Greek Revolution

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 245, 29 September 1922, Page 5

Greek Revolution

Tino s Abdication VENIZELOS' POPULARITY. THE NEWSLOGAN. "FIGHT TO THE DEATH FOR RETENTION OF THRACE.” London, Sept. 27. Latest messages from Athens, date September 27th, stale that the revolutionaries * chief aim is to instal a military dictatorship in order to revive the nation’s patriotism to resume the fight again.-1 the Turks. General Gonatas, who seems designed for the dictatorship, is reputed to be one of the most skilful officers in the n-uny, but is not a \ enizelist. M. Venizelos is still in France and l.as taken no part in thfe events leading to the revolution, which started with the navy men in Chios, where General Platsiras assumed *ontrol of the rebels. Thence the movement spread to the army in Mitvlene.

General Kouzis took the lead in Salonika and after a series of patriotic tpeeches induced the whole garrison to support the manifesto issued by the troops in Mityleno. At Salonika the rallying cry was the retention of Thrace by the Greeks.

The battleship Kilkis, with several destroyers and seaplanes at Mityleno, quickly deciarefl for the revolution. At the same time insurgents aboard the battleship Lemnos sent an ultimatum to the Government at Athens, demanding instant submission. However ,tho revolution in Athens had been precipe fated by the dramatic appearance of two aeroplanes over the city from Chios. Crowds quickly gathered before public buildings widly cheering revolutionary orators.

The Cabinet Council was hastily, called, at which 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 tTTT' King’s abdication, by suggesting the recall of M. Venizelos to put forwards the Greek cause at the peace conference. This was supported by two influential Ministers. A friend of M. Venizelos’ was called in and Cabinet requested him to undertake a mission to M. Venizelos, but he expressed the opinion that this was Useless unless the King was deposed. A deadlock resulted, followed by the resignations of M. Maneas and M. Eutaxias, Minister of Finance. As the latter left the council chamber he advised the King to abdicate and added that Greece should nevei; consent to the cession of Thr ace.—(A. and N.Z. >

REVOLT OF THREEFOLD ORIGIN. IN GREECE, THRACE AND THE ISLANDS. JUGOSLAVIAN SUPPORT EXPECTED. London, Sept. 28. The latest message 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 Constantine’s abdication.

In Thessaly, especially at Larissa, which was once the citadel of Constantinism. the coup d’etat was prepared for by an active body of Venizelist reserve officers. Finally, the movement in the islands is due to dissatisfaction of the soldiers and sailors with their treatment by the Government, coupled with a desire to punish the Minister’s responsible for their own nation’s misfortunes. These three movements are now ex-

pected to coalesce and unite in con stituting a temporary National Cal • net, but it is thought doubtful if the time is ripe for the return of M. Veni zelos. It is reported that the rebels has a.-ked General Nieder, who is on tl e retired list, to constitute a Govern ment. An interesting possibility is the 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 Crow a Prince was never interested in political intrigue and possibly may not «are to accept the Throne in the present (ircumstarccs. Officials at the Greek Legation in London declare that while -he troops are not interested in .Asia Minor, they will fight to Jetifa before yielding on inch of Thr» < to the Purks. The Chicago “Tribune’s” Athens correspondent states that Jugo-Slavia is concentrating troops on the Mace-donia-Bulgarian 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 occupation of Thrace would menace Belgrade. The Italian press for a week past has been conducting a frantic, anti-Awnize-list campaign. French opinion is similar, but there is a tendency in Serbia and Roumania to welcome his return. —(A. and N.Z.) REVOLUTIONARY TROOPS. REPORTED TO HAVE LANDED. Athens, Sept. 27. The battleships Kilkis and Lemmon, nine torpedoers and seaplanes at Mityh ne have, sided with the revolution. It is reported that a body of revolutionary troops has landed at Cape Sunium. General Papoulai has been sent to try to induce them not to advance. Great excitement prevails in Athens with most sensational rumours. It is announced that Troops have disembarked at various points in Attica. It is announced that the engagement of the Crown Prince Frederick, of Denmark, and Princess Olga of Greece, Constantine’s niece, has been broken off bv mutual consent. Prince Paul is reported to be a prisoner abooard the training ship Kill. Athens is calm.—(Reuter-). Ten thousand troops, commanded by Gem-mi Gonatas, arrived off the coast on Wednesday night, and demanded immediate compliance with the proclamation. —(A. and N.Z I SITUATION IN EUROPE. NF.\R F.AST HISTORICALLY REVIEWED. The monthly meeting of the ) .M.C.A. Sub-brancli of the league of Nations Union nt Dunedin was addres sed by Dr. G. E. Thompson on “The

Present Situation in Europe,” In introducing the speaker, the chairman (Mr. C. J. Darracott) said that the committee had seen fit to depart from the proposed syllabus in view oi the situation in Europe, and they were indebted to Dr. Thompson for his willingness to enlighten them. Dr. Thompson began by telling something ol tlie aspirations oi 1 urkey Through the Middle Ages, ior 14U0 years, Constantinople had been owned by the Greeks, though tlie heart oj the a olid iiad been Rome. When Co istantine decided to make Constantinople his seat of government in 1153 the lurks took the city. But even to-day a large number of the buildings bore evidence of the previous Greek ownership, such as the Mosque of St. Sophia. Alter the death oi Ma horn med, tlie ?iloiiammedans had spread across Northern Africa, through Spain and France. France beat tlie Moors and destroyed the power of the Mohammedan in that portion of Europe, but after the taking of Constantinople the Turks surged gradually northward till they besieged Vienna, being beaten back by .John Soviesky. This was the turning-point of Turkey In Europe. She had owned part of AiiStria. Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece, hut had gradually been beaten back. Towards the end of the nineteenth century she owned much of the Balkan Peninsula, till Greece shook her off, and then Serbia and Bulgaria. In 1912 the first Balkan war took place. Bulgaria. Serbia and Greece drove back the Turks, taking Adrianople, and were halted just outside Constantinople. Just before the Great. War a quarrel ensued between S.'ibia ami Bulgaria over the division of the spoil, a conflict ensuing between Greece and Serbia and Bulgaria, with the result that at the outbreak of the Great War Turkey had been cut off from all her Balkan possessions. Dr. Thompson, detailed the settlement as provided by the Treaty of Sevres, and after recounting the recent events leading up to the

rout of the Greeks, the belief of many was that the success of the Turks was due to French ammunition and Frs’ich brains. France for many years hvl shown a decided antipathy to. Gree.e. There was an element of safety in this friendship, said the speaker, for Britain and France would not fight, and while Britain sided with Greece and France with Turkey, they might be ab'e to restrain the two between them. Complications might come if Kemal could not restrain the fanaticism of his followers till a conference could be arranged. through unknown movements in Russia, or through Britain’s too close consideration of the Moham nedans. He concluded his address l.y showing that all these races had intermingled. Nations were divided by political frontiers, hut there were really only three races in Europe: the Nordic race (tall, fair, and oval-headed), the Alpine or Celtic race (short, dark, and round-headed), the Mediterranean lace (short, dark, and oval-headed).

Replying to questions. Dr. Thompson said the League of Nations would have to move carefully, hut he believed it would favour the giving of Western Thrace and Adrianople to Turkey. ’! he speaker was warmly applauded nt the conclusion of his address.