The North Otago Times MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1916 THE TRAVAIL OF GREECE.

North Otago Times, Volume CIV, Issue 13663, 4 September 1916, Page 2

The North Otago Times MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1916 THE TRAVAIL OF GREECE.

Three months ago a great demonstration against the Bulgarian invasion of Eastern Macedonia took place at Salonika. Processions with I lie British, French, Serbian, ami Greek flags—llie last-named draped in black—proceeded to the Church of St, Sofia, the courtyard, of which and the surrounding square were packed with people. French and Serbian gendarmes, horse and foot, assisted the Greek gendarmerie in keeping order, After impassioned speeches, denouncing the Government for submitting with folded arms to the invasion of Greek Macedonia, which were greeted with loud cries of "Down with the Government!" "Down with Bulgaria!" "Long live "Long live the Allies!" the crowds dispersed in orderly fashion. The Veiikelist journals marked the tragic occasion liy publishing with black borders as sign of morning'on account of the Bulgarians having been allowed to occupy Fort Rupel, which was intended an a -protection against the hereditary enemies of Greece. J! was also announced by the demi-official Xae ilimera, that the Hellenic Government had sent a protest to Berlin and Solia against the violation of Greek territory, The Bulgars, back:i."l by their Teuton laskinnslers, heeded i not the protests, but carried out I lie objective by seizing I lie positions which are the key lo Struma Valley and to I Eastern Maccdon'n. The Allies at 'Salonika, however, regarded the Bulgar invasion with equanimity from a military point of view, Amongst ' Hie Greeks, deepest resent men I and suspicions were aroused. Bui King (,'onslanlinc knows nothing of Hie mind of the Greek patriots, and lie does not remember flic horrors of Ihe last Bulgarian occupation. The Unitarian atrocities are' slill fresh in the memories of Greeks everywhere, They looked forward wilh sickening fear to the probable fate of I lie invaded districts. To tin: Mrilisli the inepitudi'', in Greek official circles is bewildering and incredible. It is inlcresting lo mile, how-

ever, I ha I I he Greek -Go\ eminent justified their orders not to oppose the Bub gar invasion 0,1 (ha twofold ground that resistance would have been useless and thai they could not have defended their soil without inconsistency in their application of the principle of neutrality, 'fhey added thai Ihey-had obtained

= —not from the Bulgarians, but from the Germans—a written promise to restore the forts in good condition, and they had duly lodged protests at (Berlin and Sofia. It is well to remember that Greece is not represented by Ministers or but by the King, and that tht woof and warp of his mind are the worship of the Moloch of War, and obedience to his prophet, Willielm, Who, we may ask, is M, Skoolootlis, M, Zaimis? They are. Ministers not elected by the people but simply nominees of the Crown, Since the outbreak of war the voice of the Hellenes Jias ■ been stifled, Greece has not been Venizelos, nor Zaimis, nor Skooloodis, nor the Chamber, nor the nation, but a Field Marsha! of the Prussian army, the 1 Kaiser's brother-in-law and firm believer in the final victory of the Central Powers,' Constantine XII,, the "world's greatest living strategist," was the only factor that counted when the policy of Greece was being forecast, If Greece sacrifice! credit/ duty, and honour while the Serbs, her faithful Allies, wore being murdered under her eyes by the enemy who, when her turn comes, will crush Greece, too, what of that! It is the way of the Teuton. The most interesting question is not what King Constantino purposes doing, but what the Greek people think of their Government's betrayal of the Hellenic nation, This morning's messages give the impression that the Hellenes are in open revolt, but unfortunately the censor is busy with his big pencil. The populace- is convulsed with astonishment that the Greek King and 'Government should, look on while the flag of Bulgaria is hoisted in the place of the flag of Greece upon Hellenic soil. M. Venizelos and his followers evidently feel that the old controversy which has divided Greece since the beginning of the war is with them again, and--with them more acutely, perhaps, than at an earlier stage. They, stand for one policy,. while Constantino and the old General Staff stand for another. Hither-to-the nation have wavered and hesitated. Will they waver and hesitate now, when they see their traditional enemies again seizing, unresisted, the strategic positions which command the entrance to Eastern Macedonia' and swarming into Seres, Drama and Kavalla? The voice of the people is giving answer and an army of salvation is being raised by the leader of the 190!) revolution. Away back in October of last year, M. Venizelos reiterated in the Chamber his conviction that war between Greece and Bulgaria was inevitable and near, and that if Greece stood idly by during this world-contest Bulgaria would have an easy victory over her. All along he has shown a firm grasp of the true interests of Greece in (his struggle and a thorough understanding of what the victory of Germany and 'of Austria, of Turkey and of Bulgaria, would mean for the future of Hellenism aiid of nil the free peoples of (he Balkans. His arguments were disregarded and his predictions were unheeded. Now that King Ferdinand's brutal soldiers are lighting on Greek soil under the direction of their German patrons, the statesman who has so often raised his warning voice in vain may obtain a more favourable hearing. The' Greeks must settle their own Ipolicy now, as in the past, Their friends in the West can only hope that they will weigh well the consequences of their decision before it is too late, Within a few days it is hoped that the modern Hellenes will demonstrate to the world that the spirit of Leonidas still lives i'n Greece. If the spirit of Sparta has died out, the Allies have no alternative but to use force.