MUTUAL RETIREMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 February 1940, Page 5

MUTUAL RETIREMENT

RUSSIANS AND TURKS IN CAUCASUS DESIRE TO AVOID FRICTION. SOME MILITARY MOVEMENTS • OCCURRING. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, February 25. Turkey ami Russia have withdrawn their troops from the immediate vicinity of the Caucasus Mountains in order to avoid friction. Turkey is believed to be maintaining' 200,000 soldiers in the Caucasus.

The Belgrade correspondent of “The Times” says that an incident on the Russo-Turkish frontier led to an armed clash, after which the Turks offered to withdraw their troops from the border if Russia did likewise.

Russia’s answer, said the correspondent. was unknown.

While the Istanbul correspondent of “The Times” described rumours arising out of the breakdown of telegraphic communication on February 24 as fantastic, the Belgrade correspondent says that the Turkish assurances do not seem tc adequately account for the complete absence of all political information from Turkey save laconic denials. There is little doubt that Russian soldiers crossed the Turkish frontier on February 20. Certain military movements are occurring, though their location is kept secret. Budapest reports that telephonic communications with Turkey have been resumed. The Turkish Press does not refer to frontier incidents, but the newspaper unanimously stress Turkey’s determination to uphold ner independence and that she is well prepared for any emergency.