POSITION IN GREECE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3563, 25 September 1916, Page 5

POSITION IN GREECE.

A GROWING CLAMOUR

LONDON, September 22. Mr Jeffries, writing from Athens, ' says:—"The kingdom of Greece ia now merely a name. Athens no longer governs Salonica, "Lemnos, Thasos, oro Mitylcne. An independence proclama- • tion has L been issuod in Epiru's aiid f Larissa^ 'aiid places which are following ■ suit arc Crete v.nd the Cyefados Isles, " while Phocis and Acarnania- are waver- ■ ing. Only Athens and tho Pcloponnes- ' sus remain.

"The walls of-Athens ate placarded, and the newspapers raako a last appeal: 'King! O s King! O, King! Abdicate I s , .

"The 'Mon Asty Journal' publishes this declaration from a former royal * courtier: '.We .made, the revolution and ' disobeyed .the commands of tho King " and Government because of the treason of Kavalla. The magnitude of :that catastrophe is impelling me and others who have hitherto, been fanatical enemies to the Liberal Party to join the

rising.' . "The placards have not been to-. moved because King-Constantine's authority and prestige' have -practically gone. Quantities of arms are being stored without hindrance in • private houses, King Constantino and Ai. Venizelos holding co-equal powers, the King not daring to challenge M. Vcnizelos's acts." " Constantine's rash promise to tho Kaiser «bf no intervention is responsible ■ for '"the whole trouble. He appointed - M. Gounaris and M. Skouloudis because they were not likely to do anything, and subsequently, temporising continuously, saw tho tide turning, but stubbornly imitated King Canute by I patronising the Reservists' League and pandering to tho anti-Veiiizeliets. " M. Zaimis resigned because he was overridden by M. Streit and M. Stratoa and other Raise-rites afld pro-Germana surrounding King Constantino. M. Streit actually formed his Ministry from these men,, and contemptuously ami openly stated that there was no need to worry about tho PineusJleGt/