New Britain herald., 1922-11-17
Says he Has not Abdi- cated, Though he Leaves Constantinople on British War Vessel
kemalists Rolled by Allies in Attempt to Run In- termed Destroyer Out of Golden Horn.

Constantinople, Nov. r (By Asso- , ciated Press). Mohammed VI, the ? Turkish sultan, has fled from Con- stantinople on a British warship bound for Malta. Upon embarking the sultan empha
 sized that he was not abdicating but merely removing himself from imme diate danger.
 Made All Arrangements. The sultan wrote to Lieut. Gen. Harrington. the British commander in
 chief on Wednesday evening stating
 he considered his life to be in danger
 and would like British protection. He
 did not propose however to leave the palace before Friday. All arrangements were consequently
 made and this morning a car in
 which the acting dragoman of the
 British embassy and Gen. HarrinR-
 tons aide, drew up at the side en-
 trance to the sultans palace
 Shortly afterwards 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 Gen.
 Harrington and Neville Henderson,
 acting British high commissioners, re- ceived him.
 Got Away Quietly. The sultan immediately embarked
 on the admiral's barge without any
 body perceiving his flight. He was taken out to the British dreadnaught
 Malaga where he was received by Vice Admiral Brock. Commissioner
 Henderson gave the sultan a welcome
 in the name of King George upon the Turkish monarch's placing his foot
 on British territory. The sultan re- piled that he felt safe under the pro- lection of Great Britain aiding that
 he was not abdicating but was merely removing himself from the danger which was immediately threatening.
 The Malaya steamed off immediate Fly for Yaletta, Malta, where instruc- tions will be received as to the eyen- tual destination of the sultan.
 It Is too early as yet to get any tangible idea as to what effect the sultan's flight will have on the local situation. The Kemalists, it is thought, will endeavor to make 1t ap- pear that the sultan fled under Brit ish pressure. It is declared in British quarters, however that there Is not the slightest foundation for such an allegation and they point out that British troops had not even been guarding his life.
 Feared Assassination.
 Apparently the sultan did not wish to face the ordeal of the Selamik or official attendance of the sultan at noon on Friday. the Mohammedan The Selamik last Friday was a somewhat pathetic spectacle which the sultan carried through with and dignity but it is thought he feared an attempt would be made upon his life on the next occasion.
 Up to one o'clock this afternoon officials at the palace continually de- nied that the sovereign had left. When they were asked why the usual Friday Seamik was not held this an swered that the sultan was suffering from bad cold.
 Report Probably True.
 Reports that the Turkish sultan lad fled from Constantinople and aken refuge on a British warship were current in both London and Paris last week but these reports were subsequently, denied in British official quarters in London. The fore- ,oing dispatch from Constantinople however was sent without qualiiica- fo 1,o o doubt it's truth.
 At Mercy of Kenalists.
 The sultan. it is known. has been realty exercised over his status ince the action of the Turkish na- ionalist assembly at Angora early his month in voting to deprive him f his civil authority and declaring he caliph or religious head of Islam, rould hereafter be selected from the nperial house by vote of the grand ational assembly. In the face of filtration of nationalist military ele- rents into Constantinope and the that the Angora authori- es would eventually be in full con- 'ol in the Turkish capital the sultan nd his advisers have been virtually the mercy of the Kemalists,
 Politics Enters In.
 Political motives may be attributeA
 some quarters to the flight of the iltan on British warship. Great ritain concededly has strong mo- yes for seeing that no harm comes
 the caliph. in view of tho many ilions of Mussulman subjects with
 her domain. many Of whom have ven indications of disagreement th tho action of the Turkish nation ists disputing tho power of the Irks alone to take action affecting
 Islam. The question of the sul- n's status. too. Is likely to come up the Lausanne conference about to en and it now appears probable at when this question comes up for Ltlcment the caliph himself will be der British protection refugee at eat Britain's naval base in the 
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