REVOLT IN GREECE.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 September 1922, Page 5

REVOLT IN GREECE.

ORIGIN AMONG TROOPS, TROUBLE OVER THRACE. A BLOODLESS RISING. THE THRONE VACANT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Sept. 27. Official news received in London today shows that a revolutionary move- ■ ment has broken out in the islands of Mitylene and Chios, where there are large numbers of soldiers, refugees from the mainland. The primary cause seems to have been the disarmament of the troops, as the Greek soldiers regard their arma as perquisites. It is also reported that the revolutionaries are sending several ships full of troops to the Greek mainland with the object of effecting a landing there to-day. -Salonika is also in the throes of a revolutionary movement. There is talk there of organising an army to oppose the cession of Eastern Thrace. There are indications that the Greek fleet has gone over to the revolutionists, who announce that every officer and man is wholly with them. General Gonatas’ movement is making headway in all directions. So far the revolution has been bloodless. A cablegram from Athens says that the resignation of the Cabinet followed the scattering from an aeroplane of a proclamation issued by General Gonatas declaring his belief that the army and navy were in complete agreement with the Greek people in demanding, on behalf of the navy and army.—Firstly. Constantine’s addiction in favor of the Crown Prince; secondly, the immediate dissolution of the National Assembly; thirdly, the establishment of an independent Cabinet able to inspire confidence and unity, and willing promptly to arrange for an unfettered general election; fourthly, the immediate reinforcement of the Greek forces in Thrace The proclamation produced feverish ' excitement in Athens. Constantine had previously proclaimed martial law throughout the kingdom. Tino signed his abdiction without reservation.

ORIGIN OF THE REVOLT. VARIOUS CAUSES EXPLAINED. WHO WILL SUCCEED’ Received Sept. 28, 11.20 p.m. London, Sept. 28. The latest messages from the centres of the Greek revolt show that the revolution has a threefold origin. At Salonika the trouble is regional rather than national, due to a desire to defend Thrace, but it must be remembered that nearly all the Thracian Deputies are liberals, belonging to the Venizelist party, and they exerted strong pressure on Ministers 'in forcing King Constantine’s abdication. In Thessaly, especially Larissa, which once was a citadel of Constantin ism, a coup de-etat was prepared for by an active body of the Venizelist reserve of officers. Finally, the movement in the islands is due to the dissatisfaction of soldiers and sailors with their treatment by the Government, coupled with a desire to punish the Ministers responsible for their own nation’s misfortunes.

These three movements are now expected to coalesce and unite in constituting a temporary national Cabinet, but it is thought doubtful if the time is ripe for the return of M. Venizelos. It is reported the rebels have asked General Mieder, who is on the retired list, to constitute a Government. An interesting possibility is a chance of Christopher, a brother of Constantine, succeeding to the Throne if the Crown Prince refuses to accept it. Mrs. Leeds in that event would become Queen. The Crown Prince was never interested in political intrigue and possibly may not care to accept the Throne in the present circumstances. Officials at the Greek Legation in l London declare that while the troops . are not interested in Asia Minor they • will fight to the death before yielding | an inch of Thrace to the Turks. The Chicago Tribune’s Athens correspondent states Jugo-Slavia is concentrating troops on the MacedoniaBulgarian frontier. The Greeks hope Jugo-Slavia will throw its army of 150,000 on the side of Greece in the Thracian war, ‘because a Turkish victory and the occupation of Thrace would menace Belgrade. The Italian Press, for a week past, has been conducting a frantic antiVenizelist campaign. French opinion is similar, but there is a tendency in Serbia and Roumania to welcome hie return—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Mrs. Leeds is a very wealthy American, who married Constantine’s brother. She was a widow, her former husband having amassed a fortune in America.]

MILITARY DICTATORSHIP WANTED. NAVAL MEN’S SUPPORT. CALL FOR VENIZELOS. Received Sept. 28, 7.50 p.m. London, Sept. 27. The latest messages from Athens, dated 27th, state that the revolutionaries’ chief aim is to install a military dictatorship in order to revive the nation’s patriotism to resume the fight against the Turks. Gonatas, who seems designed for the dictatorship, is reputed to be one of the most skilful officers in the army, but is not a Venezelist. M. Venizelos is still in France, and has taken no part in the events leading to th? revolution, which started with navy men in Chios, where General Platisira assumed control of the rebels. Thence the movement spread to the army in Mitylene. General Konzis took the lead in Salonika, and, after a series of patriotic speeches, induced the whole garrison to support the manifesto issued by the troops in Mitylene. At Salonika, the rallying cry was the retention of Thrace by the Greeks. The battleship Kilkis, with several destroyers and seaplanes at Mitylene, quickly declared for the revolution. At the same time insurgents aboard the battleship Lemnos sent an ultimatum to the Government at Athens, demanding instant submission. However, the revolution at Athens had been precipitated by the dramatic appearance of two aeroplanes over the city from Chios. Crowd* quickly gathered before the

public buildings, wildly cheeriag the revolutionary orators. A Cabinet Council was hastily called, at which King Constantine presided and expressed a desire to join the Greek army in Thrace. M. Maneas (Minister of National Economy), however, introduced a discordant note, which eventually resulted in the King’s abdication, by suggesting the recall of Venizelos to put forward the Greek cause at the peace conference. Tins was supported by two influential Ministers A friend of Venizelos was called in, and Cabinet requested him to undertake a mission to M. Venizelos, but be expressed the opinion this would be useless unless the King was first deposed. A deadlock resulted, followed by the resignations of MM. Maneas and Entaxia s( Minister of Finance'. As the latter left the Council Chamber he advised the King to abdicate, and added that Greece should never consent to th? cession of Thrace.

WAR VESSELS SIDE WITH REBELS. EXCITEMENT IN THE CAPITAL. Received Sept. 28, 5.5 p.m. Athens, Sept. 27. The battleships Kilkis and Lemnon and nine torpedoers and seaplanes at Mitylene, sided with the revolution. It is reported a body of revolutionary troops has landed at Cape Sunion. General Papoulas has been sent to try to induce them not to advance. Great excitement prevails in Athens, with most sensational rumors. It is announced troops tepre disembarked at various points in Attica.—Reuter Service. CALM IN ATHENS. TROOPS OFF THE COAST. Received Sept. 29, 12.50 a.m. Athens, Sept. 27. Ten thousand troops, commanded by General Gonatas,- arrived off the coast on Wednesday night and demanded immediate compliance with the proclamation. Prince Paul is reported to be a prisoner on board the training-ship Elli. Athens is calm.