NAVAL ULTIMATUM TO GREECE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2901, 13 October 1916, Page 5

NAVAL ULTIMATUM TO GREECE

ENTIRE FLEET HANDED OVER TO THE ALLIES (Renter's Telccram.) , . London, October 11. French newspapers hint that the Allies are taking a strong line with Greece. At Athens the Premier admitted that tho situation -was serious, but declared that no decision had been reached. Cabinet sat all night after lengthy conferences between King Constantino, M. Lambros (Premier), and the Ministers of Foreign' Affairs and Marine. . It is noteworthy that the Acting-Chief of General Staff was present at the Cabinet meeting. . Australi<m-UeiY Zealand Cable Association. (Bee. Ootoher 12, 11.30 p.m.) Athens, October 12. The "Daily Chronicle's" Athens correspondent states that the Greek Cabinet received from Admiral Du Fournet an ultimatum at midnight demanding that the. fleet should be handed over, with the arsenal at Keratsiui Giilf, the northorn'railway, and control of the Piraeus, and tho disarmament of three forts. The Government, under protest, acceded to the ultimatum before the expiry at noon. The smaller vessels will be handed over to the Provisional Government at Salonika, while tho larger vessels will be disarmed. ' . Admiral Du Fournet's Note was received directly after M. Lambros's Cabinet had been sworn in: After the Cabinet meeting, King Coustantine motored hastily from Tatci, called lus principal Ministers to the Palace, and negotiations continued until 3 o'clock in the morning, when tlie decision to surrender the fleet was .cached. Tho Allies were formally notified before noon, and during the afternoon the Greek crews of the warships wore disembarked, and the breeches of the guns were removed. French crews wcro placed on the smaller ships, while French guards were placed on the Kilkis, lomnos, and Avoroff, which left tho Gulf of Kcratsini with skeleton crows. The Greek naval authorities fenbniitted without incidont. Tho railway was still unoccupied late in the flfternojn.' M.. VENIZELOS AT SALONIKA. Roms, October 12. M. Venizeloe visited the Entente representatives at Salonika, and also re.riewed twenty thousand Greek revolutionaries.'