THE GREEK COMPLICATION.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume VI, Issue 275, 6 November 1916, Page 5

THE GREEK COMPLICATION.

Allies Occupy Katerini. Royalists and Nationals in Contact. Entente Orders Arrest of Spies. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] Athens, November 4. Fighting was resumed at Katerina between the Royalists and Nationalists. Admiral du Fournet states th l at negotiations are in progress whereby within ten days no difficulty will be placed in the way of volunteers proceeding to Salonika. Seven Greek ships have been sunk within twelve days. [REUTER’S TELEGRAM.] Salonika, November 4. The Venezelist army consists of 30,000 men, whereof 17,000 are ready for the field. [REUTER*B TELEGRAM.] (Received 6, 1.30 p.m.) Athens, November 4. The Allied forces have occupied Katerina, with the view of avoiding bloodshed between the Royalist and Nationalist troops. [AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.] ‘ London, November 4. The “ Morning Post’s ” Athens correspondent says that serious complications are threatened as a sequel to the Venezelists’ occupation of Katerina. The garrison of 150 feebly resisted, and suffered fie killed before thev retired. The Government obtained the French controlling officers’ permission to send reinforcements. The opposing forces are now facing each other. Whether this is a prelude to a civil war cannot yet be said. The Venezelists point out that in consequence of the torpedoings they are compelled to transport volunteers by railway to Katerina, which the Venezelists must therefore hold. The “ Daily Chronicle’s ” Athens correspondent says that the Royalist reinforcements numbered 400, but it is stated that the Nationalists outnumbered the Royalists. The Royalists are better equipped with machine-guns. It is reported that the Allies refused to allow the despatch of further Royalists. A Royalist newspaper asserts that King Constantine will revoke his promise to remove the troops from Thessaly to the Peloponnesus owing to the Nationalist advance. The correspondent also states that the Entente are immediately ordering wholesale arrests of spies connected with the submarinings, including over 200 suspects in Athens and the Piraeus. Admiral du Fournet sent a message to the labour unions that he was convinced that the Angeliki and Kiki were the victims of submarines as a result of their betrayal by agents ashore. He was arresting suspects, whether Greeks or foreigners, and would refuse to consider any Greek protests.