The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1915. A DOUBTFUL FRIEND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 4, 8 December 1915, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1915. A DOUBTFUL FRIEND.

The alleged interview with Constantino of Greece as a pure sensation it» doubtless clever but it is decidedly dangerous and misleading, and an example of the sort of thing which the Northeliffe press recklessly spreads abroad regardless of consequence.-*. The past history of Greece and the Balkan States, in their relations with each other and with foreign' poAvers will surely make the most trusting believers sceptical of Constantine whei: he professes such love of England. It is certainly hardly like loathing of Germany to learn from a -pretty reliable source that German influences are openly at work, especially among the officers, who are brazenly advocating war against the Entente, while closely spying the Allies' positions in Macedonia, and tjiat German officers lire openly discussing ways and means of neutralising an economic blockade, and are contemplating a combined German-Bulgarian attack on the Allies in Macedonia. Dr. Dillon ha s repeatedly warned the Allies of the situation, and has given plain facts to prove that as the London Daily Tele? graph's Milan correspondent now states, King Constantine is completely under the influence of his German staff officers, who recently ostentatiously received .special decorations from the Kaiser. It is no time for feeble diplomacy which has so often brought u trouble, for whether or not it i K destined to play an active pnrt in the war it lias to he admitted that the Greek Army is a fairly formidable one. Recently published figures show that before the Balkan War of 1912 the Greek Army Was composed of four regular divisions and a brigade ol cavalry. Its total strength, including artillery and a regiment of cavr.-.'.Y distributed among the divisions, amounted to some 65,000 officers and men. Under the arrangements made by M. Venizelos, who was War Minister for two years before the outbreak of the Balkan War, a second-line army was rapidly mobilised, and within a month of taking up arms Greece had an army of 1:50.000 men in the field. As reservists came in from abroad the strength was raised to I

180,000, and at this figure it was maintained until the close oi the second Balkan War. It i s possible for : tlie Greeks to do just as well to-day and with the feverish military activity which is going on before our eyes. Constantino's assertions cannot be too readily accepted.