GREECE.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1916, Page 5

GREECE.

THE MASK REMOVED. j CREEKS' TREACHEROUS BEHAVIOUR. WAITING TO ATTACK ALLIES IN REAR, Receives Dec. 5, 5.25 p.m. Athens, Deo. -1. The latest figures show that eii>-ht British were killed, and thirty severely and ten slightly wounded. 'ilie Daily Chronicle's Alliens correspondent says that the conflict on Friday was the direct outcome of Greek treachery. Admiral du Fournet explicitly told Kin;r Constantine the positions lie intended to occupy, and arranged that neither side should use force, but despite Kinn; Constantino's and the Government's promises, that (here should not lie any disturbance, and their allowing that the calling up 0 f reservists aimed at the preservation of order, it transpires that arms were distributed to other reservists not wearing uniforms. Moreover, when stronn; Creek forces were moved out of the city, it was alleged that the action aimed at preventing collisions, but (he fads are that '.these forces occupied positions near the station and the Zappeion, where Admiral du 'Fournet had pieviou.-h told the Kin" it was his intention 1o station the French Furl her acts of treachery were the turning of the machine-guns upon Admiral du Four/net's staff, also the attack from tin Palace behind the Zappeion quarters. Mr. Ward Price wiring from Salonika, says that as the result of the Allies withdrawing the landing parties from Athens. King Constantine considers he is freed from the restrictions laid down. His first act was to reappoint Ceneral Dousmanis as chief of the stall', whom he lemoved under the Allies threats in August, and that he has also regained bis authority over the telegraphs, posts, anil railways, where the French recently exorcised control. These events are capable of completely changing the situation on the Balkans front, as it seems possible that the Creek army at the capita! may be thrown into war against us. Anyone viewing the situation at "fort range sets the clear possibility of tin' Greek army attacking the Allies iu the rear or at Salonika. j MASSACRE OF FRENCH j TROOPS. VENIZELISTS HUNTED LIKE DOCS. Received Dec. fi, 5.50 p.m. r.oudou, Dec. 4. The Daily Telegraph V correspondent, wiring from' Piraeus on Sunday, said the seene.> witnessed in Alliens yesterday resembled the descriptions of St. Bartholomew's, in Paris (in 1572, when 311.000 Huguenots were massacred). Tlui.apeo-.• faele was the worst form of anarchy. Unofficered soldiers and armed civilians hunted down Venizelists like dogs, any venturing in the streets being beaten and wounded and thrown into prison, mercilessly and pitoously. Machine-guns were used in the ventral squares and streets in the afternoon. About a hundred VeniI'elists were killed and wounded, and a thousand imprisoned. The hunt continues to-day. Correspondents were obliged to refuge in the Piraeus, which is the only sale place (.'recce provides today for those belonging to England and France, who for a century had protected and nursed her. LED INTO THE TRAPALLIES* TROOPS oHOT DOWN. BRITISH MARINES SUFFER SEVERELY Received Dec. 5, 8.5 p.m. London, Dec. 4. Mr. Jeffries, wiring from Greece, states that when the troops landed a Greek colonel promised there would be no resistance from the troops. Who's the treacherous and unprovoked tiro was poured upon them, half the "troops were withdrawn to the coast, and the other half held the munition factory until hostilities were ordered to cease. The British marines suffered severely. Owing to the magazine entrance being jambed, the Allied troops were unable to reaeli cover. Those inside made a hole, and dragged in their comrades singly. Two French jllicers were killed and forty-men were wounded below the Acropolis, where the French held the edge, of the ridge, but they were compelled to surrender to superior numbers owing to the lack of ammunition. The night revealed an extraordinary scene. Men were running everywhere seeking cover from the rifle and revolver fusilade. Kven under the. palace, windows many were wounded. The dead were stripped and robped where they fell. A French chaplain stated that tliey matched along quietly and had almost reached the foot, of the hill, the.transport, carts following anil the men's rifles be'ng unloaded, as strictly ordered, when suddenly Greek soldiers appeared on both sides of the loud and seized .die earis. Our commander ordered his men to lie down, and sent messengers to tell the following detachments. None returned. Meanwhile the Creek troops approached on every side, till finally the lieutenant ordered the men to, charge. The Greeks opened a fusilade. Our sailors fell everywhere. H was a massacre, not- war. Those escaping retreated to the railway track, rejoining the main body Our commander was shot dead. FRENCH PATIENCE IS EXHAUSTED. ADEQUATE REPARATION DEMANDED, Received Dec. G, 12.45 a.m. Paris, Dec. 3. French patience with King Constantine and his Government is at an end. The Press is now allowed to speak with comparative freedom. The public demand instant, adequate reparation for -■ Hood that has been spilt,

GREECE MOBILISING. PREPARING FOR WAR AGAINST ALLIES. WORKING IN WITH GERMANS.

Received Dec, 5, 9.3;j p.lll, London, Dec. 5. Thr Daily Telegraph's Piraeus correspondent static that King Constantino is ouietly mobilising, Tlit. indications .'UT tliat Greece is pre par in;,' for war av'siiiwt the Fntente, hut secretly, in order to gain time for mobilisation, and • also to permit General von Mackensen to arrive 011 the Monastir front. It is useless to litince matters, Regarding the Athens fight he says; . "We suffered a complete defeat. AdI miral du Foumet trusted to Constantino's promises. The Allied troops walked into a trap and found them- , selves surrounded before even a shot . was fired. The big shells from the ; French fleet aicne prevented the annihilation of our force. The armistice provided for the return of our prisoners. This the Creeks fulfilled, also for the abolition of all Allied controls and the departure from Athens of all Al- , lied uniforms." GREECE'S NEW OFFER. WILL XOT APPEASE THE ALLIES. PRO-GERMANS AGAIX IX COMMAND. Reuter Service Received Dee. 5, 0 p.m ' Athens, Dec. 4. Eight batteries instead of six will be delivered to the Entente, The Greek r ' Government promises the fullest protection to the Entente and Nationals, and agrees to accord legal guarantee to the I'lTcried Venizelists, ' Palace circles 'tale that normal rehv tions with tile Entente re-establish the pro-Germans. General Dousmanis and ! Coioiiel iletaxiis have been re-appointed heads of the Greek General Staff; exMayor Jlarkouris, chief of the reservists, has resumed the mayoralty. General Corakas, who was superintending the recr.i'ting of Venizelists, lias been arrested Paris, Dec. 4. The. press states that the interior blockade of Greece was proclaimed yesterday, including the seizure of all Customs and the occupation of all iraportanl. points It emphasises that the Allies must, control Greece. , Renter adds Jiat the tone of the French and British press indicates that tin? offer of eight batteries is wholly insuf!'cient to a; pease the Allies, who will take further measures. DEVELOPMENTS IN ATHENS. ALLIES DEFIED AXD DISGRACED. 1 PROMPT AXD DRASTIC MEASURES ; URGED. London, Dec. 4. The Unily Chronicle's Athens correspondent, reports that when advancing the Allies found the Greeks in strong positions at I'hilapapus and on Observatory Hill, near the Acropolis. The Greeks, who were in superior force, charged from I'hilapapus, and it is estimated that we took prisoner from 40 to 100. The Allied Fleet at Kerastini fired 30 shells, of which four fell in the neighborhood of the palace, one damaging the kitchen. Part of the shell, still hot, was shown, to the King while conferring with the Entente Ministers, Ail armistice followed, giving relief io the terrorised people. The population gathered in the streets of the Piraeus (the seaport of Athens) on Sunday to witness the funeral of 54 British and French, killed on Friday. The Entente representatives attended. Reports are being sprea<l in Athens that Castoria and Mouestir have been taken, with the view of encouraging the warlike spirit. Diplomacy makes little progress, and it may almost be said that a state of war exists. The Allied Ministers are conferring with Admiral du Fournet. Greek patrols are still in the Piraeus streets, and laige numbers of people are fieeing to Athens. It is rumored that the next Greek move will be an advance io the Piraeus. Athens, Dec. 4. It is believed that a hot-headed reservist fired the first shot starting Friday's battle. Admiral du Fournet was standing on the steps of the Zappeion, surrounded by French officers, when two Greek machine-guns opened fire, and six olliecrs were wounded. The French destroyers made a brief bombardment. As the outcome of the Greeks firing against the Zappeion before Admiral du Fournet had Quitted the building, the bulk of the Allied contingents withdrew for the night under tlu escort of Greek troops, but a number still remain in the Piraeus. It it- reported that the Allies lost thirty killed, and numerous casualties, and tho Greek losses wore heavier. London, Dee. 4. The Daily Chronicle's Athens correspendent says that armed reservists hunted down tho Venizelists on Saturday and the worst sort of anarchy prevailed. The military were in complete possession of the streets, in which Maxim guns vert mounted. The shops were shut and houses had the shutters closed. The regulars paraded, prepared to shoot at any window where a person appeared. The reservists, in civilian clothes and slouch hats, with cartridge belts were like desperadoes. With tied hands ■ amongst them prominent Liberals, including M. Bcnaki, the Mjiyor, were marched away, though Bcnaki was released later. The editors of the Hestia and Xea Hellas were arrested. The raiders carried off the archives of all the ; Liberal newspapers and riddled with bullets two hotels from which it was alleged shots had been fired. They raided also Venii'.elos' former house. By night all the lending Liberals were under lock ■and key. - The, Times, in a leader, states that . the Athens news will be received in the i country with astonishment and indigna- i tion. The Allies have again been be- , trayed, defied and disgraced by ICing ■ Constantino and his Government,. The \ Allied troops landed were inadequate. . The weakness >': as due to childlike faith ( in the King's assurance that there would ( be no disturbance. The British, finding ] certain positions hold by the Greeks, i withdrew, aud were than, treacherously i

fired upon. Prompt and drastic measures are required iu order to restore the seriously impaired prestige of the Allies and to protect the Allied forces at Salonika from further menace. The whole story of our dealings with King Constantine is a long succession of incomprehensible blundering*. Dr. R. M. Burrows writes to The Times:—"Every Greek regards the events of Friday and Saturday as a crushing humiliation to England and France, and proof that they no longer he'ieve in their own power or are confident, in final victory. There is still time to take strong measures in orde to maintain our position in the Mediterranean." M. Venizelos states that the Greek Government is treacherously and persistently disregarding- its promises not to obstruct the movement of Venizelists.