ITALY OCCUPIES CORFU.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18494, 3 September 1923, Page 7

ITALY OCCUPIES CORFU.

BOMBARDMENT BY FLEET. GREEKS TAKEN BY SURPRISE. ACTION PRECEDES. ULTIMATUM. CONSTERNATION CAUSED IN BRiTASN. • : ' ■■■■ '■■] GRAVEST CONSEQUENCES FEARED.

A startling and ominous development has occurred in the quarrel between Italy and Greece arising from the massacro of an Italian frontier delimitation mission of the Graeco- Albanian border. Italian forces have occupied the Greek island of Corfu at the entrance to the Adriatic after a brief bombardment, in which Greek citizens were killed. This action apparently preceded the delivery of a five hours' ultimatum to Greece. Italy's action is regarded with • the gravest concern in Britain, as, apart from the risk it involves of provoking war in tho Balkans, Britain is a guarantor of the neutrality of Corfu under the treaty of 1864, whereby the lonian Islands, including Corfu, were ceded to Greece. Greece is appealing to the League of Nations, which has assembled at Geneva, but it is significant that when the Council of the League met on Saturday, the Italian representative, Signor Salandra, stated that he had not permission to discuss the dispute with Greece before the Council.

OCCUPATION OF CORFU--5000 TROOPS LANDED. WARSHIP SHELLS TOWN. NO ■ WARNING TO GREECE. ITLTIMATUM FOLLOWS COUP. By Telegraph— Association— Copyriffht. (Received 4.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. LONDON. Sept. 1. Italian forces under the command of Admiral Simonetti occupied the. Greek island of Corfu, at the entrance to tho. Adriatic Sea, on Friday. • A Greek report states that Corfu was shelled for half on hour. Five thousand Italian troops landed from 15 naval vessels. The Greek garrison, numbering 150, fled into the interior. The prefect and 10 officers were taken prisoner. The victims of the bombardment numbered 31. The Italian admiral has prohibited ■Greek vessels from passing through the Strait of Otranto and between Corfu and &e Greek mainland. An official communique Issued in Rome states that Corfu, not surrendering within the time limit, an Italian squadron after blank 'shots, fixed, a few rounds from light guns, which killed or wounded!' & dozen Greek citizens because the authorities had not removed the population in spite of warnings from the squadron. Signor Mussolini has telegraphed to all the Powers and the League of Nations explaining Italy's case. ' Admiral Simonetti has ordered a complete censorship at Corfu. According to advices from Athens the Italian Legation advised the Greek Government at noon to day that the Greet Note was unsatisfactory, and that at five o'clock an ultimatum would bo handed over but the occupation of Corfu was announced at four o'clock, causing great indignation. > The Italian notification to the Greek Government of the occupation of Corfu stated that the measure was intended 65 peaceful and temporary. The Athens "correspondent ef the Daily Express states that the news of the occupation reached Athens . before the announcement that the Italian . ultimatum despatched at noon had given Greece five hours* grace from five o'clock.. '••' Nobody to Athens believed that Italy would commit a warlike act until • Greece had definitely rejected Italian demands., Martial law was declared to-day after a great patriotic demonstration. The people hope that the Greek Government's appeal to the League of Nation* will prevent war, but they fail to see whence the League will derive any force in the dispute.

EXCITEMENT IN ITALY. WARLIKE PREPARATIONS* FLEET FOE PIRAEUS. ; Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Seed. 4.6 p.ra.) LONDON. Sept. 1. Advices from Rome state that King Victor is returning to Rome from his ecjaraer residence immediately. The 13 Secolo, of Milan, declares that »3 Italian squadron is already on the ■ **y to the Piraeus and is now manoeuvres at" Taranto, together with air squadronsj/ The report is not confirmed' else.where. jTw classes of Italian troops have been earned to be ready to mobilise,, ..It is authoritatively stated in Rome tliat the Greek attempt to make the Janina crime an international, question will be felted by Signor Mussolini, who will contend that the matter concerns only Greece and Italy. The Messagero is reliably informed that the Greek refusal to pay the required indemnity and the request for a modification of tho flag-saluting demand are absolutely unsatisfactory. The paper states, that Greece is endeavouring to bring about Britiish intervention for the purpose of retarding the development of Italian action. Anti-Greek demonstrations continue, notably at, Trieste, where Nationalists and Fascist! burned the Greek flag in the public square. Italians in London received orders from the secretary of their legation to hold themselves in readiness for array service during the next five days when it would be known whether they were wanted or not. Newspapers from Brindisi say the Greek steamer Dtromidoe, which should have sailed for Greece last evening, has been detained by the authorities. An Italian steamer cleared for Levant porta was ordered to proceed direct to .Constantinople without touching at «,ny fiweca porta.

LEAGUE AND CRISIS. ITALIAN SILENCE. EXPLANATION WITHHELD. DELEGATE'S INSTRUCTION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyricht. (Beoeived 4.5 p.m.) A. and N.Z. GENEVA. Sept. 1. The twenty-sixth session of the Council of the- League of Nations opened yesterday. It was very significant that the Italian representative, Signor Salandra, stated that he had no permission to discuss the Gracco-Italian dispute before the Council. This delay will allow the Italian Government to justify itself in not allowing Signor Salandra to explain. All the discussion centred in the suddenness of Italy's action. It is expected that the Council will re-assemble on Tuesday. In view of articles 11 and 12 of the Covenant the League must act unless in the meantime Greece and Italy reach a satisfactory settlement.

GREEK CONCILIATION THE REJECTED REPLY. FALL OF GOVERNMENT. Australia*! and K.Z. Coble Association (Seed. 4.5 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 1. The Athens correspondent of the Sunday Express states that the Greek GovI ernment has fallen, and M. Jlaimis has been asked to form a Ministry. News agencies report that martial law has been declared in Greece. i The Greek reply to Italy's first Note ! says that Greece considers there is no j justification for Italy's assertion that the Greek Government was responsible for the massacre. The Government took all possible measures to ensure the safety of , the mission. In two Notes it drew the I attention of the Albanian Government to the presence of Albanian brigand bands. Nevertheless, the Government, taking into consideration that the crime was committed on Greek territory against the citizens of a friendly power, agrees (with modifications to the Italian demands) for an expression of full regret at a State memorial service, to salute the Italian flag, and to accord military honours to the victims.

The reply concludes that it is impossible to accept the Italian demands for the capital punishment of those responsible, the indemnity of £500,000, or an inquiry in the presence of an Italian military attache; but Greece willingly will accept the attache's assistance in carrying out Investigations.

The Government is prepared to accord just indemnity to the families of the victims.

Greek papers unanimously condemn the crime, aad express friendly sentiments, toward Italy. They hope the Cabinet wjll give legitimate satisfaction to Italy without going beyond the limits of national dignity. :..;

A telegram from Janina says that Greek military detachments started in pursuit of She murderers.

ALBANIAN ACTIVITY.

GREEK FRONTIER CLOSED.

STIRRING AMONG SERBS.

Australian Mid N.Z. Cable Association. '(Reed. 4.5 p.m.) LONDON. Sept. 1.

The Albanian Legation in Rome announces that the Jugoslav Comitadjts have sent an ultimatum to the International Commission, which is delimiting the boundary of Albania and Yugoslavia to suspend work forthwith. Albania has sent a protest to the Ambassadors* Conference.

It is announced from Janina that Albania has reinforced the Graeco-Albanian frontier guards and prohibited passage across the frontier. A Greek courier carrying papers for the Delimitation Commission has been prevented from passing.