THE EXPLANATIONS OF KING CONSTANTINE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2639, 9 December 1915, Page 5

THE EXPLANATIONS OF KING CONSTANTINE

AT AIL COSTS SURPRISE RAID BY AUSTRIAN WARSHIFS Bt Telegraph—iPres«-.As«oclation—Copyright ; N ' (Reo. December 8, 9.80 p.m.) . . ' • , New York, December 8. The, American Associated Press says that in an interview King Constantino emphasised the point that if the Entente would assure him that if their troops'were driven back into Greece they would re-embark and consider their Balkan campaign ended, he would guarantee them the protection of tho whole of the Greek army against a Teutonic attack whilst it was embarking. He would not do more, and would not withdraw Greek troops from Salonika and the frontiers, 'He would not peiinit Greece to be forced 91 caioled'out of her neutrality. King Constantino said that Greece, like America, was trying by every honourable means to guard her sovereignty. What is happening to Greece may happen to America, Holland, and -other neutrals, if the precedent were established. 'Greece would endeavour to accommodate the Entente, for whom she had alwayß felt the keenest sympathy and gratitude, and had also aided the Allies in every way consistent with neutrality, in their too-long delayed campaign to assist Serbia. ' "Yet/' said the King, "the Entente's demands' arc in the form virtually of an ultimatum for the withdrawal of the Greek troops Salonika which is equivalent to all Macedonia—leaving the population unprotected against the Bulgarian comitadjis and all tho horrors of Belgium's devastation in the event of' the Allies being driven back into Greece." King Constantino .added that if the Entente Powers resorted to coercion, Greece would protest to the world, anfl would then resist passively until compelled to demobilise. In reply to a question, the King said that Germany had promised to respect the integrity of Greece territory, but that would not prevent, the Germans and Bulgarians, in. a case of military necessity, from pursuing tho retiring Anglo-Fronch troops, and transforming Greece into a second Poland. He denied/ that a policy of intervention would express the irill of the people. When M. Vemzelos was re-elected, the. people elected him. not his policy. The mass of tho Greece-people understood nothing of foreign policy. "M. Vemzelos may have expressed his personal opinion, that if the Allied troops were landed, Greece would not resist, but that arrangement was made without my assent. The minimum strength of an Allied'army, which, in my opinion, is needed to accomplish anything in the Balk ins would be 400,000, and as these are not forthcoming, it is evident that Greece must pay the penalty for the failure of the Entente's Balkans'venture." . The King was then asked : "What if the, Entente'resorted to coercion P" "We would protest to the whole world' thai 'our'sovereign rights were' being violated, and resist passively as long as we humanly could. I am being forced upon a course I know to be prejudicial to the liberties and happiness of the people." " "And when you are unable to hold out any longerP" «.*I shall be compelled to demobilise, and await the course of events. What else caa I dor" A REVIEW OF PRESS OPINION ' t _ 11 • . . „• ~ , London, December 7. Interest in the Balkans is principally diplomatic, and is centring on the attitude of Greece. \ > The "Westminster Gazette" says:—"We must accept as absolute King Constantino's declaration that he, intends to maintain neutrality. . Whatever the strict interpretation of tho Treaty of Bucharest, the Greeks must feel they owo something to the Serbians, who fought the battle for Balkan liberty." The "Evening Standard" says:—"That the interview given to a 'Times' correspondent by the King of Greece reeks with quibbles." The "Evening News" remarks: ''It is clear we must rely on ourselves ' alone, and increase the number of'our men." - " Representatives of the Greek colony in London assert that King Constantino is apparently, afraid to jump in the right direction, and that it might not do harm if the Allies gave him a gentle push. . Tho Italian journal "Corriere della Sera's" Athens correspondent says that German agents continue to purchase Greek journals and organise supplies for enemy submarines;, which they openly use in Greek ports. Germanophilo newspapers urge tho Government to remove tho capital to Larissa. Mobilisation is more active and the arming of the men proceeds hastily, as if Greece were about to enter the war to-morrow. Tho Kaiser decorated M. Dousmanis and high staff officers on the eve of Lord Kitchener and M. Donys-Cochin'svisit to Greece. Italian papers assert that .King Constantino has become more hostile to tho Entente since Monastir fell, and that he will nullify any concessions of his Government to the Allies. : " PESSIMISTIC VIEW OF OUTLOOK IN RUMANIA London December 7 The "Daily Rome correspondent is pessimistic. He reports that at Bucharest the Entontists are silent while the Germanophiles are bolder It id reported that Rumanian forces have been removed from tho Austrian to' the Russian frontier. i The Rumanian Prime Minister's brother, in a speech, declared that Rumania would be neutral until one group was crushed, then sho would offer her services to hasten the end. AUSTRIANS CLAIM, A NAVAL SUCCESS CRUISER AND DESTROYERS SINK ALLIES' SUPPLY SHIPS. (Rec. December 8, 8.35 p.m.) , . a . . mi . London, December 8 An Austrian communique states: "The Austrian light cruiser Novarra and several destroyer!; which were operating off San Giovanni Di Mcdua ou Decomber 5, sank five steamers and several sailing vossels whioh were [lie charging war material, and also a Frenrh submarine, without! o£ t,venty sm,s lloavil * tile Austrlwu

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS BUREAU.. (Reo. December 8,10.30 p.m.) rm ~ Paris, December 8. The Press Bureau announces that according to a German wireless message the French submarine Frcsnel was destroyed at Sunsay by an Austrian warship. Two officers and twenty-six men were saved and taken prisoner. 1 AUSTRIAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. December 8, 8.35 p.m.) ■ • . . tifm , Amsterdam, Decomber 8. An Austrian communique states: "There has been severe fighting east of Ipek. The enemy 'was repulsed, losing sis guns. The Au&trians have capturcd Ipek, and the Bulgarians have taken Djakova."-HIGH-HANDED, PROCEEDINGS AT SEA - GREEK STEAMERS HELD UP BY AUSTRO-GERMANS. (Reo. December 8, 8.35 p.m.) submarine in the Straits of Messina boaXl a siid arrested Colonel Napier, formerly a military attache at Sofia, and Captain Wilson, M.P., who was conveying letters from the Eastern Mediterranean to H n ;, had ,)een carrying dispatches for months. It has been ascertained that the papers which were taken from him were not important. Colonel IJaroer and Captain Wilson were taken on board the submanne. A British "■ vow ' *• —' «•? , submari ? es °5 December 2 narrowly missed the Greek steamer Spetzai, which was stopped. The submarines ordered the Spetzai to lower boats, and a crew came on board and searched her, despite her captain's protest tnat this proceeding web a breach of international rights ' During the search several mail-bags were thrown overboard, and the submarines promptly fished them out. WAR MATERIAL FOR THE ALLIES LARGE SUPPLIES LANDED ON SUNDAY. " , The Italian journal "Tribuna's" Athens correspondent transports on Sunday landed the remainder of five of the Allies' divisions, also artillery and armoured cars from London. /t THE GERMAN PURSUIT OF THE SERBIANS ENEMY IN CHARGE AT MONASTIR. ■ at tit i* t\ t ,1 t London, December 7. • • Mr. Martin Donohoc, the correspondent, telegraphinc from Athens savs he enemy's pursuit of tho Serbians is proving Tlifiicultf tie esi MaDy G ? rmans llave die <J °f exposure. It is believed 100,000 Serbians have survived, but thoy are without 'food or realhwi AlLmi 8 f '° m hardsh, R s of their forced march. They, have Tho Germans are In charge at Monastir. SERBIA'S STRENGTH NOT YET SPENT. • ; fJ According to the Paris "Figaro," Serbian official quarteT m that when tho 1916-17 classes, are callcd up Serbia will have a quarter of a million troops. She lias surprises in store for the enemy; the whole campaign will be brought to nothing. ■ ' - e ® . SEVERE FIGHTING ON THE VARDAR DEADLY FIRE OF THE BRITISH ..ARTILLERY, (Reo. Decembor 0, 1.25 a.m.) '' rru t> i • j j. i Rome, December 8. The Bulgarians made repeated efforts to bridge the Vardar, but were defeated with severe losses, mainly by the deadly accuracy of the British artillery, / GERMAN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (Rec. December 8, 8.5 p.m.) . . _ Amsterdam, December 7. A German communique states:— Owing ,to a threatened. development, the French were compelled to eive up their positions on the Cerna-Vardar salient. . PLOT TO KILL KING FERDINAND mi ' n■' • iti ~ „ , Bucharest, December 7. . JLhw?. ■ Bulgarian students were shot on Sunday, for being concerned is a plot to kill King Ferdinand. • • [It should be noted that the above message is from the Rumanian capital, and that the King of Rumania is a namesake of the "Tsar of Bulgaria."] V THE GERMAN REGIME IN BULGARIA. aa - > n i • ij. J.i .x. „ POtrograd, December 7. .. Advices from Bulgaria state that the. Germans are extending their domination of the country; They hold most of the frontier points and wield civil control. Germans agents infest the quays, the Customs, and the police force of fcoha, where the feeling of depresssion deepens,, as tho extent of the German mastery is realised. The existence of a spirit of revolt is proved bv the leading army journal, which exhorts the Government to firmly suppress the sowers of discord who are spreading consternation and painting Bulsariii's fortunes iu dark colours. , GERMANS TO ATTACK ON ANGLO-FRENQH FRONT. mi •j- i- xi ,r, , _ . i London, DccemEer 7. There are indications that General von Gallwitz is to be sent from the Eastern front against the Anglo-French in Serbia, tho Bulgarians considering that they are not called on to fight the Anglo-French. ■r ■ _ . THE WAR IN MESOPOTAMIA TURKS PLANNING A GREAT EFFORT Censva, December 7 The "Journal d® Genevo" states that the Germans have planned a great • effort'by the Turks in Mesopotamia. It seems to be connected with Persian developments. Tho railways in Anatolia are exclusively used for war transport. The Germans fear a British'landing near Adana (which commands tho pass of the Taurus Mountains), from where Field Marshal von der Goltz's communications, were specially vulnerable. Although the' Germans ostensibly threaten an attack, on Egypt, it is moie probable they will devote the winter to an attempt *to reach the Persian Gulf via Bagdad. The Sinai railway is however, already completed to Hafir, sixty miles from Suea. ' TASK HEAVIER THAN WAS EXPECTED. ' (Rec. December 8, 5 p.m.) a i ■ • n l c t j t i « London, December 7. Speaking in tho Hduse of Lords, Lord Crewe said that General Townshend's campaign had been thoroughly considered, and if it had been effective ■ it would have been a great stroke hi the war. No chargc could 'be brought against the loader. His. task had been heavier than expected, owing to the greater forces and more powerful artillery of, the enemy. l , General Townshend's retirement was a wise move. | Lord Sydenham said that it was evident that the enemy's force had been underestimated. ' GERMAN FIELD-MARSHAL FOR MESOPOTAMIA. Geneva has received advices from Constantinople to the e Marshal von der Goltz is to bo commander of the Turkish forces in Mesopotamia. * I j ' MOST DRASTIC ACTION CALLED FOR, (Rec. December 8, 3.25 p.m.) _ ~ , „ „ , t j t jr. , London, December 7. Speaking m the House of Lords, Lord Bryce drew attention to the position in the Persian Gulf, and emphasised the point that the situation in Persia demanded most drastic action by Britain and Russia. He hoped that it would be found possible to deal gontly with the frail fabric of the Persian monarchy. ' ■ Lord Crewe (for Government) said that he desired to correct a misap. prehension. General Townshend had only a division, because tho additional troops, infantry and cavalry, wore ccnsidored by competent authorities sufficient for the task. The Russians wore concentrating on the northorn frontier of Persia. Britain had given Persia material and financial . support. There was no reason for despair, iorsias independence would be saved. STATEMENT BY SIR EDWARD GREY. (Rec. Decomber 8, 5 p.m.) t ij. • ii rr c n „ London, December 7. In a statement in the House of Commons, Sir Edward Grev Cfipyrpfprv nf State for Foreign Affairs) said that the Persian Cabinet was anxious to restore order, He had no information that tho Shah had broken hi? with England and Russia, or had allowed tho Germans to transuurtuiilitari" bud. lilies to HiHttftdafl.. F '