GREECE AND THE ALLIES.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 561, 26 November 1915, Page 8

GREECE AND THE ALLIES.

THE NOTE ACCEPTED. FACILITIES AT SALONICA. LONDON, November 25. Reuter's correspondent at Athens says the Government's written reply to the Entente's Note accepts the latter's demands regarding the disarming of the Allied forces and their liberty of action in Greek territory, with a view to their security, and railway and telegraphic facilities. It makes reservations concerning further examination of certain details. The declaration that the parts ; of Greece occupied by the Allies 1 would be restored in due course, and i any justifiable demand for indemni- - j ties paid, favourably impressed the ; Greek Government regarding the Entente's friendly disposition. The Greek steamers detained at - Malta have been released. The Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says that telegrams from Athens report that the Greek Government has uncondition»,ally consented to grant all facilities * at Salonica to the Allies. In the ' event of the Allies retiring to Greek , territory, Greece will withdraw her troops from regions which the Allies occupy. THE FUTURE OBSCURE. j- ~- i - . •. - • . ■ ■■ • : ; \ ANALYSIS OF THE SITUATION. LONDON, November 24. ' , Air Ward Price, writing from Salo:Ii. nica, says the future of the Allied f forces is obscure. They are await- \. ing the completion of Lord Kitchen- '' er's tour to clear/, up the uncertain- j ties of the position. We landed under a misappreliension, which it is ';.' important to remember. Greece re- ; quested certain forces to co-operate, with her troops, and the French' v were landed at Salonica. When M. *" Venizelos was forced to resign, * - Greece abandoned her promises. '{> " With 200,000 Greek troops we ~ could have defeated the Bulgarians * while the Serbians held back the ... Germans, but our objectives to resf cue thef Serbians and prevent the > Germans from linking lip with Con- .; .• stantinople and sending much-need-ed shells and supplies to the Turks, ;' ..are' now defeated. It will be a long ~ time before we can hamper from "7 Salonica the German route for munitions for Gallipoli Peninsula. It is impossible to prevent a considerable " increase, in our difficulties" at, the :; Dardanelles. Our front is 120 miles \ from the railway to Constantinople ( \_ a great distance in such .'country as ; the Balkans. ' ! Furthermore, the anomalies and uncertainty of the Greek attitude overcloud the position. Greece is dominated by a desire to keep out of the war. If this is found impossible, then she will fight on the winning side. King Constantine, the Greek General Staff, and the majori- ' ty of the people believe that Germany is winning. On the other , hand, a great part of the wealth of , Greece is in the hands of Britain on the .sea. Battles on her frontiers will be inevitable soon. The enemy will probably be following the Serbians across the frontier. The Bulgarian occupation of Moriastir would stir the jealousies of Greece. Anything might sting her to action on , either side. The French are holding back the Bulgarians on the Tcherna and also on the heights of the Bulgarian frontier, where part of the British contingent is being held in reserve. The , rest are encamped eight miles from Salonica. They are, in excellent health and spirits. The AngloFrench and the Greek armies, with a sprinkling of Serbians, Bulgarians, and Turks, rub shoulders at Salonica, and there is a remarkable array of warships, transports, and hospital ships in the harbour.

ON THE DANUBE. AUSTRIAN REQUEST REFUSED. PARIS, November 24. A French wireless message says that Rumania has refused the Austrian request to permit gunboats to navigate the Danube so as to reach the Black Sea.