GREECE.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1916, Page 5

GREECE.

THE DEMAND FOR ARMS. BE FOURXF.T TAKING XO RISK. THE GOVERNMENT WRIGGLING. Athens, Nov. 23. The Government, in formally refusing to hand over war material to the Aliius. declared that the national sentiment whs opposed to disarmament. Renter's Alliens correspondent states that Admiral do Fonrnet's demand for the surrender of war material included IS batteries of Held artillery, 10 batteries of mountain artillery, 40,000 llanlicher rifles aiul MO machine-guns.

Admiral de Fournet contended that this would equal the war material handed to the Bulgarians against Germans. The Government replied that the Entente had already taken 181 modern guns, while the guns given to Bulgaria and Germany were obsolete.. It further contends that acquiescence in the demand would constitute a hostile act towards the Central Powers, besides preventing Greece from defending herself.

The Government also bases its refusal to hand over war material on ths ground that it would provoke a German war declaration. Anti-Entente circles are jubilant. They declare they will face resolutely the possibility of a, blockade.

A GOOD CLEARANCE. Athens, Nov. 23. More than twenty persons compromised by espionage left with the enemy Ministers, including Schcnk's principal agent, Ca?o, director ■of the German school. !