GREEK SHIPPING HELD UP BY THE ALLIES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2800, 19 June 1916, Page 5

GREEK SHIPPING HELD UP BY THE ALLIES

I ■ ~ SEVENTY MERCHANT VESSELS DETAINED AT PIRAEUS (By Telegraph—Press AssociU-ua—Copyright). Athens, Juno IG. Seventy merohant vessels-are detained' at Piraeus owing to the Allies' restrictions. Vessels axe allowed to leave Mitylene for any destination except ICavala, in view of tho proximity of this port to Bulgaria. , AN ATTEMPT TO OIfiCULATE A'PAPER CURRENCY. Athens, June 16. Official—The International Financial Commission considers the seeds of com- . merce in nowise justify the circulation of an additional thirty million franco in. bank notes. If the Government insists on the issue,- Britain and France will withhold from Greece all financial support. [In 1898 Greek finance was placed partly under tho control of an International Commission, fend a loan of nearly .£6,000,000, bering interest at 2J per cent., was issued under the. guarantee of Great Britain, France, and Russia, while a reduction of interest was effected, on other external loans, amounting then to about .£22,000,000. To meet these ; interest obligations various revenues also were placed -under the control of the Commission. Subsequently further loans, aggregating .£19,312,000, were issued, and at the end of 191 i the total amount outstanding altogether was equal to about <£10 per head of population; besides which there weer currency loans of nearly The "service of debt" figured in the Budget of 1914 for about £1,800,000, wliile "ordinary receipts" were nearly ,£5,600,000, and "ordinary expenditure," apart from the debt service, £7,000,000. The sources of revenue depended -upon to produce interest on the debt have been seriously affected by the war, while the mobilisation ot the Greek army has proved very costly. At the close of April : the'deficit in tho National Budget amounted to £15,200,000, and was increasing at the Tate of ,£36,000 a day-1 VIOLENT ENEMY BOMBARDMENT ON'THE SALONIKA FRONT ,' Salonika, June 17. There is a violent enemy bombardment between Lake Ardgen and Kilindir. * . — — — ■ A TEMPORARY AND UNREAL CALM AT ATHENS. (Rec.. June 18, 5.5 p.m.) London, June 17. The "Evening News" .Athens correspondent says a calm has supervened in Athens, but that'it is -unreal and temporary. The real situation, is grave. The Government seems disposed to court extreme measures. The pressure of the blockade is being felt even in isolated towns and villages. Many wealthy people are trying to quit the country. The newspapers are writing feverishly. , ■ . At tho Piraeus idle crews refuse to sail unless the owners insure them and their families against blockade risks. GENERAL DEMOBILISATION, (Rec. June 18, 5.5 p.m.)' Athens, June' 17. The Government has decided upon general demobilisation. FIGHT BETWEEN GREEK AND BULGAR DETACHMENTS. (Rec. June 18, 11 p.m.) Athens, June 17. Greek and Bulgarian detachments had a sevoral hours* fight near Seres. Tho result is unknown. . . ■ !