THE BALKANS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3566, 28 September 1916, Page 5

THE BALKANS.

POSITION ifo GREECE.

8 '-'■' ■■ ATHENS, September 27. : The move.by-M. Vcnizelos came as a, bombshell to the public. ;■ Newspapers were bought greedny, and excited groups in the streets discussed the, possibilities of the situation,. M. Venizelos is > absolutely assured :<A\ a powerful followiri^—probably ■ sufficient'to force the situation. ' ; M. Venizelos and a dozen of his supporters secretly left Athens in.■ motorcars at 3 o'clock in the morning, 'and reached Phaferon Bay by a roundabout route. Here they embarked an the speedy.little Greek.liner Hesperia, | with Admiral Coundouriotis^ who. is i the popular hero with all Hellenes. Before leaving, M._ Yenizelps attended a meeting of his principal followers . He .-declared that the events at Kavalla had caused him to lose hope that the Greek Government would act with sufficient promptness to secure the honour and interests of Greece. It was therefore necessary to set .himself in :>. higher oamcity than Lender: or the Liberals. The conflict in which he might eventually be forced to engago would, be outside the' constitutional limits.' He therefore freed: his. supporters of ,their" nar,ty tics, arid .left them free to follow' their own con-

.sciences