DECISION HOURLY AWAITED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3567, 29 September 1916, Page 5

DECISION HOURLY AWAITED.

A COMPLICATED SITUATION.

STRONG PRESSURE ON KING

CONSTANTINE

(Received September 29, 11.40 a.m.) ...... LONDON, September ,28. \ Greece's decision-is hourly awaited. ' .The latest message deswibea : ;the situation as intricate and confused, and adds-'that.it'is rumoured , in .Athens that King Constantino ■ has /.departed, but. there i.s no -confirmation of this. Another despatch quotes the'"Nen Freio Prcsso," of Vienna, as declaring that King Constantino is going to Constantinople forthwith. He will not relinquish -tlio throne, but is choosing banishment rather than break his promise to the Kaiser not to allow war against Austro-Gcrmany. The majority of the messages, however, suggest that. King Constantino will remain and approve of Greece joining the Entente. Pressure in that direction is increasing daily. General Mbachopoulos, accompanied by Generals Cellaris and Gehnadis, on Saturday submitted a memorandum to King Constantino. Moschopoulos not receiving a reply, resigned, but the King immediately summoned him, when he again placed his views before the King, who announced that he was then considering a' change of policy. Genera) Mosehopoulos informed the Premier that he would not insist upon the acceptance of his resignation, as he j preferred to await the realisation, of j the King's assurances. I There were no furthor developments i until Tuesday, when General Moschopoulos and four other Generals again urged upon King Constantine the] necessity for the immediate, abandonment of/ neutrality. General Moschopoulos, oh behalf of the 3rd Army Corps,, sent a message to: the King, expressing the opinion that; intervention would alone save Greece. Many officers continue to leave for Salonica, where the .Committee of National Defence meets under Admiral Condouriotis. -. : ...... Many recruits have' joined the National Army at Salouioa.. On Wednesday, 146 Greek officers signed a proclamation calling upon the army "to save Greece's honour, range yourselves under the standard of the Army of National Defence. Swear vengeance for the invasion of Macedonia. You will never be described as traitors, and Greece will be grateful.