The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-09-22
KEMAL|STS TAKE
IMPORTANT TOWN
ON DARDANELLES
Turkish Nationalists Threaten.
ing Other Strongholds
MEET WITH NO OPPOSITION
Commander of Allied Forces
Says Advance on Straits
Means War

Constantinople, Sept, 22--(By the
Associated Press)-The Turkish nat
ionalist forces have seized the town
OF Ezine on the As.atie side of the
Dardanelles and are threatening Kun.
kalesk, important key position on the
southern side Of the straits. The KEN
alists were nowhere opposed.
The Nationalists move will enable
the Turks to prevent free ingress to
the Dardanelles of the British Allan.
tic fleet units which are on their way
from Malta. The important posi-
tions involved were up TO today oc.
cupied by the French and Italians and
from there the Turkish heavy bat
teries can command entrance to the
straits.
General Pelle, French High com
missioner here returned yesterday
from mission to Smyrna. II is re-
ported that he had little success in his
attempt to persuade Kemal Pasha Of
nexpedition of crossing straits and
occupying Thrace
Athens, Sept. 22.-(By the Associa
ted Press Greece will never permit
the Turks to invade Thrace which
she considers part of her home
land and the retention of which Is
essential preliminary condition to
any peace conference. This decla.
ration was made in statement to the
Associated Press by a Greek foreign
officer today and further stated that
10000 men were being kept on war
footing, available for Thrace should
the allies permit the Turks to cross
to Constantinope.
Constantinople. Sept. 22.-It is re-
ported in allied diplomatic circles
that the Turkish Nationaists are on
the point Of issuing an ultimatum to
the allies. demanding the evacuation
of Thrace in As hours.
Hamid Bey, Kemalist representa-
tive here, declined to give any pledge
that the Turks would respect the
neutral zone, although he has
been warned that an offensive would
mean war with Great Britain 1t Is
hoped here that friendly outside
counsels will deter Mustapha Kemal
Pasha from any actual breach with
the allies,
Hamid Bey visited Gen. Harrington,
commander OF the allied forces yes.
terday and explained that what the
Kemalists were seeking was the
right to cross the Dardanelles, a pri-
vilege already accorded to the Greeks
Gen, Harrington replied that a Turk
ish advance on the straits meant
declaration Of war against Great
Britain and would be resisted with
all vigor Hamid Bey replied that the
Kemalists did not wish to fight the
British
A means of avoiding a breach was
then discussed. Gen Harrington pro.
posed that conference be called
early in October or sooner and asked
Hamld Bey to guarantee that the
Turks would observe the neutrality of
the straits until then. The Turkish
envoy replied that he eoug not fur
nish such guarantee
Later Gen, Harrington received the
Turkish war minister and the minis
ter OF interior and they discussed how
peaceful conditions could be main
tanned in the capital in the event of
disorders. The allied commander
warned the war minister that all
trouble makers would be arrested and
tried by cOuTt.martial
Plans for the disarmament of the
population were considered, but no
effective method was found The
Turks insist that the Greeks and
Armenians have hidden arms; a simi
lar charge is made by the Greeks and
Armenlans against the Turks.
The French and Italian generals
express regret that their governments
find themselves unable to participate,
in the preparations for defense