A DEFIANT JOURNALIST.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1922, Page 9

A DEFIANT JOURNALIST.

AT MUDANIA CONFERENCE. London, August 13. It is reported at Constantinople that John Clayton, the correspondent in Asia Minor of the Chicago Tribune, has been called on to report to the British Military Headquarters and to explain his violation of the Allied general’s decision that no journalists w-ere to be allowed at Mudania. Failing a satisfactory explanation, he will be deported as an undersirable alien. Clayton's action, it is claimed, forced the generals to raise the censorship subsequently and permit all journalists to proceed to Mudania. The exploit is one of the most sensational epiisod'es in journalism. Following the failure of the journalists’ protest at their exclusion from the conference, Clayton determined to attempt to slip through the British blockade at Alarm ora. On the night of October 2 he crossed the Bosphorus io Kartal, and announced his intention to the Turkish Alayor of the town, who secured him a passage aboard a small coaster leaving for Mudania. The captain of the coast, er turned out to bp a Greek, who attempted to ’betray the journalist’s presence to the Greek destroyers. Clayton and Hip interpreter overpowered the captain, whom they disarmed and forced to put back io Kartal. The Mayor again secured the American a passage, this time in a powerbarge. When nearing Mudania the barge was intercepted by a British destroyer. but Clayton succeeded in concealing himself and eventually arrived at tire little fishing village whore the conference was held.