The Little River news., 1922-09-27
TURK LEADERS DETERMIM-
 ED TO GROSS STRAITS
! Ready to Declare War if British At. tempt to Interfere-Attack Is Expected Soon.

it was certain the Turkish army would declare war on the British if the Brit ish attempted to interfere with the movement of the Turkish troops across the straits to Thrace.
 Ham;d Bey expressed the hope that the British would see the fairness of granting the Kemalists the privilege already accorded to the Greeks, name ly, freedom in the use of the straits without molestation. He entertained scan: hope of the success of the con- ference at Smyrna between Renal Pasha and General Pelle, the French high commissioner, declaring that the Angora governments determination to occupy Thrace is fixed, and that noth- ing would deter it except recognition of it's claims.
 Nationalist troops are massed at the edge of the neutral lines at Ismid and Chanak, and skirmishes are re- ported between advance patrols and British outposts near Chanak.
 British MObOlize Forces.
 The British are mobolizing every a. vailable warship, man, horse, automo- bile, cannon and rifle within reach of the troubled zone. They are pre- pairing to deal tremendous blow by land, sea and air if provoked by the Kemalist army, which, according to the latest reports, is concentrating feverishly around Ismid and Chanak.
 All the British barracks in Constan- tinople have been evacuated and troops are marching in the streets of the cap- ital, which is having sobering effect on the exuberant Turks. The British soldiers are headed for strategical points on the straits.
 General headquarters has issued an official order directing the wives and families of British officers and soldi- CTS to prepare to embark tomorrow.
 Transports with British cavalry, heavy artillery and supplies are arriv- ing at Haidarpasha, On the Ismid rail- way.
 The men in the Constantinople gar rison are constructing entrenchments at Scutari on the Asiatic side of the Bosphorus, which will be the second line of defense, the first being at Yar- inja, a small railway station between
 hD ell, ;-, ha ital have been greatly augmented and probably will be assisted by French gen d'armes. It is estimated that the present total British strength in Con- stantinOple and the Dardanelles area is about 16,000 men, which, when re- Inducements now on the way arrive will be increased to nearly 75,000 eff tectives
 These forces will be further strengthened by large detachments from the Atlantic and Mediterranean fleets.
 The British are enrolling Russian refugees with military training for auxiliary work, while Russian Kal- muks from Manchuria are being re- cruited as horse trainers. It is ex- pected that eventually Great Britain will have more than 100000 men in the disturbed area.
 Turks Prepare to Attack.
 Information that Mustapha Kemal Pasha is preparing to launch an at tack for the possession of the Dar- danelles, is causing anxiety in allied military circles in the capital.
 It is not improbable that such an attack will be made before the end of the present week, it is said. The Turks will seek to take advantage of the fact that the British have not yet con- centrated all their forces.
 The British however, are declared to be determined to hold the straits at all costs, regardless of how formid- able the Kemalist forces may be and whether France and Italy participate in the defense.
 Many British subjects are leaving the city, showing that they believe fighting is imminent.
 It is reported here that the French cabinet warned the Angora govern ment of the individuality of an as sault on the neutral zone, but the na- tionalists are believed to have replied ] that the proposed attack was in the nature of defensive and protective movement in view of Great Britains military preparations in support of her policy of depriving Turkey of Thrace.
 The Kemalists are in dangerous proximity to the neutral zone and a | forward movement on their part will meet with stern opposition from the British.
 VurkS Blamed for Fire