MOST CRAVE

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1922, Page 5

MOST CRAVE

NEAR EAST CRISIS. BECOMING OUT OF CONTROL CONFERENCE URGED. I / . ( TURKS REPEAT DEMANDS. Dy Telegraph.—Frew Assn—CcpyrighL Received November 9, 11.40 p.m. Paris, Nov. 9. France views the situation in the Near East as most grave. An immediate meeting of the Lausanne Conference is regarded as essential, as the situation is steadily getting beyond control. The naval forces and Allied troops at Constantinople are computed at 30,000 —British 5000 and 5000 French.—Times Service. ABSENCE OF NEWS. TURKS CUT MAIN CABLE. BRITISHERS MURDERED. Received Nov. 9, 11.40 p.m. London, Nov. 9. Disquiet is felt owing to the complete absence of news from Constantinople since a message announcing that the Turks had reiterated their demands. Messages now coming by indirect routes show the silence is due to the Turks cutting the cable from Chanak to Bokale. Martial law has not yet been proclaimed. Two British soldiers were murdered at Kiasemp&sha.—'Reuter Service. HIGH-HANDED ACTION. Paris, Nov. 8. The Constantinople correspondent of the Petit Parisien states that the Kemalists have expelled the French Consul from Brusa. They informed him that Turkey is still at war with France, therefore the staff of the Consulate must leave, but could return in two days. A French military despatch bearer from Brusa to Constantinople was arrested and imprisoned. On Ismet Pasha • arrival in Constantinople the Allies will hand him an ultimatum demanding that the Nationalists observe the armistice conditions. Contradictory reports are current regarding the Sultan. One says he has been carried off by the Kemalists, another that the Sultan is on board a British warship. The Kemalists attempted to examine parcels in the Italian post office at Galata, but were prevented by Italian troops. The Kemalists have seized the Customs receipts and notified all the European Custom employees that they must leave. Recalling Marshal Foeh’s statement, the Petit Parisien adds that the Turks 1 can be prevented from passing the Straits without great military force, and points out that the Allies can easily reinforce the troops by appealing to the Balkan Allies. There are reasons for thinking that Roumania partieularly would -send troops to Constantinople on an unanimous invitation from the Allies. TURKISH TACTICS. Lodon, Nov. 8. Colonel Hughes, head of the Gallipoli Graves Commission, regards the Turkish demands as a natural move in internal tactics. He declared that the first rains have come, and the conscripted army of peasants, having achieved their objective, are becoming impatient, and, unless kept moving, will dissolve, leaving Kemal powerless. If the Turks start war they realise that they will create a moat serious position. Every Greek refugee would volunteer, and in addition there are three army corps already on the Maritza of entirely different mettle to those which fied from Smyrna.