GREECE AND THE ALLIES.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 5, 9 December 1915, Page 5

GREECE AND THE ALLIES.

UnITEW PbKSP ASSOCIATION. New York, December 8. An American Associated Press correspondent had an interview with King Constantine, who emphasised that if’the Entente would assure him that if they were driven back to Greece they will re-embark and consider the Balkan campaign ended, he will guarantee them the protection of the whole Greek army against the Teutonic attack whilst embarking. He would not do more, would not withdraw Greek troops from Salonika and the frontiers, and he would not permit Greece to bo forced or cajoled out of neutrality.

King Constantine said Greece was like America-—she was trying by; every honorable means to guard her sovereignty. What was happening in Greece may happen in America, Holland, or other neutral countries if a precedent was established.’ Greece would endeavor to accommodate the Entente, for whom she always felt the keenest sympathy and gratitude. The Entente would also be aided in every way consistent with neutrality. She too long delayed her campaign to assist Serbia, yet the Entente demands, virtually in the form of an ultimatum, the withdrawal of Greek troops from Salonika, which was equivalent to leaving the population unprotected against the Bulgarian comitadjis, and they would experience all the horrors of the Belgian devastation in the event of the Allies being driven back to Greece. King Constantine added, in reply to a question, that Germany promised to respect the integrity of Greek territory, but that did not prevent the Germans and the Bulgarians, in ease of military necessity, pursuing the retiring Anglo-French and transforming Greece into a second loland. King Constantine denied there was anv intervention policy expressed by the people’s will when M. Yemzelos was re-elected. The people elected him not his policy. The mass of the people of Greece understood nothing of foreign policy. “M. Venizelos, he added, “may have expressed a personal opinion that if the Alliedtroops landed Greece would not resist them, but the arrangements were made without my assent. The minimum Allied army, in my opinion, needed to accomplish anything in the Balkans was 400,000. As these were not forthcoming it is evident Greece must pay the penalty of the failure of the Entente 5 in their Balkans venture.” , Asked what if the Entente resorted to’coercion, King Constantm’e [replied; “We would protest to the iwhole, world that our sovereign rights ■had been violated’and-We would resist passively ’as'long as Ve humanly could. Being forced 1 to such tx course we know we would be prejudicial to the liberties and happiness of the people.” Asked what he would do, when unable to hold put longer, he replied: “We would he compelled to. demobilise and await the couise of events. What else can we do?” . London,* December 7. Interest in the Balkans question is principally -confined to the diplomatic situation, centreing on the attitude of Greece.

The Westminster "Gazette says we must accept as absolute King Gpnthat, lie intends to maintain neutrality. Whatever strict interpretation is taken of the Treaty of Bucharest, the Greeks must feel they owe something to the Serbians, who fought the battle. of Balkan liberty. , The Evening Standard says the interview reeks with- quibbles. The Evening News says it is clear, we must rely on ourselves alone and increase our forces of men. Representatives of the Greek colony in London assert that King Constantine is afraid to jump in .the. right direction, and say it might not do any harm if the Allies gave him a gentle push. I The Corriere della Sera’s Athens correspondent says that German agents continue to purelui.se, Greek journals arid organise supplies foi enemy submarines, which openly use Greek ports. The Germanophite newspapers urge the Government to remove the capital to Larissa. Mobilisation and more active arming proceeds hastily, as if Greece was about to enter the war to-morrow. The Kaiser decorated Genenl Dousmanis and high staff officers on. the eve of Lord Kitchener’s and M. Cochin » visit to Greece. Italian papers assert that Eing Constantine is more hostile to t e Entente since Monastir fell He will nullify any concession given by the Government to the Allies. PURSUIT OF SERBIANS. London, December 7. Mr M. Donohoe wires from A hens that the enemy’s pursuit of the Serbians is proving difficult owing to extreme cold and heavy snow. Many Germans died from exposure. It is believed that a hundred thousand Ser-

biaris survived without food and without shelter the hardships of a forced march and reached Albania. ‘ The Germans, he says, are in charge of Mona-, stir. The Daily Telegraph’s Rome correspondent tells of pessimistic reports from Bucharest. The Ententists are silent, and the Germanophiles are bolder. It is reported that the Roumanian forces have removed from the Austrian to the Russian frontier. | The Prime Minister’s brother, in a speech, declared that Roumania would 'remain neutral until one group was I crushed, and would then offer its services to haste% the end. ! According to the Paris Figaro the Serbian official quarters in Athens assert that when the 1916-17 classes are 'called up Serbia will have a quarter of a; million troops, and has surprises for the enemy, and the whole campaign will be brought to nothing. 1 GERMAN DOMINATION OF BULGARIA. i Petrograd, December 7. Advices from Bulgaria state that the Germans are extending their domination of the country. They hold most of the frontier points and wield the civil control. German agents infest the quays, the customs and the police force at Sofia, where the feeling of depression deepens as the extent of the German mastery is realised. The j existence of a spirit pf revolt is pro.vod by a leading army journal, which exhorts the Government to firmly suppress the sowers of discord, who are spreading consternation and painting j Bulgaria’s, fortunes in dark colors.,

MORE ALLIED FORCES. Rome, December 7. The Tribuna’s Athens correspondent says thi\t British transports on Sunday landed the remainder of five of the Allies’ divisions ; also artillery and armored cars from London. A BULGARIAN FAILURE. Rome, December 8. The Bulgarians repeated their efforts to bridge the Vardar, and were defeated with severe losses, mainly owing to the deadly accuracy of the British artillery, > - ■ • 1 f. .( ifijV ■ r iti uh« AN AUSTRIAN COMMUNIQUE. I V ’ f/ , December, ®. J Ati Austrian communique stated V~' ' There was severe’ 1 fighting' east of Ipek. The enemy was repulsed, |l6s-. ing six guns. The Austrians captured Ipek and the Bulgarians have taken d’Jakova. t - ~, , • j., •