THE NEAR EAST.

Otago Witness, Issue 3251, 5 July 1916, Page 23

THE NEAR EAST.

ALLIES' NOTE TO GREECE. M. VENIZELOS TO RETURN TO POLITICS. PARIS, Juno 26. L'Echo de Paris states that M. Skouloudis asked the Austrian and German Ambassadors for assistance against the Allies. This was found to be impossible, and the Greek Premier then told King Constantino that further resistance to the Allies' demands was out of the question. Tho King flew into a passion, but was quite helpless. Athens remained quiet. Von Schenck's last resource was to bribe the boys who were distributing copies of the Allies' Note to Greece in the streets to throw their bundles into the gutters. Venizelist newspapers foresee a new era for Greece, but the pro-German press are chagrined, and accuse the Greek officials of stupidity. They urge the Greeks not to vote at the elections. The Paris press claims the upshot to be a mo.it important victory for French diplomacy. M. Venizelos, interviewed by Mr Jeffries (war correspondent), said that the allied Note was the only possible solution. He added that M. Zaimis's Cabinet could be relied on instantly to. end the friction. M. Venizelos intends to return to the Greek Parliament. GREEK ELECTIONS. ATHENS, July 1. Eight supporters of M.M. Throkotis and Gounaris are taking part in the election campaign as supporters of M. Venizelos. LONDON, July 3. Reuter's Athens correspondent states that several hundred trades unionists gave M. Venizelos an ovation, and assured him of the support of trades unions. M. Venizelos replied that Greece had recovered her liberty, and the people would be able once more to breathe freely. ATHENS, July 3. There is a strong anti-Venizelos propaganda among returning soldiers. Many find that the State has neglected its duty to their families, and anti-Venizelists seek to throw the blame for the mobilisation upon M. Venizelos. BULGARIAN CROPS DESTROYED. SALONIKA, June 30. French aeroplanes set fire to the crops on the borders of Bulgaria, wreaking considerable destruction, especially in Western Thrace. AUSTRIAN METHODS. LONDON, June 27. General Weber, Austrian Governor of Cettinje, has issued a proclamation accusing General Vechovitch, formerly Montenegrin War Minister, of fomenting an insurrection in Montenegro and attacking Austrian troops and killing an Austrian officer. General Weber summoned General Vechovitch to surrender, threatening that otherwise his father and brother will be hanged. REVOLT IN MONTENEGRO. PETROGRAD, July 2. A revolt has broken out in Montenegro, and several Austrian garrisons have been massacred. IRRITATION AT BUCHAREST. LONDON, June 27. A Bucharest message states : "The Russian successes have created a great impression here, and members of the Opposition urge intervention and the idea, that the Turkish-Rumania commercial agreement be abandoned. Bulgarian obstinacy in continuing the closing of the frontier is creating a most unfavourable impression in officiaJ circles." ENEMY MUNITION TRANSPORTS SUNK. ROME, June 26. A communique states: Some of our naval units on Sunday entered the protected portion of the Duraz/.o roadstead and sank two steamers of SCOO and 5000 tons respectively, ammunition laden. Our units returned safely to port. FURTHER RUSSIAN SUCCESSES. PETROGRAD, June 26. In the Caucasus we repulsed many Turkish night attacks in the Trebizond sector. The enemy in Northern Mesopotamia carried some sectors near Revanduza, but ultimately our counter attack drove them out. We checked an offensive in the direction of Bagdad, and inflicted severe losses on the Turks. June 29. A communique states: We defeated the Turks at Latuburmia and Kalaystrahine, in the direction of Bagdad. June 30. A communique states : The Turks in the Caucasus, near Genischlan, took the offensive in great strength and pierced our advanced line. An extremely hot fight followed, but we quickly recovered and drove back the Turks. Following them quickly, we won and held new ground, the Turks suffering heavy losses. STOCKHOLM, June 28. M. Itashas, Secretary of the Duma, has been interviewed. He said that Russia's object was to get a seaway through the Dardanelles. Possibly after the war Sweden would receive a gift of the Aland Islands, in tho Baltic, Any market for

Germany in Riu-sia would be impossible lifter the war. DEFEATS OF THE TURKS. PETROGRAD, July 2. General Lechitsky reports: We captured after a brilliant attack a. •chain oi mountains east of Plantana, in the Caucasus, and -repulsed the Turks beyond the river Samsoundarsi. Many enemy corpses were left. TURKISH MARAUDERS DISPERSED. LONDON, June 30. The War Office announces that Sir P. Lake reports that on June 28 Arabs and Indian cavalry dispersed some Turkish marauders near Nasiriyah. There is no change on the Tigris front. GENERAL TOWNSHEND'S GOOD FORTUNE. CAPETOWN, June 30. A British colonel in Mesopotamia, in a private letter, states that the Turkish commander at Kut-el-Amara and General Townshend were once schoolmates and friends in France. They immediately recognised each other when the garrison surrendered. TURKISH CLAIMS. AMSTERDAM, June 26. A Turkish communique claims: 'We routed the enemy in the northern reaches of the Chirokh (or Chorok) River, on the Caucasus front, securing rich booty, including seven machine guns." The Turks claim that the enemy lost 2COO dead. June 27. A Turkish communique claims successes against the Russians in Southern Persia, and states that the Russians evacuated Ghilan. It adds that the Russians on the Caucasus front, after their defeat in the Chorok Valley, are fleeing towards the Black Sea coast. June 30. A Turkish communique states : After two desperate attacks the enemy (Russians) abandoned their positions east of Sermil, in Mesopotamia, and retired in the direction of Kei-ind. We are pursuing them. July 2. A Turkish communique states: We drove the Russians out of Kerind, pursuing them in the direction of Kermanshah (Persia). Our left wing in the Caucasus is progressing. «' AN UNQUALIFIED FALSEHOOD."LONDON, June 28. A Turkish communique states: Our pursuing columns northward of the river Chorok came into contact with the enemy, who were throwing up fortifications. British ships continue to bombard undefended places on the Red Sea, directing their fire mainly on holy places and mosques. A warship bombarded Sheik Hamid's mausoleum, near Medina. Another warship shelled Jeddah Harbour. The latter allegation is, officially denounced by the British Admiralty as ait unqualified falsehood. THE ARAB REVOLT. CUTTING TURKISH LINES. CAIRO, June 26. The Grand Sheriff of Mecca's troops cut the telegraphs, uprooted the Hedjaz railway, and destroyed the stations for 150 kilometres north (oi Medina) to prevent the Turks from sending reinforcements. BOMBAY, June 26. The Indian Moslems are watching the action of the Grand Sheriff of Mecca and the Arabs with intense interest. The Indian army are delighted over the news of the Arab revolt, hoping that the Sherif will be able to ensure the safety of pilgrims to Mecca, as the pilgrimage has grown more perilous with the Young Turks' misgovernment. Indian Moslems generally respect Islam's temporal power more than the Caliph's spiritual authority. CAIRO, July 1. The Arab revolt has spread to tha Yemens, and many tribes are joining. DARDANELLES PAPERS. LONDON, June 26. In the House of Commons Mr Asquitn said he hoped the Dardanelles papers would be available before the end of the session.