The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1916. HIDEOUS GREEK TREACHERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 December 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1916. HIDEOUS GREEK TREACHERY.

This morning's cable news regarding the situation in Greece indicates that the position is extremely serious, and that the pro-German party headed hy King Constantino, are now showing their hand. From the time that the Allied forces were first landed at Salonika there has always been a danger of treachery, and this factor has greatly militated against the Allies' advance. Unfortunately, there has been only a half-hearted policy in dealing with the Greeks, whose temporising and manifest unreliability needed firm, prompt, and vigorous treatment. Emboldened by the success of the Germans iv. Roumania, the Greek Royalists make no secret of the hidpous treachery they ore contemplating, it being their avowed intention |to attack the Allies in the rear, relying on Ge.rman ability to protect thorn from the' Allies. One of the most urgent matters for the new British Ministry is that of coping with the latest developments in Greece, and it. will certainly bt a test of the administrative ability of the Cabinet in dealing with a situation that demands immediate and drastic action. The gravity of the position is indicated by the blockade which has been instituted by the Allies, but there can be no question that even this step, which should have been taken a long while ago, will not of itselF suffice to prevent further treachery. The real danger lies in the assistance the Greeks may render the Germans by a rear attack on the Allies in Macedonia, where, according to llr. Ward Price, the Allied offensive is being carried out with inferior forces to those ;>f the enemy. It must be remembered that the Allies have a front of something like two hundred and fifty mix's to bold by means of a lone of about half a million. The rapidity of the

enemy movements enhances the seriousness of the situation, and it would tliat prompt and drastic measures :''.'e imperative if disaster is to be avoided. Hence tile mere blockade of Oecce would seem to be a farce, unless it is followed up by (lie lauding of an adequate force to break up the elements of treachery. Tklf measir.cs in dealing with a desperate situation are uorse than inaction. The reports as to the Roumanian army are more reassuring than the German communiques led us to believe they could be, but the (ireek attitude is said to be determined. Apparently active preparations are being made for attaching the Allies, and it is this phase of the crisis that calls for immediate treatment. Greece lias placed herself outside the pale of diplomacy; her promises and guarantees are absolutely worthless, and she has adopted the hideous tactics of the barbaric assassin. The time has arrived when firmness and force can alone be effective, and there will be a great out;ry if any other means are adopted, hat is wi ated is a great Allied offensive on all fronts, conducted with a potency surpassing all previous efforts. We 'have reached a stage in the war where no blunders are. permissible, and where the Allies must put forth their best efforts. The Navy should be used 1(. its utmost capacity, and the aerial service employed to its fullest extent. l'oth ean do much to assist the land forces, and whatever is ; possible should be done to overcome successfully the .piesent serious crisis

THE STRATFORD RAILWAY. ; I The settlers in the Oliura district hare • | n very legitimate grievance when they I complain of the undue delay in the construction of the first northern section of' the Okaliukura-Stratford railway (writes the Auckland Heurld). It may be said that normal progress cannot be expected (luring years of war, but the railway to Oliura should have been completed two years ago, so that tH war cannot be fairly pleaded as a re.'.-on for their dis appointment. The faii is that although the North Island railways not only pay the. interest on the cost of their construction, but also pay excessive profits to make good the constant loss incurred on the South Tsland railways, it is evidently impossible to expect any Southern Minister for Public Works to take any active interest in North Island railway construction. The Auckland-Stratford railway connection should have been completed long ago. as should the East Coast railway and other development northern lines, but whether Public Works money is abundant or is scanty there is always some worthless South Islam* railway scheme into which the money is poured. Northern districts only receive from grudging ministerial hands the scraps that fall from the bountifully-sup-plied table of the unprofitably-panipered South. Whenever this i« pointed out in the North, the press of the South Island i with an instructive, disregard for party, never fails to denounce Northern "parochialism." But every Southern critic of i Northern claims carefully and consist* j ently avoids mentioning that the South j Island railways have never yet paid in- | trrefct on the cost of their construction, while North Island railways never fail to pay very much more. The Oliura settlers should bear this in mind, and realise that justice will never be done to the i North by the Public Works Department until Northern members ignore party upon insular problems as completely as do members from the South Island.