GREECE.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 219, 27 December 1916, Page 5

GREECE.

CLIPPING THEIR WINGS. LONDON, Dec. 25. Advices from Athens, via Syra, state that the lnruly military clique's wings will b e clipped only in the event of the Entente insisting on complete compliance with recent demands before presentation of the second note. It is pointed out that if the Greek troops remained in Thessaly and Epirus they were better able to resist the new demands. ATHENS, Dec. 25. The text of the note mentioned on the 20th regrets that it is the continuance of the blockade, the Entente's toleration of the artificial extension of the revolutionary movements to the islands which are \3iaquie'tening the population and hampering the re-ap-proachment between the Entente and Greece, and urges the Entente to seek with Greece an improvment in the present situation, with a view to a quicker settlement of questions at issue. It declares that if anarchy spreads throughout the country the Government may no longer be able to maintain order. VENIZELIST GOVERNMENT MAKES ARRESTS. AS KEPRISALS. Received 9.45 LONDON, Dec. 2(3. The Petit Parisien's Salonika correspondent states that the Yenizelist Government has arrested several Germanophile Gounarists at Syra, including five deputies, as reprisals for the Athens arrests. ATHENS, Dec. 26. The Entente is demanding information with reference to the transfer of troops, also requiring the Government to liberate four Allied police agents whom the Royalists have imprisoned. VENEZELOS GAINS STRENGTH. SALONIKA, Dec 26. Several additional Cyclades islands, including Naxos, los and Thir, have adhered to Venezelos. .<■[ AN ALARMING REPORT. LONDON, Dec 26. ;:.; An uncensored despatch from Greece reveals the unchecked continuance of anti-Venezelist outrages. King Coristantine is supporting a campaign of terror, brutality, outrage and pillage..

ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

SOMME BATTLE FINISHED. Received 10.30 AMSTERDAM,, Dee. 26.;, A German semi-official communication states that the Somme battle is ■ finished, and an extensive trench sys- j tern is again constructed over a dozen lines of defences.

BELGIAN DEPORTATIONS.

GERMANY'S DISCOURTESY. Received 10.30 i AMSTERDAM, Dec. 26. The Telegraaf confirms the • statement of Le Temps that Germany '& reply to the Netherlands' protest against the Belgian deportations is so discourteous that it' could not be communicated to Parliament. The Government has requested Germany to send such a reply as could be communicated to Parlia- j ment. j CHRISTMAS IN THE FIRING j LINE. I HOW OUR BOYS FARED. | LONDON, Dec. 25. Mr Philip Gibbs writes: Xmas Evo was mild and spring-like. There was ; a glint of sunshine. Guns and supply columns of motor lorries containing Christmas provender for men and beasts i ploughed through thick slime. Camps, j hutments and dug-outs resembled j islands in an ocean of mud. Australians and New Zealanders were observed ! flinging money about the booths and market places upon trinkets destined for a long sea journey. These fellows in the slouch hats wandered into the : best restaurants in the Tcgion of the battlefields and chose dishes without worrying about the price. Some units had the bad luck to be in the trenches, but there was no grousing. Though shell holes were half full of water and it was hard to keep feet from freezing, I every effort was made to get a good lump of plum pudding. j COAL CRISIS IN FRANCE. Received 9.40. PARIS, Dec 25. The coal crisis has been partly settled. Three thousand men will be sent to the mines. The freight tax is to be abolished, and the British Government becomes the sole transporter of stores Ships are divided into three groups, ' namely, local, commissariat, supply, and the fleets proceeding to the different ports are convoyed by warships.