Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-11-17
OLD SULTAN FLEES
CAPITAL FOR LIFE
ON BRITISH VESSEL
Has Not Abdicated, But Pemov-
ing Himself From lmmedi-
ate Danger.
KEMhLlSTS WARM ALLIES

BY Associated Press 70 Every Evening.
Conetantinople. Nov. 17~-Mohau-
med VI the Turkish sultan. has ned
from constantinopIe on a British war
ship bound for Malta.
Upon embarking the Sultan en-
phasized that he was not abdlca,ing.
but merely removing himself from i'm
mediate danger
The sultan wrote 70 Lieut. General
Harrington, the British comma ndar.in-
chief "Wednesday evening, stating ne
considered his life n he IN danger and
would like British protection.
The Sultan has been greatly eyer
cised oyer his status since the action
.of the Turkish Nationalist assembly
at Angora early this month voting 70
deprive him ~ his civil authority. and
declaring the caliph or religious head
of Islam would hereafter be selected
from tho imperial house by vote Of
tho Grand National Assembly.
In the face of the filtration # Va
tionaiist military elements into Con
stantinopie and the knowledge that
Angora authorities would eventually
be in fun control in fhe Turkish cap
ital. the sultan and his advisers have
been frankly at sea as to tho proper
course for him 70 pursue. The buik
~ his guard went over 70 the Nation
alists. and Constantiuopie dispatches
have pictured him virtually ~ the
mercy Of the Kamalists should they
decide 70 make n descent in force on
his palace. There have been rurnors
That he had abdicated or was about 10
do 50. hut there has been no official
confirmation of any snch action on
his part. There we're strong intima-
tons, however. that he would ask the
Allies for protection If the need arose.
Political motives may be read IN
Some quarters in the light Of the sui
tan leaving on q British warship.
/ Great Britain concededIy has strong
motives for seeing that no harm comes
70 the caIiph. in view oC the many NIL
/ lions Of Mussulman subjects within
/ her domain. many of whom have Civ
/ en- indications of disagreement with
the action Of the Turkish National
lists, dlspgting the power Of the Turks
alone to take action affecting ali
islam.
The question Of the sultan's status
too is likely TO come up at the Laus-
anne conference about to open. and &,
now appears probable that when this
question is being debated the caliph
himself will be under their protection
"A refugee at Great Britain's naval
base in the Mediterranean.
The sultan did not propose to leave
the palace before Friday and arrange
ments were made accordingly. This
/ morning car. in which were the act
ing dragoman Of the British Embassy
and General Haringtons aide. drew M
at the side entrance to the suitans
/ palace.
Shortly afterward. while the guard
was being changed. the sultan. with
his son. Prince ErlOgrul Effendi. and
six members of the palace staff. slipped
quietly into the car and drove to the
British naval base. where General
Harrington and Neville Henderson
acting British high commissioned, re-
ceived him.
The Sultan Immediately embarked
on the admirals barge. without inci-
dent. He was rOwed out to the British
Dreadn0ught Malaga. where he was
received by Vice Admiral Brock.
Commissioner Henderson gave ths
Continued on page g.