TURKISH DEFENCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 5

TURKISH DEFENCES

NEW LAW INVOKED FAR-REACHING POWERS. APPRECIATION OF THREAT IN BALKANS. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, February 19. Turkey has decided to invoke the national, defence law which was authorised by Parliament on January IS, states a message from Ankara. The application of this law is interpreted as showing that Turkey feels she. or the Allies are threatened in Ihe Balkans or neighbouring parts. The law embraces measures for the strengthening of defences, the control of imports and exports, and industrial reorganisation to ensure supplies for the armed forces. The Turkish National Assembly’s decision, according to a message on January'lB, also involved compulsory national service for both sexes between the ages of 18 and 60. The British Under-Secretary of Air, Captain Harold Balfour, landed in England after a 10 days’ tour by air of the Royal Air Force units in the Near and Middle East. He flew approximately 7000 miles and visited the units in Palestine, Transjordan, Iraq, and Egypt. UNEXPECTED MOYE SURPRISE & SOME ALARM. BITTER STRUGGLE EXPECTED IN THE SPRING. ANKARA, February 20. The invoking of the Turkish National Defence Law has caused surprise and some alarm, because it was not expected so soon. The National Assembly will probably meet immediately to confirm tire implementation of the law. but Cabinet might not await the Assembly's approval before applying the law, which gives the Government power to “fortify the Constitution of the nation in matters of economy and national defence” consequent upon, first, partial or general mobilisation; secondly, the probability of the nation entering war or of a war between foreign nations, affecting Turkey. The newspaper “Comhuriyet, which is the mouthpiece of the dominant People’s Party, warns its readers that the coming spring will bring a bitter struggle, but the outcome of the struggle, it adds, is already known because the democracies are successfully carrying out their task. BRITISH OFFICERS ASSISTING IN EXTENSION OF FORTIFICATIONS. (Received This Day, 10.25 a.m.) BERLIN. February 20. A message from Sofia states that fifty British officers have arrived in the Turkish fortified town of Adrianople to assist with the extension of fortifications. Other British artillery and engineering experts are supervising fortifications elsewhere in Turkey. ALLIED MISSION CO-ORDINATION OF FORCES DISCUSSED. (Received This Day. 10.25 a.m.) ANKARA. February 20. The War Council is reported to have discussed the co-ordination of Turkish and Allied forces under Generals Weygand and Wavell. A British and French military mission will participate in a Supreme Council meeting.