THE POSITION IN GREECE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 21

THE POSITION IN GREECE.

Tho news from Greece is somewhat contradictory. Tho Allies are stated to have sent a Note demanding the demobilisation of the Greek army and the release of all Venezelists. The Allies demanded tho withdrawal of the troops and war material towards Peloponncssus in 24 hours and all movements northward stopped. If he did not accdo it would be construed as an act of hostility, and if a refusal were given tho Allied Ministers would leave Greece. The blockade of the coasts would be maintained until full reparation was made for the recent unprovoked attacks in Athens and guarantees for the future were given.

A London cable states that Greece accepted the Allies' demands, and a later message stated that the allied Ministers have left Athens.

Refugees at Salonika from Athens give terrible accounts of the Greek disorders. They estimate that 150 Venizelists were killed during the massacre, which was characterised by systematic attacks and persecutions. It is reported that Constantino's aide-de-camp had 10 pro-Venizolist soldiers shot. A Greek deputy, perceiving his mother and sister leaving a dangerous neighbourhood, pninted them out as Venizelists and left them to the fury of (!: Royalist mob. A wireless message from Berne states that information from an official German source shows that tho commander of the Greek army corps whioli is nominally interned at Goerlitz received Constantino's orders to hold himself in readiness to cooperate with the Germans and_ Bulgars against General Sarrail. Preparations have been made during the past week for the transport of this corps towards Macedonia, and it is believed to be now en route. Tho troops were never treated as interned soldiers, but received systematic training under German instructors. There are indications that from the outset Constantino and the Kaiser had arranged to use them against the Allies at the first opportune moment.

The Petit Parision reports that Count Tisza in a speech said that the AustroGorman Governments had invited Constantino to attack General Sarrail. The Chancellor of the Greek Legation at Paris boasts that Greece will not feel tho pinch of the blockade for three weeks, when the junction between the Greek and German armies may be accomplished.