or even for a conference to meet.”

'l'lie Westminster Gazette says:— “It is certain that the Allies cannot regain control ol the situation, unless they are ready to light, if necessary, and unless they convince the Turk on -that point.” , . “The Morning Post” bitterly denounces Mr Lloyd George and Ins policy, in a leading article. Therein the “Morning Post” says:— „ “The gravity of the situation lies m the fact that Kemal Pasha may turn .. . in any direction where he will have to y face, ‘not the Allies and smaller countries, but Britain alone*. He may s«r vev the whole Moslem world with the grim knowledge that he already has the prestige attaching to one who has challenged the will of England, and has prevailed. We might have had Turkey for a friend. Before the late war, we tossed her to tl. e Germans, and after the war to thci Bolsheviks. Even now. we believe, we could make friends with Turkey, but so long as Mr Lloyd George is Prune Minister, even our enemies m Ireland, G - many, and Russia despise Ins friendship.” RUSSIA PREPARING.

LONDON, Sept. 18 < “The Times” Riga correspondent states: A message from Moscow says: The Bolsheviks have convened an extraordinary conference of the u tionarv Military Council, Mr Tiotsky presiding. The resolutions passed are kept a secret. Well informed creles affirm, that the conference decided immediately to prepare for a*'' l the Russian forces in the Caucasian Republic, also the Moscow forces stationed in the Caucasus, as well as the Black Sea Fleet. it is also reported that one corps of the Soviet Forces is already stationed on the frontier of Angora, and is ready to march to Kemal’s assistance in' case of an advance towards Constantinople. . Other sources report that there i . Russo- Angora treaty which hinds Moscow to co-operate with kemal Pas n in the capture of the Dardanelle , Russia receiving as compensation complete freedom of action in the Blac >. It is also reported that the Soviet Comma nder-in-Chief, Kamemeff, has departed for the Caucasus. An official Moscow message states that the citizens of the 1901 class, who previously had been , exempted foi various reasons, have been now c. to the colours.

SMYRNA DISASTER. A FEARFUL REPORT. •« the TIMES ” SERVICE. (Received this day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 18. The “Times” Constantinople correspondent says estimates of massacres m ■Smyrna vary greatly, at the highest four hundred thousand, and at the lowest one hundred thousand. All accounts agree that the town" was made a CQ>rnel house. Some streets were so littered with mutilated bodies that it is impossible to pass owing to the sickening stench. The killing was carried out systematically. Turkish regulars and irregulars rounded up those who were apparently well to do, stripped and killed them in batches. Many Christians took refuge in churches which were set on fire. „ Others leaped into the harbour. Many were drowned and others were fired on and killed. The harbour is dotted with corpses. Some of the survivors reached an American ship and were dragged aboard naked. They had not tasted food for days. Troops in many eases formed cordons and kept the refugees within the burning area. British refugees agree that the Greek troops did not commit excesses in Smyrna, but- were guilty of wholesale incendiarism and sometimes tnnssn<red Turks during the retread