THE ENTENTE AND GREECE

Evening Post, Volume XCII, Issue 90, 13 October 1916, Page 7

THE ENTENTE AND GREECE

IMPORTANT DEMANDS CONCEDED

GREEK FLEET MADE IMPOTENT

(By Telegraph.—United Press Association.— Copyright.) (Australian - New Zealand Cable Association.) (Becehied October 13, 8.40 a.m.)

LONDON, 12th October. Tire Morning Post's correspondent at Athens states that the Entente Powers have taken strong measures against the Hellenic Government. Admiral Dn Fournet (Commander in Chief of the French Navy) proceeded to Athens, and in the name of the Allies demanded the surrender of the torpedo flotilla, the disarmament of the large ships and shore batteries, and also the transfer of the Piraeus-Larissa railway, and the policing of the Piraeus Harbour and the Salamis Arsenal.

The Greek Government handed in a, formai acquiescence to the demands to the British Legation. Other messages from Athens state that the ultimatum was duo to 4h« necessity for securing the safety of the Allied fleet, in view of the activity of pro-German societies in Greece. The forts, the surrender of which was required, commanded, the moorings of the French and British fleets. THE METHOD OF SURRENDER. ATHENS, 12th October. The Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent states that the Greek Cabinet received from Admiral Dv Fournet at midnight an ultimatum demanding that the fleet should be handed over, with the arsenal at Keratsini Gulf, the northern railway, and also the control of the Piraeus, and the disarmament" of three forts. The Government, under protest, acceded to the ultimatum before its expiry at noon. The smaller vessels will be handed over to the Provisional Government at Salonika, while the larger vessels willbe disarmed.

Admiral Dv Fournet's Note was received directly after M. Lambros's Cabinet had been sworn in. After the Cabinet meeting King Constantino motored hastily from Tatoi, and called his principal Ministers to the Palace. Negotiations continued until 3 o'clock in the morning, when the decision to surrender the fleet was reached. The Allies wero formally notified before noon, and during the afternoon the Greek crews of- the warships were disembarked, and the breech-blocks of the guns were removed. French crews were placed, on the smaller ships, wliile French guards were placed on the Kilkis, Lemnos, and Averoff, which left the Gnlf of Keratsini with skeleton crews. The Greek naval authorities submitted without incident. The railway was still unoccupied late in the afternoon. REASONS FOR ALLIES' ACTIONS. (Eeuter's Telegram.) $ ATHENS, 12th October. The Allies' demands were dictated by the disposition of the Greek Fleet, which menaced the Allied Squadron, and the concentration of troops in the interior, which constituted a danger to the Allied Army. It was reported in London yesterday that trenches were being dug along the Piraeus-Larissa railway, while the King's Palace'at Larissa was being prepared, and fifty thousand Greek troops concentrated. The Allies' demands followed hot upon these rumours, and aroused a profound sensatioD throughout Greece, but the whole coup was carried out without excitement in Athens or the Piraeus. , Greece has thirty-three ships, excluding fourteen destroyers, six modern torpedo-boats, four gunboats, and two submarines, which a.pparently will be handed to the Provisional Government.

The Greek Fleet consists of the following vessels :— Five Battleships.—Kilkis and Lemnos, each 13,000 tons, 17 knots, completed 1908; armed with four 12-inch, eight 8-inch, eight 7-inch, twelve 3-inch, and some smaller guns, Hydra, Psara, and Spetsai, each 4808 tons, 17 knots, armed with three 10.6-inch, five 5.9-inch, one 3.9-inch, eight 2.5-inch, and sixteen smaller "guns. The two first-named ships were recently .purchased from the United States.

One Armoured Cruiser.—Giorgios Averoff, 9956 tons, 24 knots, completed 1911, armed with four 9.2-inch, eight 7.5-inch, sixteen 3-inch, and eight small guns.

One Unarmoured Cruiser.—Helli, 2600 tons, 22 knots, completed 1914; armed with two 6-inch, four 4-inch, two 12-pounder, and six 3-pounder guns. Fourteen destroyers, from 350 to 980 tons, and 30 to 324 knots speed; two submarines, of 460 tons submerged displacement and 15 knots surface speed; and a few old gunboats and non-combatant vessels.