VENIZELOS’ PROMISE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 6 December 1915, Page 7

VENIZELOS’ PROMISE.

GREECE AND GALLIPOLI. In an address at Otawa Professor J. P. McNaughton, who during the early days of the Dardanelles campaign was interned at Constantinople, where he was principal of the American University, expressed surprise that in Canada it appeared to be unknown that when England and France started the bombardment of the forts along the straits without the absolutely necessary land troops, they were counting on the immediate participation of Greece, in accordance with a promise given by M. Venizelos. The Queen of Greece, sister of the German Emperor, with the iatter’s assistance, frustrated this coup through constant nagging at the King, who was favourable to the move. Nearly a revolution resulted when the country remained neutral. Referring to the impatience expressed at the Allies’ slow progress in the Dardanelles, Mr. McNaughton told his audience of the difficulties encounter-

ed there. In the first place it Avould have been utter folly to attempt to force the straits without land forces, and at the time they started neither France nor England could spare a man fro many where. For six or eight weeks they were supposed to be bombarding t[ie iDardaneViOsl but were only throwing a few bombs in daily. Troops were necessary, and Venizelos had promised to put men in there as scon as the Allies had prepared the way a bit.

It was the Queen of Greece who prevented this. She is the sister of the German Emperor, and she is another German Emperor. She is strong, despotic, masterful, and detested by the people—in direct contrast to the King, who 'is greatly loved. It was due to her continual nagging, backed up by her brother, that when everything was ready, the Greek King announced that Greece would remain absolutely neutral. Venizelos resigned, and when he left the palace the crowd carried him on their shoulders, shouting: ‘Greece a republic; Venizelos for cur first president.’” .■ i -