GREECE AND THE WAR.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16327, 9 March 1915, Page 4

GREECE AND THE WAR.

There seems this morning to be a very distinct likelihood that Greece will enter the war on behalf of the Allies. The operations of the Allied fleet against Turkey and the prospect of the fall of Constantinople, where the Moslem population Is represented as being In a state of panic and of dangerous excitement, have not unnaturally created enthusiasm among the Greeks, who have every reason to desire the overthrow of their unscrupulous and corrupt neighbours. The sympathies of Greece have been unmistakably -with the Allies from the moment of the outbreak of war. It has not been forgotten by her that it was through the influence of the Triple Alliance that she was compelled twelve months ago to yield up Northern Epirus to Albania, nor has it been forgotten by her that Turkey has exposed the Greeks of Asia Minor to systematic persecution. She has scores to pay off against both Germany and Austria, and her enmity towards their dupe, Turkey, is proverbially of long standing. Tho feeling of the Greek populace would seem to be that the present opportunity for their nation to assert itself and to extend its boundaries is too gcod to be lost. The King of tho Hellenes, who is a brother-in-law of the Kaiser, is personally desirous of maintaining the neutrality of the country and & difference o£ opinion from him «a

point has brought about the removal from office of M. Venizelos, the Premier, who is regarded as in favour of intervention. M. Venizelos is a man of great force of character and of remarkable popularity, and the indications-all seem to be that the policy which ho supports in relation to the war is warmly espoused by the Greek people. \Vliere the popular sentiment runs so strongly for tho Allies as it does in Greece and where the idea of intervention is so generally approved, the possibility that tho country will adhere to a policy of neutrality seems somewhat remote. If Greece should enter the war on the side of the Allies, the effect may, it is to be recognised, be that Bulgaria will intervene on the other side, and the statement this morning that there has been a partial mobilisation by the Bulgarians may be the direct outcome of the demonstrations in Greece in favour of intervention.