GREEK CRISIS.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13663, 4 September 1916, Page 3

GREEK CRISIS.

REPORTED ABDICATION OF CONSTANTINE, WILD RUMOURS IN CIRCULATION. (Australian and 2s T .Z. Calilo Association,) SALONIKA, September 1. 1 rumour taking shape in ii special edition of the paper Angyra announced that Kiny Constantino had abdicated and handed the regency to Price George, The position of M. Vcnczclos will not be official. He will rather be the power behind the throne, The announcements must-still be received with reserve. Tlio newspaper also adds that Greece will range.herself on the side of the Allies, The people Interpret this as meaning that the army: will join the army of the Entente. The army will probably need considerable rcvietualling and equipment before it is capable of taking the lield, J HAS CONSTANTINE ABDICATED.? REPORT FROM SALONIKA. (Australian nml N.Z. Cubic AnKOciiUiou,) LONDON, September 1. It is reported from Salonika thai King Constantinc has abdicated' and has handed over the regenc-y to Prince George, M. Zaimis remains, with M, Venizelos to support Greece in siding with the Allies. REPORT UNCONFIRMED, LONDON KNOWS NOTHING OF THE ABDICATION. KING'S CONDITION SERIOUS. ("Tlie Times" Service.) Received September:i, at o,.'i p.m, LONDON, September 2. The Greek Minister at London oenic-s that King' Constantinc lias abdicated. Athens telegrams on Friday state that King Constantino's temperature has risen and lie was coiilined' to his bed, ("The Times" Service.) Received September <l, at 0.5 p,m, LONDON, September 2. The Greek Legation disbelieves the rumour lliat King Constantinc has abdicated. 'The British Foreign Office has received' no official conlinhatioi!, (Aushaliau aud N.Z. Oablo Association.) Received September !1, at 3.3 p,m, LONDON, September 2, A Rome wireless reports that the coudition of the King is worio.

GERM OF INVOLUTION. GHEEK HOYALISTS DENOUNCED, TBOUBLE AT SALONIKA, GENERAL SARRAJL'S TIMELY INTERVENTION, (Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association.) SALONIKA, September 2. The Committee of National Defence formed at Salonika has before it considerable possibilities, allhougli at present those possibilities are vague. The leaders are a colonel ol' artillery, a colonel of cavalry, ami a Voni/.eloi'sl deputy. Tliey distributed long proclamations addressed to the Greek people and army, pointing out that I lie present state of a flairs had lasted long enough, and that the surrender of the forts was a grievous misdeed on the pari of the King and Government. The proclamation adds: "The time lias come when Greece must place herself at the Entente's side. The Knienle have always been the friends of Greece. The proclamations are frankly revolutionary, and urge Greek soldiers not to pay attention to orders from Athens, but to ally themselves with Hie Knfente and assist in driving the ISulgars off Greek soil. LONDON, September I. A pro-Entente committee of National Defence has organised ;i revolution at Salonika and oilier towns. The Greek troops, after bloodshed, consented to ilisai'inaiiieiil on General Sn Trail's intervonlion. Tiie coiiiiuitlce is now supreme in Macedonia.

GREEK CITIES IN REVOLT. ANTI-ROYALISTS lIKSIKI.IK SALONIKA. (Australian ami N.Z. Cable Association,) NW VOJIK, September I. It h refiorted from Salonika that fit ♦'end Greek cities have revoluted. and three regiments have mutinied. Regular revolutionists are besieging the Greek town garrison at Salonika.

GENERAL SARRAIL TAKES

CONTROL,

END OF THE INVOLUTION

(Australian and N.tf. (Jallo Association,) Received September I;, at 5.3 p,ni, SALONIKA, September 2. The fighting portion of the .Mate donian revolution is over.

General Sarrail, tills morning- arrived on the parade ground, and fifty officers commanding the Royalist forces, came •out, without swords, and met him. They announced they were prepared to surrender to the Allies, but not to their Greek adversaries,

General Sarrail replied that a slate of warfare in a town which is the Base Headquarters could not be permitted to continue. General Sarrail laid l down conditions which the officers accepted. The conditions were to remain as prisoners until it was decided what further should be done. The, officers were then confined, in n. building on the parade ground, The men were paraded, without arms, Their colonel inspected them and shook hands with every man. In a speech of farewell he urged them to maintain strict discipline and implicitly obey the French. They were then marched to the French camp at Zlctenlick, under French officers, where they will remain until further decision,

General Sarrail now explains the action of the French troops. The General says: "Martial law has -been proclaimed in Salonika and J inteud to see order preserved, Last night shots were exchanged, resulting in several men being killed and bounded, Therefore French troops were ordered to intervene and restore order."

CONFIRMATION OP BLOOD, SHARP FIGHTING OUTSIDE SALONIKA. GHEEK MEETS GREEK. (Australian and .N.Z. Cable Association.) Eeecived September I), at 5.5 p.m. LONDON, September 2. Mr G, Ward Price's Salonika message written on Thursday, and delayed, states that Wednesday's revolution had the continuation of blood during the night. The Maccdonoian troops who joined the Committee of National Defence, defying Alliens suddenly attacked the barracks at Salonika, The garrison at Salonika refused to join the Separatists. There was brisk rille lire for five, minutes across the parade ground. Then the attackers practically ceased lire, until at daybreak a strong force of French with guns, hurried to the barracks. Meanwhile the Macedonians were lying on Hie pavement on one side of the parade ground. The garrison were behind the wall of the fruit garden in the opposite section, The garrison once endeavoured to come out and secure supplies, but they were driven back with the loss,of a few men; A body of civilian volunteers reinforced the Macedonians during the nighl, but (hey were not strong enough to seize the barracks. When a thousand French troops assembled, Colonel Zimbreakakis and the other leaders of the Committee of National Defence, allowed General Sarrail to control the situation.

REVOLUTION SPREADING, THESSALY ANR EPIRUS AFFECTED.

(Australian ami N.H. Gallic Association.) Received September '■'<, :il: 5.5 p.m. LONDON, September 2. A Rome wireless message stall's Unit the Greek revolution is spreading in Thessaly anil Epirus. .Martini linv has been declared in Alliens ami .Piraeus. CHAOTIC GREECE. THE I'EOI'LK AGAINST THE KING. STRENTOCS STRUGGLI- IX I'ltociiKss. (Australian and X.Z. CaMo Association,) Received September •!, a! 5,5 p.m. LONDON, September :». . The latest iletnileil descriptions of Alliens dated Thursday before the arrival of Allied warships at Tineas, overshadowed flic news of Hie Salonika insurrection, Tiie situation is one 'of extraordinary chaos. The Kin» is in a sirk room, the Parliamentarians nre dispersed and the elcrlinns are pustponed. Despile the Rumanian triiiinphs, and (In: happenings nt Salonika M. Znimis is still of opinion 'that a policy of benevolent neutrality is siillii'ienl lo meet the crisis. It is understood 1 that M. Vemv.ilos and his supporters now refuse lo join the Znimis Ministry, ami share the responsibility of tli« present policy. The people, lacking the proper leadership, arc in a slate of muddled despair. The Liberal newspapers are wildly exhorting the King and Government to

follow Rumania's example before too late, owing to Bulgaria throwing up the sponge.

The Patras states that Italy is becoming a great Mediterranean Power, Rumania is becoming air Empire, but Greece is being led into a living tomb. Hellenic race awaken and impose your will. To-morrow may be too late,' The genera! canfusion is reflected in the army which lias just been demobilised. The personnel of the higher commands is in the melting pot, as M. Dousmanis attempted' to staff the army with pro-Germans, some of whom were dismissed, but (he rest form a discordant element. Other officers arc in favour of deserting their regiments and joining the Allies, but they do uot desire to act while there is a change to declare war against the Bulgarian invaders. *

The retired General' Lepathiotis, leader of the lip revolution has appealed for volunteers for an Army of Salvation to drive out the Bulgars. Received September o, at 5,5 p.m. ATHENS, September 2. ''A deputation from M, Venizclos's meeting waited on M. Zaimis and' presented a copy of a resolution also a protest against King Constantino's refusal to receive a deputation,

M. Zaimis begged the deputation to defer further action, assuring them that the question agitating them would £oon be cleared up.

ANOTHER SENSATION IN GREECE,

ALLIED WARSHIPS IX PORT

OF ATHENS,

REPORTED LANDING OP TROOPS,

(Australian aud N.Z. Cable Association,);

Received September !i, 11.15 p.m. LONDON, September 1 Twenty-three Allied warships .have arrived at Pirams (tlio port of Athens) at noon on Friday, accompanied by transports from Salonika. The-Allied'squad-ron includes cruisers and smaller vessels and is accompanied by hydroplanes. The squadron, under the command of ii French admiral, continues to ;cruise before Piriens as an indication that the Allies, weary of 'the tergiversations of Athenian politicians, have resolved to baffle the German intrigues, deceived September .'!, 11.15 p.m. ATHENS, September 2. Two Allied warships entered the Navy Yard at Piraus. Landing parties seized the wiheless istatioii, and four German Levant liners.

It is reported that the Allies demanded the delivery of sixty suspected Germans.

According to -the newspaper "liestill." the Greek naval officers and men have been recalled from leave.

ANTI-MILITARIST INTERNED, VIGOUR OF COMMITTEE OF DEFENCE. i Australian and N.Z, Oalil«. Association.) Received September i>, 5.5, PARIS, September 'l. A wireless message states'that the National Committee of Defence at Salonika has interned Colonel Fricoupes, organiser of Hie resistance against the Nationalised movement.