KITCHENER IN GREECE

North Otago Times, Volume CII, Issue 13462, 5 January 1916, Page 7

KITCHENER IN GREECE

VMT TO G'ONSTANTINE,

'CONFIDENTIAL INTEIiVIICW, SENSATION IN ATHENS. An accounl of Karl Kilchener's visit and interview with King ('nnslaiiline of (Iroece, in Alliens, in November, is given by an Italian paper. I.ord Kitchener arrived rather uuexpwledly al Alliens Iwn hours before Ihe limo annoniieed, and his appearance coincided willi Ihe public,al ion of the official comiiiuuicalioii of Ihe British Legation, establishing a sort of blockade against Greece, Comments ran wildly, mid extravaganl suppositious we're made, Karl Kitchener was In arrive at FaIcro al eleven o'clock on Salurdny morning, according lo official announcemoiils, bill insload Ihe cruiser conveying' him si named into Porlo Pi mono at nine o'clock, escorted by another- British cruiser. The British Minislor, informed over I lie telephone, immediately proceeded in a niolor-car lo Falero, accomjianiod by Colonel M.olaxas, of I ho Greek iloneral Slafl', and Captain Siaikos, represoiiling Ihe Greek Minislor ol" War, Sir F. Elliot and Ihe two officers wore received aboard Ihe cruiser,

Lord Kilchcner, in service kit, was. ready to go ashdiv al once, Ifp <jn(. inlo nue-of Ihe cruiser's launches willi Sir F. Klliol and Iho hvo Greek officers and neveii Brilisli officers, also in service uniform,, landing al eleven o'clock, lie was cheered by Iho i-reivs aboard Ihe two British cruisers ami the (ircel; cruiser Eydra, and was followed willi marks of respect by a considerable crowd, which-had assembled near Ihe landing-place, llis appearance was line, lie looked lit and 'health,v, dospile his rapid journey and the fatigue, and his lnll K upright figure made a great impression on Hip crowd, which comnienlod on his appearance willi admiral ion. The presence in liis company of General Sir .1, '.Maxwell, commanding Ihe Forces in Egypt, and Sir A. 11. AlcAlahon, High Commissioner (if Egvpl, was also specially remarked, The parly proceeded in three motorcars to the British Legation al Athens, where l.onl Kitchener luul a long conversation with Sir F. Elliot. ' The large and eiirimis crowd assembled outside the Legation was kept iu order by gendarmes, commanded by officers, and dolacliiuenls nf soldiers guarded (lift si reels and squares iu Ihe vicinity. Audience of One Hour. Al ll.llft Lord Kitchener drove iu an open nmlor-ctir, accompanied by Lieu-tenant-Colonel Gerald and two other British officers, all in khaki, down the Avenue University and Kelisia Street, lo the Royal I'nlace, hardly perceived by Ihe public in his rapid passage, and, after the usual presentation, was immediately Introduced to the King, with whom he had a private audience of one hour,

Hilling Di'ih interview the King is reported lo have summoned General Dusuianis, Chief of the Greek General Slafl', lo supply some military particulars, which the general gave and then retired, Lord Kitchener, on leaving the Royal residence, entered n dosed motor-par, ami arrived al the British Legation al one o'clock for lunch, for which invitations had boon issued lo the Ministers of all the Entente powers, including the Minister of Serbia. The French, Russian, and British Ministers' wives were also present, and General Hnsmaiiis and two Greek officers, Arelaxas and Slaikos, al I ended, .

The Greek Premier, ns well as Ihe Ministers for War and for. Ihe Navy, Ihougli invilcd, politely declined, nil abAlcnlion which caused considerable comment. Lord Kitchener left the LegaI'm a in a 'motor-car will) Sir F. Elliot on a visit of ceremony lo ihe Greek. Fremiti-, and as he lel'l the Legation he was cheered by a crowd of about 100 persons, His conversation willi M. Seoulondis la>led one hour and forty minutes, and on leaving the Premier he wa9 cheered by a much larger ciowd than lc' fore,

Seated upright in his car, with his eyes fixed on the crowds, Lord Kitchener acknowledged their acclamations, tyit soon afterwards, when Al, Pconloudis lei I his palace and appeared—a fine nld men, with a long flowing while beard—lo return Ihe visit—a Mnall group of anli-Veni7.f ; lislH raised a persistent cry nf "I.nng live Ihe King." Strange 'lmpression'Created,

Lord Kitchener relumed lo Ihe cruiser at live o'clock, and left for an unknown deslinalion. His short visit left a strange impression in Athens, where il exciled lively comments,.and everybody was anticipating grave developments, Delaehmenls of soldiers patrolled all the si reels wilh (heir cartridgebells filled and bayonets.fixed, whilst llie number of gendarmes on duly had boon more than doubled. Lale.r iu llie evening feeling was somewhat snnlhed when it was-announced thai Ihe Government was doing its ntuinsl lo come lo a salisfactory and dofinilo agrcoirioni withllie Allies.