The New York herald., 1922-09-23
SATURDAY. SEPTEMBER %. 1922.
Kemal Advances to the Straits.

4 ne COuIeTtHCe Cdlieu dI IdTlS IOI
the consideration OF the Near East
situation seems to have signally
failed SO far as the result sought by
Premier PoINcARE is concerned. Lord
CURzoN has not agreed to with
drawal of the British military forces
from the neutral zone along the Dar-
Frances plans of temporary concilia-
ton to the extent of consenting to
remain in Asia and await develop
ments. Italy and the allied Balkan
nations, Jugo-Slavia and Rumania,
have somewhat weakened the solidity
of the opposition to Great Britain
by distinctly aligning themselves
against Bulgaria should she attempt
10 aid the Nationalists in their eff
forts to cross the Turkish straits.
General PELLE, the French represen-
tative sent to the Kemalists, returned
to the neutral zone from Smyrna
with the statement that KEMAL in
sisted upon his purpose of entering
Europe. The Nationalist leader de-
ciared that his army will go to
Thrace to repress the Greek massa-
ere of Turks in retaliation for the
Nationalists' occupation Of Smyrna.
He must have, he said, an army, not
perhaps his full force, at Constanti-
nople to be in position to secure the
demands which he will make at the
next conference. And he insisted that
he must have these concessions
within forty-eight hours or he will
be unable to restrain his soldiers.
The same contentious are made by
FERID Bey, Nationalist representa-
tive at Paris, in declariaT that "the
Nationalist aspiration will be at
tained, peaceably if possible, forcibly
If must be-
There is every indication that the
Nationalists are preparing to carry
out their aggressive policy. They
have concentrated the army which
captured Smyrna back OF the line OF
the neutral zone and are massing
forces at Ismid, - the Asiatic shore
opposite Constantinople, and in the
rear of the British forces at Chanak
and other key points along the Dar-
danelles. Excepting the troops un-
Ger the control /of the Allied Com
mission at Constantinople KEMM is
practically unopposed by any other
European force than this small body
OF British soldiers. Both the italian
and the French troops have been
withdrawn from the Dardapelles and
the positions which they held are
reported to be now undefended. III
KEMAL is to be stopped at the Oar
canelles Great Britain alone must
do the work.
The Turks, according to the re-
ports from Constantinople, have al
ready occupied Ezine within the neu-
trail zone, with the evident intention
os advancing to Kun Kalesi. This
roint. which was strongly forti-
ned by the Turks in the world war,
lies at the entrance of the Darda-
nelles from the Egean Sea. 1t is
a commanding position and II forti-
! iled by heavy guns could offer strong
opposition to the British feet, which
recently left the Mediterranean naval
stations for the Turkish straits. II
is also advantageously situated for
an attack upon the British defense
City miles above at Chanak.
The armed Turk is at the gateway
or Europe. In victory he has never
spared the sword or the torch. Con-
stantinople and Thrace lie at his
mercy and their fate for the instant
is in his hands. Is it to be the same
an that of Smyrna and eastern Asia
Minor? Great Britain never faced
4 greater responsibility to civiliza-
tion than that with which she now
is confronted.