CRISIS IN GREECE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue XC, 7 October 1915, Page 7

CRISIS IN GREECE

PREMIER AND CABINET RESIGN BULGARIA REFUSES RUSSIA'S DEMANDS t MILITARY ACTIVITY IN RUMANIA STRATEGICAL POSITION IN RUSSIA CHANGES • ENORMOUS SUPPLIES OF MUNITIONS

Bulgaria has refused Russia's demands, and has sent ' an ultimatum to Servia concerning Macedonia. A German ultimatum to Servia and Greece is also expected. Complex as the situation has been, it is made even more so by the present position in Greece. King Constantine is unable to accept the Government's policy, and the Premier and Cabinet have resigned. Developments in the immediate future should prove unusually interesting and of much moment. The Allies' troops which landed at Salonika have moved towards Servia. Rumania is reported to be taking extraordinary military measures, including the despatching of troops to the Bulgarian frontier. News from Russia is encouraging. The armies have i , enormous quantities of munitions, and reports are of successes in the northern and central sectors. A general bombardment is proceeding on the western front. THE RUSSIAN ULTIMATUM BULGARIA REFUSES DEMANDS (By Telegraph. — Press Association. — Copyright.) (Received October 7, 8.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, 6th October. A Beater message from Petrograd states that Bulgaria has rejected the Russian demands, and has, according to press advices, sent an ultimatum .to Servia concerning Macedonia. CLEARING UP THE TANGLE INTENSE RELIEF IN BRITAIN AND FRANCE * LONDON, 6th October. The British and French Ministers notified M. Radoslavoff that they would withdraw with the Russian Minister if the Note was rejected. The chief anxiety is as to whether Rumania is going to co-operate. Otherwise, there is intense relief in Britain and France that the Balkan tangle is clearing up, and that the Allies have been spared the unpleasant task of putting pressure on Greece. , Sofia messages state that, upon the reception of the Note, King Ferdinand was highly alarmed, and convoked a Council of the Crown. There was vehement deliberation for several hours, but the Council broke up without coming to any decision. General Savoff concluded his speech by declaring that every Bulgar who breaks with the 'Russians commits treason towards his country. BULGARIA ON THE VERGE OF CIVIL WAR THE KING IN GREAT TROUBLE LONDON, 6th October. A Bucharest telegram suggests thafc Bulgaria is on the verge of civil war. Four thousand deserters nave crossed the Rumanian frontier. King Ferdinand is continually conferring with the Parliamentary leaders, who manifest a desire to reopen negotiations with the Entente. This, however, is impossible, as the Allies have definitely informed Greece that all negotiations for the cession of Macedonian Greek territory had been broken off before the landing of troops at Salonika. The Bulgarian clergy are siding with Russia, and this adds to King Ferdinand's alarm. Meanwhile, the Bulgarian army remains completely in the power of German officers. The Ministry of War "and the railway services are full of Germans. The King is surrounded by Germans, and Bulgarian generals are unwilling to accept the post of Commandef^in-Chief because they would be under Ger- ■ man orders. King Ferdinand, therefore, takes command of the army, with General Jekofr as Chief of Staff. (Received October 7, 8.55 a.m.) ATHENS, 6th October. It is reported that there are three thousand German officers in £he Bulgarian Army. GERMAN ULTIMATUM EXPECTED. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, 6th October. It ia believed that Germany will issue an ultimatum to Servia and Greece when General yon Mackensen's preparations for the invasion of Servia have been completed. - M. Radislavoff informed American reporters that Bulgaria had adopted armed neutrality because events were tending to cause a conflagration in the Balkans. The resumption of the Austro-German offensive against Servia, and the movements of troops in the neighbouring States, compelled mobilisation. This was not aggressive, but Bulgaria regards the refusal of Greece and Servia to recognise her rights in Macedonia as obstinate and serious. BULGARIA CLOSES THE DANUBE. (Received October 7, noon.) PARIS, 6th October. The Matin states that all the Bulgarian ports of the Danitbe are closed even to Rumanian steamers. (•Press Association.) • CRISIS IN GREECE THE KING AND M. VENIZELOS PREMIER AND, CABINET RESIGN (Beceived October 7, 8.55 a.m.) ATHENS, 6th October. King Constantine informed M. Venizeloa that he is unable to pursne Cabinet's policy to the end. M, Venizelos thereon resigned. NEW YORK, 6th October. A Reuter message from London states that King Constantine'has accepted the resignation of M. Venizelos and his Cabinet. (Eeceived October 7, 10 a.m.) _ r _, ATHENS, 6th October. M. Venizelos, in an interview, said that after his clear declarations in the phamber on tho Cabinet's nolicv. wbirh wera othpi/wisp. wpII known to the

King, the latter informed him that further co-operation between them had been rendered impossible. M. Venizelos believes the King favours a coalition Cabinet. NEWS GAME AS A BOMBSHELL. (Eeceived October 7, noon.) LONDON, 6th October. The fall of the Venizelos Cabinet came as a bombshell to diplomatic quarters in London, and also surprised Berlin. EXCITEMENT OVER THE LANDING PREMIER MAKES A CLEAN BREAST * " ATHENS, 6th October. There is excitement in the coast towns over the landing of the Allied troops. ' The French consist of white troops. The first step will be to guard the Gievgheli-Velles section of the railway from Salonika to Servia, which section is exposed to Bulgarian attack. The troops encamp outside the town, pending their departure upcountry, in order not to interfere with the Greek mobilisation, which is going on sParliamentary circles are perturbed, though the majority of the Deputies admit that it would be suicidal for Greece to shrink from her obligations. M. Venizelos, in the Chamber, made a clean breast of the political situation. He defied his opponents to say that they could have followed a different course. The main theme of debate was the Greco-Servian treaty. M. Thotokis and M. Gounaris said that the alliance with Servia was invalid because Servia had agreed to cede Bulgaria, part of the conquered territory which was the basis of the treaty. Greece would act imprudently if she provoked hostility with the Central Powers. M. Venizelos received an ovation at the close of the proceedings. ALLIES' TROOPS LEAVE FOR SERVIA. (Eeceived October 7, 8.55 a.m.) ATHENS, 6th October. The population of Salonika gave an ovation to the Allies' troops. The latter have started towards Servia. Baron Schenck, the chief German propagandist in Greece, has hurriedly quitted Athens going towards Sofia. GERMAN HOWL OF PROTEST. AMSTERDAM, 6th October. The German newspapers make a howl of protest against the landing of Allies' troops in Greece. They conclude that Germany is now justified in grabbing Belgium by the throat. Germany has lent Bulgaria two and a half millions sterling for the families of reservists to allay disaffection among the troops. 1 RUMANIAN MOBILISATION URGED PREMIER SAYS ATTITUDE WILL NOT BE CHANGED (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, 6th October. The Bucharest correspondent of The Times states that the Premier of Rumania, received a deputation asking for immediate mobilisation to prevent Eumania being surrounded. M. Bratiano replied that there was no need. The country would not change its attitude. TROOPS SENT TO BULGARIAN FRONTIER. (Received October 7, 8.30 a.m,) NEW YORK, 6th October. A\Reuter message from London states that Rumania is despatching troops to the Bulgarian frontier and taking other extraordinary military measures. MONEY FOR CONSTANTINOPLE THROUGH RUMANIA. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Received October 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. German newspapers announce that German wagons carrying ten thousand pounds weight of gold marks and a large quantity of bank notes have passed through Rumania to Constantinople. THE EASTERN CAMPAIGN STRATEGIC POSITION COMPLETELY CHANGED \ (Received October 7, 8.55 a.m.) PETROGRAD, 6th October. The newspapers announce that the Russian armies have enormous quantities of munitions. The strategic position has consequently completely changed. RUSSIAN SUCCESSES AFTER STRENUOUS FIGHTING. (Received October 7, 8.55 a.m.) PETROGRAD, 6th October. A communique states : The Russians occupied German trenches near Friedrichstadt and captured a number of villages in the lake region eastward of ~ Vilna, also southward of Pripet, after strenuous fighting. SWISS CAVALRY TO BE MOBILISED UNITS GROUPED ON GERMAN FRONTIER (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) (Received October 7, 8 a.m.) LONDON, 6th October. The Paris Journal learns that the Swiss Federal Council has ordered the mobilisation on 25th October of the Swiss cavalry. The country is astonished. Units are well grouped on the German frontier.