Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-05
OTT0MANs Completely
ISOLATED FROM ASIA
Railway Communication Between
the Bosporus and Interior
is Severed.
BY AssncIated Press.

CoNsTANT1NOPLE: April S.-Cof,-
stantinople Is as much Isolated from
asiatic Turkey as ir the Atlantic
Ocean separated them. RndlwnS
communication between the Bog.
porns and the interior has been cut
by detaohments of British, who
burned the large bridge south OF
sliejik, after getting out all their
indian troops, which had been guard
Ing the line. British headquarters is
at lsmid. and the protective area is
restricted largely to districts within
range OF the naval guns.
Anatolia Is tho source OF the food
supply Of Constantinopie and conse-
quentiy the prices OF meat ana veg
etables have already doubled. The
huge profit-taking is not checked by
the hiEh commissioners. who main
tain the fiction that the Turkish gov
eminent is functioning.
Communications virtually are sns-
pended and the allied newspapers are
filled with statements thnt the ma
tfonalist movement has boon nIpped
in the bud. News which reaches Con
stantinopie through couriers from
Anatolin and passengers from the
various Black Sea and Mediterranean
points noes not support such state
rents. Mustapha Kcmal Pasha, the
nationalist leader. has called Con-
gressi TO meet at .Angpra, with five
representatives for each yilayst
General mobilization has boon or
dered and NIL military munitions or
dered removed from the sea coast.
]oehHi tie statements have been made
by Mustapha Kemal that ho will not
recognise tho Sultan's orders. At
Sivns. Anasia. Tokat, Samsoun and
many other places there is trench
digging and other preparations for
defense. Captnin Forbes. the British
passport control officer has been
seized at Anasia and taken to Sivns.
and 1t is feared the taking OF allied
hostages may become general.
The French have again failed to
relieve Aintab and Armenians Tor
hdana arc moving, with French per-
mission, upon Halatig In nm effort to
relieve the Chrlstians threatened
there. message from AintaG. sent
two weeks ago and just received in
Constantinopie. says that the Mos
lens Will not sell food to $4,000 Ar
menians there. Turkish leaders have
arrived in Aintab and 1t Is feared
another great massacre may occur.
The Italians and French arc both
critical of the allied occupation OF
Constantinople, which they blame en-
tircly upon the British. and declare
that if the two million unprotected
Christians in Asia Minor are Killed
By Moslems enraged by the seizure
of Constnntinople. IL will DO the
fault Of the British move.
So far there has been no fighting OF
any consequence in Thrace. butitherc
is great uncertainty MS to what will
happen IL the French complete their
evactuation az planned and tho
Greeks occupy the region, The
French troops are unwilling tn fight
in Thrace, declaring they will not
take territory for the Bulgarlans and
Greeks.
a delegation OF four members or
the Turkish Chamber are an routo
to AnGora for q conference with
Nustapha Renal. They were allowed
TO pass By tho British passport con-
troll anu are expected to return hero
In ten days. The delegation is COM
posed entirely of nationalists, but
they are asserted to be anxious TO
persuade the nationalist leaders that
the Sultan Will not support them.
Movement cannot succeed unless
modified.
While the British were repairing
the bnidge near Bfiejik nationals d!&
rccted heavy machine gun Are
upon them. but their aim was SO bad
there was only ono casualty After
crossing the bridge the British bat
taiions burned il to check tho ma
tionalists. whose game scefns TO be to
force the allied troops TO pursue them
into the interior. and keep up Suer-
rilla warfare. rather than takc the
offensive