THE GREEK TANGLE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 885, 11 December 1916, Page 8

THE GREEK TANGLE.

A BREACH COMING. WITH ENTENTE POWERS. A GERMAN PREDICTION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, December 9. Berlin telegrams predict a diplomatic break between the Entente and Greece within the next few days. PACT WITH TEUTONS. TO ATTACK THE ALLIES. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. AMSTERDAM, December 9. Count Stephen Tisza (Premier of Hungary), speaking on Thursday at Budapest, said :—"We have received most favourable information from Greece, where things are entirely in our favour. The Greek army showed marvellous bravery in the Balkan campaign, and is excellently equipped and armed to-day." Count Tisza's words were greeted with enthusiasm and cheering, and are regarded as confirming the rumour that Greece has entered into a solemn pact with the GermanicPowers to act if General von Mackensen and General von Falkenhayn are sent to Macedonia.

EFFECT OF BLOCKADE. WILL CAUSE FAMINE. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, December 8. The Athens correspondents state that the roads of are filled with Government wagons/laden with arms and ammunition which are being freely taken up into the mountain villages and distributed from Larissa. The blockade is already being felt in Greece, as the country is on comparatively short commons. For nearly a year it has been living from hand to mouth. The stoppage of steamer traffic will be felt in a week, and famine will soon convince the Greeks of the predicament into which King Constantino has led them. WARLIKE PREPARATIONS.

ARMY MOBILISING.

LONDON, December 8,

The "Daily Chronicle's" Piraeus correspondent says:—"The situation in Athens is critical, while diplomacy still marks time. The Royalists are determined to persevere in the path they have chosen. Mobilisation is proceedingly rapidly. Strong forces have been sent to Larissa, and the notorious General Dousmanis is supervising warlike preparations. It is unlikely that peaceful counsels will prevail with the military clique, whose ardour has been inflamed by outrageous German reports of Balkan victories and by lavish and impossible Potsdam promises. "It is stated that the Kaiser sent by wireless his congratulation to King Constantine, and wished him further success..

"The Greeks occupy points of vantage over Athens and Piraeus, and trenches are being made everywhere and guns mounted on the surrounding heights. Efforts are afoot to establish a strong army at Larissa with the object of falling on the Allied rear in conjunction with a German and Bulgarian attack from the north.

"The Greek military party is full of determination and is convinced of the success of it; policy of treachery. It is absolutely unrepentant, and further parley will only lead to fresh deception and tragedy. "Every fresh fact throws into stronger relief King Constantino's hideous treachery. It is necessary to insist on these points because the Greek censorship perverted the earlier messages. King Constantine now openly appears to be what he always has been secretly—a faithless deceiver and trickster. "It is unthinkable that the Royal militarist regime will longer be tolerated, especially as General Sarrail's fears of Ihe Greek army upon his rear are shown to have been fully justified.

"The full story of Saturday's manhunt shows that the troops and reservists disgraced even barbarism. Men of all ages were dragged or driven through the streets, and, despite their wounds, were goaded by bayonets and rifle butts. They were paraded and kinematographed before jeering, filthy crowds. Women were arrested and maltreated.

"Swift vengeance is imperative to avenge our murdered soldiers and sailors, and to banish Ihe peril threatening the Allied armies. No compromise or diplomatic settlement is possible in face of King Constantino's pro-Germanism."

GREEK OUTRAGES. SAVAGERY IN ATHENS. LONDON, December 9. The "Daily Telegraph's Athens correspondent says:—"Apart from the savage extermination of Venizelists and her treachery and insults, England and France ought to know of the deliberate insults by Greece towards their diplomatic representatives. Mr Rendle, Secretary to the British Legation, was thrown into a barn, and dragged to Ihe police station. An apology has not been forthcoming. The Athenians are in blue funk, expecting a naval bombardment." NEUTRALS PROTEST. A JOINT NOTE. "The, Times" Service. ATHENS, December 8. The Spanish, Dutch, and American Ministers have presented a joint protest against the cruelly of the Greek officers and soldiers in the events on December 1 and 2.