GREEK TREACHERY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 17

GREEK TREACHERY.

THE GREEK ATTACK ON THIS ALLIES. It is believed that u hot-headed reservist fired the first shot, starting the lighting on the Ist inst. Admiral du Fournet was standing on the steps of the Zappeion surrounded by Frencl" officers, when two Greek machine gum opened Are, and six of the officers were wounded. The French destroyers' brief naval bombardment was the outcome of the. Greeks" firing against the Zappeion before Admiral du Fournet had quitted the building. The bulk of the Allied contingents withdrew under the escort of Greek troops. The Daily Chronicle'.- Athens correspondent reports that the advancing Allies found the Greeks in strong positions at Philipupus and Observatory Hill, near the Acropolis. The Greeks' superior forces charged from Philipupus, and it ia estimated that thev took prisoner between 40 and 100. The Allies' fleet at Kor&stini fired 30 shells, of which four fell in the neighbourhood of tho palace, damaging tho Royal kitchens. Part of a shell, still hot, wat shown to the King while ho was conferring with the Entente Ministers. An armistice followed, giving relief to tho terrorised people. The population gathered in tho streets of the Piraeus on Sunday to witness the funeral of the 54 British and French soldiers killed on Friday. The Entente representatives attended.

The Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent, states that armed reservists hunted down Venizelists in Athens on Saturday, and the worst sort of anarchy prevailed, The military were in complete possession of the streets, in which Maxim guns were mounted. The shops were shut and tha houses shuttered, and regulars paraded tha streets prepared to shoot ac any window where any person appeared. The reservist* wore civilian clothes, slouch hats, and cartridge belts, and looked like desperadoes. Amongst them prominent Liberals, ini eluding M. Benaki, the Mayor, werf marched with their hands lied. M. Benakl was released later. The editors of tha ITcstia and Nea Hellas wero arrested. Tha raiders carried off the archives of al! th« Liberal newspapers. They riddled with bullets two hotels from which they alleged shots had been fired. They raided also M. Venixelos's former house. By night all tha leading Liberals were under" lock and key. Tho Daily Chronicle's Athens correspondent writes: Tho conflict on Friday wap tho direct outcome of Greek treachery, Admiral _du Fournet explicity told King Constantino the positions ho intended ta occupy. It was arranged that neither sida should use force. Despite King Constantino's and tho Government's promise thai there would not be any disturbances, and their allegation that tho calling up of reservists aimed at the preservation of order, it transpires that arms wero distributed to other reservists who were not wearing uniforms. Moreover, when strong Greek forces moved out of the oily, it was alleged that this was aimed at preventing collisions.

Tho facta arc thnfc these forcc-s occupied positions near tho .st.il.ion Zappeion, wnort Admiral du Fournot previously told th«

King of his intention to station French forces. Further acts of treachery were the use of machine guns without warning upon Du Fournet's staff, also tiie attack from tho palace behind the Zappeion station.

Mr J. M. N. Jeffries, correspondent of fcho Daily Mail, writes: "When the troops landed a Greet colonel promised that no resistance would bo offered. The troops ate a luncheon and prepared to march, when a treacherous and unprovoked Ore was' poured into them. The troops were withdrawn to the coast, and the other half held the munition factory until hostilities were ordered to cease. The British marines suffered severely. Owing to the magazine entrance being jammed, the Allied troops were unable to reach cover, but those inside broke a hole through and dragged in their comrades singly. Two French officers were- killed and 40 men wounded below the Acropolis, where the French held the edge of a ridge, but were compelled to surrender to superior numbers owing to lack of ammunition. "Tho night revealed an extraordinary scene—men running everywhere, seeking cover from a rifle and revolver fusilade. p]ven under tho palaco windows many wounded and dead were stripped and robbed where they fell.

"A French chaplain stated that tho men marched along quietly, and had almost reached the foot of the hill, the transport carts following. The men's rifles were not loaded, as had been strictly ordered. Suddenly Greek soldiers appeared on both sides of the road and seized the carts. Our commander ordered the chaplain to lie down, and sent messengers to tell tho following detachments, but none returned. Meanwhile Greek troops approached on every side, till finally a lieutenant ordered the men to chargo. Tho Greeks opened a fusilado and our sailors fell everywhere. It was a massacre, and not war. " Those escaping retreated to the railway track rejoining tho main body. Our commander was shot dead."

Information concerning the dastardly attack on the septuagenarian Mayor of Athens snows that his house was fired on from the residence of Prince Ypsilanti, Master of the King s Horse, while the Princess (who is a Hungarian) was seen encouraging the soldiers. The house was broken" into and the Mayor was spat upon, wounded with a bayonet, beaten with rifle butts, and his beard partly torn out. Ho was then dragged _ along the street. The Princess Ypsilanti stood at the window meanwhile, clapping her hands. The Mayor was taken off for examination. There are also shocking accounts of the condition and treatment of Genraol Corakas, who is described as resembling a corpse. A telegram from the British Legation at Athens sates that two Greek Red Cross nurses, after tending the wounded at the Legation all day long, were subsequently arrested and dragged before the head of police. They were shut up for 30 hours food or water in a filthy latrine, and their gaolers made continuous attempts to violate them. During their incarceration their house was looted. They have now been released. They state that the police headquarters are filled -with Venize-:'-»ts, some of whom were battered to death, while some had their eyes gouged out. The late head of the secret police was tied to a post and beaten about the head with a club by an Orthodox Greek priest. Arrests of Venizeh.-rs and domiciliary searches continue. Royalists have erected barricades in the streets.

Athens was decorated with flags at the fall of Bucharest. All French and English residents have quitted the city. The Daily Tele-graph's Athens correspondent reports that, apart from the savage extermination of Venizoh'sts and the treachery and insults to Britain an 1 France, the public ought to know the deliberate insults towards diplomatic representatives. Mr G. W. Rendle, one of the secretaries at the British Legation, was thrown into a barn and dragged to the police station, 'and an apology was not forthcoming. The Athenians arc in a " blue funk," expecting a naval bombardment.

The Spanish, Dutch, and American Ministers have presented a joint protest against the cruelty practised by Greek officers and soldiers on December _ and 2. Lord Crewe, speaking in the House of Lords, that since Lord Robert Cecil's statement in the House of. Commons a telegram from tho British Minister at Athens reported that n certain degree of order had been re-established. It had been ascertained that it was irregular armed binds who attacked the Entente troops and Venizelists. These bands, including the officers, have been dismissed, and Greek regulars are now guarding Athens. The British Minister advised Britishers to go to Piraeus for greater safety, though he" did not fear immediate danger to British life and property. The Government, said Lord Crew", did not regard tho situation as on" of less gravity, and was unshaken in its determination to fix the responsibility for Friday's events and secure a non-recurrence of them. The- whole question involved military and naval considerations. A BLOCKADE PROCLAIMED. The Allied Governments have decided to blockade Greece until she has given reparation for t!ie outrages against the Allies and Venizehsts at Athens. Tho blockade commenced at 8 a.m. on (he Cth inst. Ships belonging to other Powers were allowed till 8 o'clock on Sunday morning to leave the blockaded ports. The blockade includes the seizure of all Customs offices and the occupation of all important points. The blockade is already being felt in Greece. Tha country has been on comparatively short commons for nearly a year, living from hand to month, and the stoppage of the steamer traffic is felt. A week of famine will soon convince tho Greeks of the predicament into which Constantino hos led them. Tho Government has protested against the blockade. An Allied naval force has landed at Syra (a port on the east coast of Syros), replaced one functionary, and arrested several suspects, thus ensuring tranquillity. THE OUTLOOK. The Lloyd's News Piraeus correspondent states that Constantino informed one of the Legation that ho will join the Germans if the Entente break off diplomatic relations with him. A telegram from Syra states that Royalist troops are pouring into Athens, and there are now 20,000 there. The Ministers of ihe Entente Powers demanded an explanation of this concentration, and M. Lambros, Prime Minister, replied that they were to preserve order. The Government Press admit that 1600 Venczelists have been seized. German newspaper reports from Athens

state that Constantino is determined to reject the Entente's demands, preferring war. The Vossisehe Zeitung says that the Greek Government is completing arrangements to withstand the blockade. The Azcst, of Budapest, publishes a message from Sofia stating that Greece has notified tho Entente and Austria-Germany of her intention strongly to maintain an armed neutrality. The Note adds: "Greece will not make any further concessions, and any new challenge will be regarded as a casus belli." The Paris newspapers are demanding immediate action against Greece; other w'&c it is feared that tho Eastern army may soon have on its hands Constantino's Greeks and Mackonsen's Germans fresh from Wallachia. Router's Athens correspondent says that ho has good authority for stating that tho Entente ultimatum to Greece will be presented to-day. The personal luggage of the diplomats was sent to the Piraeus tliis morning. m While the Government announces that tho situation has improved, diplomats are reserved. It is etated that a friendly spirit prevails. In an audience which the King granted to Sir F. E. Elliott and M. Demidoff, his Majesty denied any hostile intentions, and offered to withdraw three regiments from Thessaly, and entrust the French destroyers with the guarding of the Corinth Canal and the Chalicie bridges. There are sensational reports of Greek military activity and important concentrations at Athens and Larissa. It is rumoured that the Allied Ministers had a long conference with King Constantino on Saturday. It is understood that tho Allies are present ing an ultimatum,., and Allied subjects are ready to embark at Pirasus. The Greek community in London has decided to omit Constantino from their prayers. A large meeting of the Hellenic community in London, attended by representatives from Manchester, Liverpool, and Cardiff, carried a resolution deprecating the attacks upon the Allied troops, and declaring that Constantino is unworthy to occupy tho throne. They therefore called on the protecting Powers to depose him. A permanent committee representing 5,000,000 Greeks in various parts of the world is presenting to tho protecting Powers protests against tho atrocities upon the Allies.