RISING OF THE GREEKS

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 3

RISING OF THE GREEKS

RiOSES FOR REVOLUTIONARIES.

PROVISION AIL OOVERNAI-KNT.

LONDON, Sept. 2.

Mr Ward Price, official press representative mi the Balkans, -writing on August 30. says: "A provisional government has been organised: at Salonika. The revolutionary troops consist chiefly of Greco-Cretan gendarmes. "'lt is affirmed on the authority- of a committee, of which Colonel Zi-mbraka-kis and Colonel Ma::arakis arc the leaders, that a number of otricerfs have sworn allegiance to the provisional government-. The troops were paraded. Colonel Zirrubra'A'ikts headed a column. 1000 strong, consisting of ixendarmes and a detachment of armed volunteers. There wai3 practically no opposition to the parade. A handful of people who were against the demonstration were sadly thrashed. They were beaten almost senseless, and the police rescued them with difficulty. "As the column crossed the Place de Liberte the crowds; cm the balconies showered baskets fill of roses on the men amid cries of '.Down with the King !' The men wore a blue and white armlet, which is evidently the new Macedonian badge. They carried a blue and white standard ins,~.riibedi 'Banner of War.' "The procession went to the headquarters of the (French army. General Sarrail, the commander of the Allied forces in Salonika, appeared at a window and saluted, axe was received with great cheering. "Colonel Zimbrakakis made a speech, during the course of which he said : 'I have told General Sarra.il that we have come to offer ourselves to shed our 'last drop of blood on the ide of the Allies, in order to free the invadeil soil of Greece from the Bulgarians. General Sarrail asked me: "Can I count on your men?" I replied: 'to the last one." ' "The crowd applauded the column, which marched off. The committees have occupied a house, which has been styled their headquarters. Their activities primarily, tit seems likely, will be eon fined to the task of organising the-co-operation of Greek soldiers in Macedonia with the Allies. The prefect remains at his post. "The newspapers welcome the committee as ibeing equivalent to a declaration of Macedonian independence. Meanwhile, the news from Athens is of the most scanty description. There are persistent rumours of riots having occurred in the city. During the political happenings activity at the front is subsiding."