VENIZELOS' PROMISE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1915, Page 9 (Supplement)

VENIZELOS' PROMISE.

GREECE AND CALLIPOLI. In an address at Ottawa, Professor J. P. 'McXaughton, who during the early days of the Dardanelles campaign was interned at Constantinople, where be was principal of the American University, expressed surprise that in Canada it appeared to be unknown tluit when England and France started the bombardment of the forts along the straits without tjie 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 I'.mperor, with the latter'* assistance, frustrated this coup through constant nagging at the King, who was favorable to the move. Nearly a revolution resulted when the country remained neutral.

Referring to the impatience expressed at the Allies' slow progress in t.lie Dardanelles, Mr. McXangiiton told liis audience of the difficulties encountered there. In the first place it would have hern litter folly to attempt to force the straits without land forces, and at the time they started neither France nor England could spare a man from anywhere. For six or eight weeks they were supposed to he bombarding the Dardanelles, but were, only throwing a few bombs in daily. Troops were necessary, and Vcnizelos had promised to put men in there «s soon as the Allies had prepared the wav n bit.

It was tlie 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, hacked up by her brother, that when everything was ready, the Greek King announced that Greece would remain absolutely neutral. Yenizelos resigned, and when he left the palace the crowd carried him on their shoulders, Bhouting: "Greece a ; Vpn : 7ilna for """