New-York tribune., 1921-06-12
Hasten
Plans for Bic
Drive i'm East
Turks and Greeks Both Are
Confident as Decisive
Battle for Control of
Asia Minor Approaches
Constantine Joins Troops
Greek Ships Bombard Towns
Along Coast; Fleet of
Allies Is Standing By

CONSTANTINOPLE, June II (By
The Associated Press This historic
capital is again resounding to the hum
of military activity, on the eve of what
may prove to be a decisive conflict for
the domination of Asia Minor, with
the Greeks on the one hand and the
Turkish Nationalists on the other as
the most active combatants. The city
is crowded with Allied forces, and ad-
ditional British troops are arriving
from Malta, while the imposing
Franco British fleet is on the scene.
From the Armenian frontier on the
one side and the Ionian Sea on the
other the opposing armies are reported
marching TO the impending battles over
this ancient fighting ground, which has
tramp of opposing forces and the clash
of arms.
Regardless of the sanguinary history
of the past seven years, all the forces
involved are going ahead with their
military preparations in apparent
cheerfulness. proclaiming confidence in
their arms.
French Working for Truce
Over at Angora, the Turkish Nation
alist seat of government, Henri Frank
lin-Bouillon is trying on behalf of the
French government to patch UP a peace
with the militant organization of
Mustapha Kemal Pasha, whose govern
ment repudiated the agreement made
by it's representatives in Europe for
settlement of the outstanding Difficult
ties with the French. In this connec-
tion it may be noted that a Paris
dispatch of June 10 quoted Premier
BRAND as declaring that the programs
of the negotiations between France and
the Turkish Nationalists gave reason
for hope of o favorable settlement.
Declarations are heard here also by
representatives of all sides that they
are anxious for peace, but while the
word peace" is frequently heard it is
far from being present in fact at the
moment, and few indications are evi-
dent here that there is much prospect
OF realizing it for the troubled Near
East.
Thus far Bolshevik troops in large
numbers have not joined the National
lists, but they are watching and have
ready several divisions for the Turks,
With distinct oner OF twelve. The
Bolshevik concentrations in Bessarab bia
may also be used if the opportunity
presents.
Fear Raids by Greeks
The beginning Of the offensive, it is
feared here, will be the signal for new
outrages by bandits and irregular
troops in Thrace and Asia Minor on the
part of both the Turks and the Greeks
The Greek population in Samsun and
other points is being deported into the
interior, and 5000 Armenians have been
deported by the Turks from Bilejik and
other places in the Brusa zone.
Greek destroyers have bomDarded
karamursal, village on the southern
shore of the Gulf of Ismd, and there
have been several skirmishes along the
Turkish front in Asia Minor Coast
towns along the Black Sea, the Sea of
Marnera and the lEgean are filled
with refugees who have fed from the
interior because of the imminence OF
the Greek offensive against the Turk
ISL Nationalists.
The Greek battleship Kilkis, formerly
the United States Mississippi, to-day
shelled lnebors (Ineboli), on the Blaci.
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