THE POISTION OF GREECE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3265, 11 October 1916, Page 16

THE POISTION OF GREECE.

The peaceful revolutionary movement continues to spread. The Provisional Government of Crete is working smoothly, and judicial authority has been restored. The garrison at Samos surrendered to a Vcnizchst force, and the officers were disarmed. th? police joining the Nationalists. The whole of Western Macedonia has joined the National Defence movement. Colonel Joannu, commanding the Eighth Greek Army Corps, with 1 is staff and numerous officers, and all the non-commissioned officers, have reached Salonika and joined the revolutionaries. Five commandants, numerous officers, end cadets from the Military College have joined General Danglis Two of the latest destroyers, constructed in England, have gone over to the revolutionaries. Lieutenant Bumbulas, in charge of the torpedo-boat Thetis, pretending that he required steam to raise his anchors when it was ordered that the Thetis should be towed to the Arsenal, steamed at full speed out of the harbour and joined the Allied fleet.

Some 200 officers and 2000 soldiers have left the Pireeus for Salonika, where the national army now numbers 16,000 men. (Jreek Volunteers are already fighting with the British on the Struma front.

The Reservist League is causing some trouble in Athens. They stoned some French motor cars, the French marines dispersing them with the aid of the bayonet. Others outside the residence of M, Gounaris fired revolvers at Vcnizclist sympathisers, wounding two. The Calageropo.ilis Ministry, faced with bankruptcy, having £14,000 only in hand, while £BOO,OOO was required for salaries and national purposes, snspended payment, an :I then offered their resignation to the King, who accepted it. The Hestia states that King Constantino dismissed his Cabinet because the majority of the Ministers favoured war. Constantino showed great reserve in discussing intervention, declaring that reconstruction of the army would be essential before war. He called the Cabinet's proposal audacious. M. Lambros, Professor of History at the Athens University, has been persuaded by the King to form a Cabinet. M. Lambros is inexperienced in politics. He is a Gennanophile, though not hostile to the Entente.

The King indicated to M. Drakaulos, leader of the Labour party, during the course of an audience, that he still believed in Germany's supremacy, and argued that tho Greek army was not properly equipped, that the nation's coffers were empty, and that tho Entente would not afford him matcr ; al assistance.