Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-11-25
British Foreign Office States
Entente Merely Threatens to
Withdraw Certain Privileges
Hitherto Extended Greece.
HER COMMERCE At STAKE
If Hellenic Kingdom Refuses to
Assure Safety of Allies
Troops She May Be Deprived
of Coal from British Isles
Situation Reported Easier.

London. Nov. 23.-1nstead Of declaring
a general blockade OF the Greek ports
tho allies have, according to a statement
issued by the British foreign office to-
day. withdrawn or threatened to with
draw the special privileges which Greek
commerce has enjoyed since the out
hreal: OF the war.
What these specia, privileges are Is
not specifically stated, but. as an ex-
ample. Greece has been allowed to draw
her supplies Of coal from Wclch col
lier!es. To dc this. Greek merchants
required special permits, as the export
Of coal from the British isles Is allowed
only under special license.
There are many other commodities, the
export Of which is permitted only TO GER
tain countries. Invariably, when orders
have been issued against the export Of
such commodities Greece has been
among the countries excepted. Now,
unless she comedies the demands made
by the allies for assurances for the
safety Of their troops in the Balkans,
Greece will be stricken from the favored
list.
While this less vigorous attitude on
caused some dissatisfaction in quarters
where strong measures are advocated.
It has eased the situation, and the be-
lief Is now prevalent that Greece, hav-
ing been impressed by Lord Kitchener's
visit and the threat to her commerce,
will concede the demands.
salonlN via Paris, Nov. 23-In view
a1ot nf
! Greece and the entente powers, Denys
| Cochin, minister without portfolio in the
French cabinet. abandoned his purposed
trip to the front and left yesterday on
board Greek cruiser for Athens.
From a person who is in position to
be fully informed on the situation the
Associated Press learns that King Con-
stantine assured Earl Kitchener. the
| British secretary for war, that he had
never considered disarming or interning
! entente allied troops who might take
refuge on Greek soil. though num-
| Der OF Austrians, including several Off
GERS, are now lnterned in Greece.
| Respecting the friction which has
arisen between Greece and Great Britain
| and the "coercive measures which the
British insist in no sense constitute a
| blockade, 1t was stated the King regards
| this situation the result of msunder-
standing and easily remediable.
| Greece is ready to assure the entente
allies that her only purpose of maintain
Ing troops in Macedonia is the legitimate
necessity of self-prescrvation, especially
in the event the allies decide to abandon
their Balkan expedition, leaving Greek
Macedonia at the mercy of the victorious
Bulgarians with their army already IN
the field.
AS the statements Of the French and
British respecting a serious continuation
Of the Balkan campaign leaves Greece ir
doubt on this point. it was said. there is
no present possibility either of the de
mobilization or withdrawal OF the Greek
troops from Saloniki. But the moment
the allied forces operating in this field as
sumo proportions sufficient to guarantee
a serious prosecution of tho Balkan cam
paign, rendering Greece's own defense IL
/ Macedonia superhuous, the King will not
refuse to consider rehabilitation, or a
least the withdrawal of the Creek troops
from Salonikl II their presence Is regard
cd as embarrassing to tho movements "a:
the allies.
! 1t Is likely that a solution Of the Greco
! British difficulties will be reached along
! these lines. 1t was said
London. Nov. % of the fighting in tho
balkans the reports arc more confusinG
than ever. Tho German accounts still
! claim progress for the Austro- Gcrman nnd
| bulgarian troops and recount the capture
! of thousands OF prisoners and many guns
from the Scrhians. But from the towns
mentioned their advance appears very
slow. It may be, as reported from Italian
sources, that the campaign is waiting on
| Il change in the disposition Of the armies
/ so that the Germans may be the first Il
! enter Monastir, This would avoid tbs
! trouble likely to arise through tho Greek
| objection 20 Bulgarian occupation OF the
city which Is so near their border.
Dispatches from Athens. however. STATE
hat the delay is due TO the fact that the
Serb!ans have defeated the Bulgarans
who We're advancing on the town and
that they have rcoccupied their front OF
| the Vees- Prlep line. Perhaps the rea
| reason for the slowness Of the invaders
progress arises from, difficulties OF trans
portatior.
Nothing Of Importance has occurred OF
the other fronts The Austro-C;ermans ac.
cording to Russian reports. attempted ar
offensive IN Galicia and actually moved
some advance guards across the Stripa
but since thon no news has been received
the Germans apparently not considering
the operation worthy of mention in theiI
official report.
In the west the artillery is still active
and the arrival of clear, cold weather may
make possible ar offc sive movement b,
one side or the other The Germans are re
ported to have brought large reinforce.
ments to Flanders, but whether for often,
sive or defensive purposes time alone vii
tell.
EX.-GOV. STEWARDS WILL,