CRISIS IN THE NEAR EAST.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2482, 19 September 1922, Page 2

CRISIS IN THE NEAR EAST.

REINFORCEMENT OF ALLIED TROOPS. CALL FOR DOMINION CONTINGENTS. The result of the over-running of the Greek forces in Asia Minor by the Kemalist Turks, and the aggressive spirit which has grown artiong the Keinalists towards the Allies, is a grave threat to the safety of the demilitarised /.one of Turkey in Europe and the Straits; and the AlLied Powers have been compelled to take a firm attitude in order to prevent the threatened invasion by the Keinalists of European territory. With traditions now rooted in the soil of Gallipoli, the Dominions are appealed to for assistance, and are invited to send troops to help in the defence of the neutral area, and of the fruits of the victory won over the Turks in the Great War. London, Sept. 15. The Cabinet held a meeting, which lasted for two hours and a half. It is understood the Government is in complete accord with France and Italy. The three countries are sending Kemal Pasha a joint Note informing him that the neutrality of the demilitarised zone and the Straits must be observed, pending permanent arrangements. The Allies are also sending reinforcements to the zone, and instructing their fleets to prevent any Turkish troops leaving the Asiatic side, and also to prevent transports collecting for the conveyance of Turks. Cabinet considered that an early conference should be summoned to discuss the terms of peace, at which the Allies, Turkey, and Greece should be represented, and also Rumania and Juvo-Slavia, who. have direct interests in any arrangement which may be readied regarding the Straits and Turkey’s European territory. London, Sept. 1(>. It is announced that Britain is strongly reinforcing the troops at Constantinople, and is asking Rumania, Jugo-Slavia, and Greece to participate in the defence of the neutral zones. She has invited the Dominions to send contingents to defend the interests for which they have already made enormous sacrifices, and the soil hallowed by the immortal memories of the Anzacs. Orders have also been given to the British Fleet in the Mediterranean to oppose any infraction of the neuIral zones or any attempt to cross to the European shore by the Turks. GENERAL TOWNSHEND’S VIEWS. London, Sept. 17. General Townshend, interviewed by the Daily Mail, declared that the occupation of Constantinople was a piece of folly, a gross strategic blunder, a tactical mistake, and a political error of the first magnitude. It woke up the Turkish Nationalist Party, who ran to arms immediately. “"With the Dardanelles in my hand, and a powerful fleet anchored (iftfi yards from the Sultan's Palace,’’ he said, “the only troops I would have landed would have been a corporal of marines to bring off the officers’ washing on Saturday night. The sooner we evacuate it the better for our dignity. The Government must wring its hands over its rejection of my advice in 1918, when it contemplates the Mesopotamian Punch and Judy show to-day. Will not the Government understand that the whole world of Islam stretches in a broad belt from Morocco to China, and from Turkistan to the Congo? Our Government has selected as its experts gentlemen of office in blotting-paper cuff's, and the rersults are'evident when compared with French North Africa and our Empire of India.” PREPARED TO SEND A ■ CONTINGENT. “THERE IS ONLY ONE ANSWER” The New Zealand Government has mu hesitated in its answer to the call of the British Cabinet to the Dominions to send contingents In defend their interests in the Dardanelles. New Zealand has accepted its share of responsibility. The Prime Minister (the Right Hon. W. F. Massey) issued the following official statement: — “The British Government have been in communication with the Government of New Zealand since last Saturday night with regard to the possibility of Turkish aggression in Europe, the protection of British and Allied interests in Constantinople, and maintaining the freedom of the Straits by securing firmly the Gallipoli Peninsula, and we have informed Mr Lloyd George, through His Excellency the Gover-nor-General —confirmed by full Cabinet this forenoon —that the New Zealand Government wishes to associate itself with the Government of Great Britain in any course of action decided upon, and is prepared to send a contingent.” Mr Massey further stated : “I hope, even yet, that war may be averted, but if peace is to be maintained, then, the present difficulty has to be faced, firmly, promptly, and without delay. The Dardanelles must be kept open, and Turkish forces from Asia must not be allowed to concentrate in Constantinople. I had hoped that the British Empire would have recovered from the last war before being called upon to take part in another. We don’t want war, but duty comes first, the Empire must be preserved, and, whatever happens or whatever

Dominions, will rise to the occasion. When the Empire calls there is only one answer possible on the part of loyal citizens.” The British press and Continental press publish comments for and against the British policy, and Mr Lloyd George is being bitterly attacked. It is stated that Kemal Pasha will attempt to avoid collision with the Entente Powers. It is reported that' New Zealand will have a battalion ready in a fortnight. Australia is prepared to answer the call, and the Anzae spirit is manifest. Offers for enrolment from all parts of New Zealand are reported. It is considered that when 'definite enlistments are being taken for the Expeditionary Force —names of men wishing to enlist are only being taken now —no married men below the rank of sergeant will be accepted. The reasons for this are two-fold: —(1) That the taking of married men is inadvisable from the points of view of family and economic interests; and (2) that the acceptance of married men is far too expensive for the State, considering the number of their dependants. Though the conditions of service, have yet to be settled, it is probable that Hie rates of pay to be offered will be the same as those that prevailed at the. conclusion of the I ate war. Hastings, Sept. 18. Asked for his views on the European situation to-day, General Sir Andrew Russell said: “The question is, can the trouble be localised and confined to the Near East? The possibility, of this crisis leading to general trouble among the subject Mohammedan races has become a probability not to be overlooked. A very few days will decide this. In the latter event, the aid that Australia and New Zealand can give by sending help to the Far East will be invaluable to the Empire.”

VERY FINE RESPONSE. VOLUNTEERS POURING IN. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes (Minister for Defence), interviewed by a Times representative yesterday afternoon, stated that the Defence Department's offices had been inundated with applicants for enlistment all over the country. Volunteers were pouring in throughout lhe day throughout the Dominion. The Minister added that he had not got a report yet as to the actual,, number of applications receivetlSk but the indications all went to show that a very fine response was being made to the Empire’s call to arms. He expected to get the Dominion totals for the first twenty- . four hours’ enrolment to-day, and ~~ fm ’ would make a statement in the House on the subject this afternoon. MINISTER OFFERS SERVICES. The mail of the Minister for Defence was swollen yesterday by letters and telegrams from men offering their services in whatever capacity they might be of most use. Among the offers was one from a Minister of the Crown, the Hon. J. G. Coates, who served with distinction in the Great War, being mentioned in despatches and winning the Military Cross, to which latter lie was awarded a bar. The womeji have not been behind hand, for atnong the offers received have been a number from nurses, while sev-' oral inquiries were made last night by ladies anxious to serve in any suitable capacity.