THE KAVALA SENSATION

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 September 1916, Page 5

THE KAVALA SENSATION

(Renter's Telegrams.) AMSTERDAM. Sept. 15. It is officially announced from Berlin that the commander of the Fourth Greek Army Corps at Kavala sought German protection, and his fully equipped forces have been sent to Germany, where they win ue treated as guests. The corps is unofficially estimated at 25,000 strong. The German Government announce that when the Germans and Bulgarians advanced in Eastern Macedonia the Fourth Grepk Army Corps was stationed at Seres. Drama, and Kavala. The Entente aimed to compel the Greeks to join the Entente or suffer the fate of the Eleventh Division at Salonika. The communication with Athens being under Entente control, the general commanding at Kavala, faithful to the wishes of the Commander-in-Chief and the lawful Government, which desires to maintain neutrality, was obliged to act independently, because his troops were menaced by hunger and -disease. Accordingly the /'commander on Tuesday requested the German Commander-in-Chief _t-o protect his gallant troops, who were faithful to their King and country, from the Entente's pressure, and to provide them with shelter and nursing. This request was granted, end in order to obviate violation of Greece's neutrality it was agreed to convey the Greeks, fully armed and equipped, as neutrals, to resorts in Germany, where they will enjoy Germany's hospitality unlil the Entente evacuates Greece. The Amsterdam HandelsMad treats t>\ie German reasons with unveiled scepticism. It says that it is not likely that the troops had much affection for the Bulgars. and suggests that thev were interned in Germany because they const? tu ted- a danger to the Bui ears. The Telegrnaf takes a. similar view. THIRTY-SIX THOUSAND GREEKS. 'Australian and N\Z. Cable Association AMSTERDAM. Sept. 16. The Frankfurter Zeitung rejoices at the German manoeuvre, which deprives the Entente of a considerable portion of the troops which would accrue if the Greeks joined the Alliance. German papers state that the interned ■*)miy corps consists of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Divisions, and nine batteries of artillery. Altogether there are 36,00 ft men. THE SURRENDERING GREEKS. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.! (Rec. Sept, 18. 8.55 a.m.) ATHENS, Sept. 17. Advices from VnH state that after the Bulgarian summons. Colonel Hadio-Doulo* informed the officers of the Kavalla garrison of fcho Bulgarian conditions of surrender, adding that the army-, must surrender to the Bulgarians or the AngloFrench • After a. violent discussion, it was decided to surrender to the Anglo-French. Colonel Hadjopoulo asked the latter whether the armv would be taken prisonem ntil the end of hostilities. The Allies replied that thev were unable to accept i l hat, inasmuch as Greece was not a

belligerent .-ncmy. <"oinnei ("'ln-isti.doifioa in the mea dime declared that he was joining th.- revolutionaries at .Salonika-, and applie. ! for steamer.-. Colonel Hadjopoulo de ided to surrender the army ito the Bulgarians and endeavoured to prevent, th • men joining Colonel Christodoulos. War materi;il and rifles were pillaged ■ iwl the objects scattered in the street . Breeches remaining- on the guns wen thrown into the sen. .Military motor car- were destroyed. The for \goin.g information proves that Colonel tladjopoulos and his men had the opportunity to rejoin Greece. Four thousand refugees from. Kavalla nrrived at Volo from Thasos. The population is enraged with the stories of sufferings and lamentable scenes of parents seeking their children, and weeping children seeking their parents. Many were separated in the hurried flight. 'I wo (Jrct-'k comi/aiiics with fixed bayonets at Kavalla prevented a large number of the 18th Regiment of the -Christopoulos division going ho 'I hasos, comiielling them to accompany Hadjopoulo to Drama. According to refugees 70 officers and 800 soldiers proceeded to Drama- with Hadjopoulo, while 80 officers and 2000 men accompanied Christopoulo to Thasos. Artillery troops of the Fourth Corps, with 20 gnus, followed Christopoulos. When Kavalla surrendered the Bulgarian commander at the head of cavalrymen declared that he occupied the town in Tsnr Ferdinand's name.