Evening star., 1922-09-22
KemaIists Only Twenty Miles
From Position to Attack
Fleet Entering Straits.
SEIZE KEY POINTS LEFT
BY FRENCH AND ITALIANS
Moslems May Move on Thrace I'm
less Assured Within 48 Hours
of Decision in Favor.
By the Associated Press.

rONsTANTINOPLE. September ".
Turkish nationalist forces nave
seized the town of Ezine. on the
hsiat;c side of the Dardanelles. and
are threatening Kun Kalesi, an I'M
portant key position to the southern
side of the straits. The kemallsts
we're nowhere opposed.
The nationalist move. in the opln-
ion of the naval experts here, Will
enable the Turks to prevent free IN
xress to the Dardanelles to the Brit
ish Atlantic fleet units which are
on their way from Malta
The important positions lnFol'eo
were up to today occupied by the
French and Italians, and from them
the heavy Turkish batteries can COM
mand the entrance to the straits.
At Aegean Entrance.
Ezine. seized by the Turks. is
small town in the valley of the Me-
ander river. in the Eigha district
south of the Dardane,'e-. and Is less
than twenty miles from Kun kalesi.
The latter town. which the national
lists are threateing. is on the water
way itself-almost at the entrance
to the straits from the Aegean.
Both places are within the zone OF
neutrality about the straits laid down
by the treaty of Sevres. 1t is uncer-
tain from available data whether
Ezine is within the military zone of
neutrality, proclaimed in May. 1921.
There would appear to be no doubt.
however that Kun Kalesi is within
this latter zone. against the invasion
of which warning was issued in Con-
general Harrington. commander-in- :
chief of the allied forces.
Turks stand on Demands.
A pessimistic view of the present
situation is taken in Turkish ma
tionalist circles here. 1t was declared
Yesterday that unless the Kemalists
received assurances and guarantees
from the allies within forty-eisht
hours that the question of the dis
position of Thrace would be settled
in favor of the Turks, a serious situa-
tion would arise and 1T would be i'm,
possible to restrain the forward
march OF their army.
At the same time, however. 1t was
stated that the Angora government
would agree to negotiations and SuS-
pend the movement of its troops pro-
vided the European powers furnished
serious guarantees as to Thrace.
Respect for the neutrality OF the
straits and the zone In the Constan-
tinople sector occupied by the allied
forces depends, it is declared, on the
reply to these demands.
French Commissioner Fails.
Gen, Pelle. tie French commissioner
here, returned yesterday from his
he had little success in his attempt
to persuade Mustapha Kemal Pasha
of the inexpediency of crossing the
straits and occupying Thrace. 1t is
believed kemal pointed out that OBJ
servance of the neutrality of the
straits by the nationalists could be
predicated only upon adequate guar
would be restored to Turkey.
The question of ConStantfnople was
not discussed at the conference. as
the allies were understood to have
settled that issue in favor Of the
Turks at the conferences in London
and Paris last spring.
The British forces are working day
and night digging trenches at
Chanak. Beikos and other vital
points in the Asiatic area Additional
British troops have arrived in the
Bosporus.
Plans to Insure Americans.
Several American organizations, in
cluding the Standard Oil Company
ana the Near East Relief. are devils
1ne plans for the security of their
workers here or their removal in the
vent the situation warrants. The
Standard Oil Company has ordered
the steamer Winnemar. not at Saloni-
XII, to proceed to Constantinople and
stand by in case it Is found neces-
sary to remove the personnel of the
company and their families from the
capital.
Americans in Constantinople. and
Rear Admiral Bristol, commander OF
the American naval forces, has made
plans to insure their safety.
The kemalists are bringing up big
Skoda batteries and British airplanes
flying over the nationalist lines re-
port the active massing of Turkish
troops.
Hamid Bey says that the national
list troops have been doubled and
their cannon and ammunition equip
nent tripled. He asserts that all
men in the liberated area arc Joining
the COlOrSI
British Suspend Passage.
All marine traffic between Con-
stantinople and Black sea, Marmora
and Bosporus portS has been sus-
pended. Ferryboats have been for
hidden to accept passengers after
vessel contravening this order will
be fired upon by British warships.
The British are disarming the
Turkish military and naval forces and
making every precaution to suppress
disorders and fncendiarism. An
British males in Constantinople will
be asked to supplement- the allied
police forces in the capital in ths
event Of an uprising.
The great display OF Turkish nags
has disappeared. The Turks appear
to be sobering. Profound depression
exists among the Greek and Arme-
MAN population Of three quarters of q
million souls.
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