CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 September 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE NEAR EAST.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.a. CABLE ASSOCIATION. OFFERS FOR SERVICE. DELHI, Sept 26. Colonel Gibbney of the Anglo-In-dian Association has offered the serVjicci of his community in connection with the Turkish trouble. Ho is receiving the names of hundreds of volunteers.

POSITION AT CHANAK. LONDON, Sept 26. The “Times” Chanak correspondent 1 savs the Turkish re-entry into the *eutrnl zone has outwardly intensified the seriousness of the situation. '1 mkish | maebin'e-guns aid mounted at Enenkanv as well as on the slopes below. The' Turks attitude is non-aggressive, but determined. It is evident that fire will bo opened if tlio British advance. Despite the provocation British troops are steadily self-control cd. During the day small Turkish patiols advanced within a thousand yards of our patrols. When challenged, tliej raiised the white flag, reiterating thej j had no wish to commence hostilities , against the British. Turkish « refused absolutely to meet the Bntish commander, stating their orders forbade Turkish mounted P nt ‘°]* A evade capture if approached ha nu>un ed men', but to permit dismounted to approach to parley. Simultaneously Turks ino, ” t . ( C trots moved northward to w itf 1 • i „ _r fMrtnnk defences. On© p a “ Sed » British Tt! O n >vhotl,w Ctorbk 7” definite itnmvledee hnt the sauce and deliberate reoccupation of Frenkuv outwardly gives the imp.es- • r at Ken.nl intends to challeng . ’ VmT)ire but it is considered the Turks do not intend to force the issue in nny <~ «r defences is everv reason to suppose tk.it tlie . lackers' have been checked sufficient. to avoid bloodshed. I.,ter in the afternoon Turks from a X! violated the neutral line moving ' ” . then commenced to thirty men, with two destroyed in close support. y, Constantinople reports state the . K nialists are continuing to nnis. 1 on t be borders of the neutral *me. « the armistice negotiations drag on t is likely that Kemal will argue » .dve the Greeks time ..to gain.o Thrace, and he will demand permission to cross the Straits, threatening hostilities if refused. The arrival of remforccments undoubtedly eased the strain, but the uncertainty about kemaPs policy and still more the intentions of tbe Bosheviks, necessitates a continuance of vigilance and prepantion. There is little doubt that the Ivenialist advance on the neutral zone is due to the withdrawal J Fianco-Ital-inns.

sc R AUPING BATTLE SHIRS. LONDON, September 26. In reference to the statement that the Near East trouble might cause the signatories to change their minds .e----oyarding the scrapping of battleships, the Admiral denies this applied to Britain On the contrary all British ships scrappable under the Washington decisions have long since been dismantled in readiness for shipbreakers, and some are already being broken up.

KING OF GREECE ABDICATES. new YORK, September 27. A United Press message from London reports that King Constantine of Greece has abdicated.

KEMAL’S ATTITUDE. EXODUS FROM CONSTANTINOPLE LONDON. September 26. Mr Martin Donohue, the “Daily Chronicle’s” correspondent at Constantinople, says: It is idle to close one’s eyes to the fact that Mnstaplia Kcmal Pasha appears to be riding for a fall. He is flushed with victory. His army is composed of fanatical figliteis, who clamour to he lead to reconquer Constantinople, which is a tempting prize. T understand that Kenml’s counter proposals embrace the inclusion of Bulgaria and of Soviet Russia .in the Peace Conference; also the right of I urke.v to fortify the shores of the Sea of Marmora • and a disinclination to agree beforehand to a demilitarisation of the Dardanelles. Moreover, Rental- says that a cessation of the Turkish military operations is contingent upon the British abstaining from sending their military reinforcements to Turkey, so that the arrival of British transports, that are now on the way. may precipitate

a crisis. Owing to Rental's bellicose attitude, the British are arranging for a repatriation of their nationals, including the Indians, Maltese and commercial men to the number of five thousand persons. All the foreigners are now- leaving Constantinople and also those Turks who are deeply compromised owing to their anti-nationalist proclivities. A panic prevails at Yildikiosk, the Sultan being overcome when the Ministers recently announced their resignations, owing to Rental announcing his intention to appoint a Nationalist Grand Vizier at Constantinople to represent the lAngora Government. Hamid Bey is certain to be the Nationalist Grand SYizier. Mehemet the Sixth is now living in hourly dread of deposition, owing to liis pro-Ally sympathies. The favoured candidate for the Turkish throne is Prince Selim, who fought in the Balkan War as a cavalry officer, and who has strong Nationalist leanings. Also in the running is Abdul Majid, a relation of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, who suicided.

PATROLS 1000 YARDS APARTLONDON, Sept. 26. The “TjmeaV' Clianak correspondent says: The Turkish re-entry into the neutral zone has outwardly intensified the seriousness of the situatio.n Turkish machine guns are mounted at Erenckeny, ns well as on the slopes below. The Turk’s attitude is non-aggressive, hut determined. Tt is evident that fire will ho opened if the British advance. Despite the provocation, the British troops m;e steadily self-controlled. During the dny, small Turkish patrols tulvano-d within 10QQ • of on?

patrols. When challenged they raised the white- flag, reiterating that they had no wish to commence hostilities against the British. The Turkish officers refused absolutely to meet the British' commanders, stating the orders forbade. Turkish mounted patrols evade capture if approached by mounted men, but permit dismounted to approach and parley. Simultaneously, a Turkish mounted patrol moved northward to within five miles of the Chanak defences. One patrol approached a British observation post under the white flag. The officer, speaking English, asked a British noncommissioned officer whether the Chanak defences were wired, how many guns had the British mounted, and how many ships in support. The N.C.O. replied that he had no definite I knowledge, but the positions were I strongly wired. This extraordinarily I bold reconnaisance and deliberate reoceupation of Erenkeny outwardly gives the impression that Xenial intends to challenge the Empire, but it is considered that the Turks do not intend to force the issue. In any case our defences are concluded, and there is every reason to suppose that the attackers have been checked sufficient- | ly to avoid bloodshed.

RUSSIA’S ATTITUDE. LONDON, Sept. 26 Mr Berzis, tlie Soviet’s Assistant official representative in London, called at the British Foreign Office, and emphasised the point that, while Russia desired a peaceful settlement, she could not accept any international decision reached in her absence on a subject so vital to her commerce as the defence of the Dardanelles Straits. KING CONSTANTINE ABDICATES. GREEK CABINET RESIGNS. (Received this dav at 8.30 a.in.) ATHENS, Sept 28. The Greek Ministry has resigned, and King Constantine has abdicated, in favour of the Crown Prince.