Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-07
BALKANP PENINSULA
is CRUCIAL FIELD
King of Greece Appears 10 Hold
Balance Of Power in
Near East.
TAKES PERSONAL CONTROL
Bulgaria Rejects Pussia'5 Ulti-
mStum and in Turn Sends
Ultimaturl to Serbia.

LONDON. October G.-Even the great
est battles Of the war may prove 20
have had less weight in deciding the
future Of Europe than the events of the
past few days in the southeastern king
dorus
King Constantine Of Greece. brothe--
.h-laW OF the German Emperor appears
20 hold the balance of power Of The
Near East in his hand for the hour. In
the second crisis. where Greece seemed
on the brink Of entering the war rs
the side OF the entente powers. n. has
virtually dismissed the foremost Greek
statesman, Eleuthcrios venizelos, from
the premiership. and has asserted per
s"nal control Of the government
King Ferdinand of Bulgaria has re-
jected kussia's ultimatum demand!ma;
tina, she break with the central powers
and "Xpel German officers who have
taken charge of Bulgaria's army staff.
and, at the same time. according to
several correspondents, has sent an
ultimatum to Serbia allowing a tim.
limit OF twenty-four hours for the ces
sion Of Macedonia to Bulgaria
PLAN Is TO OPEN WAY
TO TANTINGPLE Il
me program OF the Germanic en-
pres apparently includes the CONSOLE
hation OF their field operations with
their Turkish allies by sweepin., clear
Il channel from Berlin and Vienna TO
Constantinople. For the accomplish.
ment Of this program they have already
secured the cooperation of Bulgari.
They need the neutrality of Greece and
Roumania. and then must crush Serbia.
=, Al l,.,.,
firm the statements Of tho German
press that the German Emperor has
guaranteed to Bulgaria both Crock and
koumanian neutrality. Thus the cru
c!al field of warfare has shifted from
the French and Russian fronts TO the
Balkan Peninsula, where German sue
cesscs would mean the realization OF
Emperor Williams ambitions for ex-
pansion toward India and Asia
Inc people of the entente nations
inliy appreciate the momentousncss OF
the crisis. The British newspapers i'm
press upon the public that If the Ger
man emperor has secured the friendly
neutrality of the King Of Greece. cuor-
NOUS military efforts will be needed ia
check the combined German and Aus
trlah advance towards ii junction will,
the Turks and Bulgars.
The French and British expedition
may have completed the landing NJ
Saioniki but If Greek support against
fN.Saria cannot he counted upon. heavy
re-enforccments will be needed.
KINGS ACTION AMOUNTS
To PREMIER'S DISMISSAL
While technically King Constantine
accepted the resignation OF NJ. Vcni
n IS
OF the Premier. The Greek chamber
haa approved the Premier's merely
formal protest against the allies land
inS OH Greek soil, ana his decision tina,
Greece was bound By treaty and ytiul
interests 20 go to Serb!a's aid. witbou,
waiting for declaration of war iy
bulgaria 10y "a majorit of 10 i'm \
house OF 20. of whom thirteen ah-
stained from voting
The majority may have appeared
not large one for committinr tbn
country TO war. and thus the King NAV
have felt justified in ;nformin,. ,b.
Premier that he could not pursue the
Cabinets policy TO the end. 4 coali
uon Cabinet. without NJ Venizclos.
probably Will he formed. with either
eX-Premier Rhallis or ex-prcmier
Zaimis at the head
The possibility that Greece may trv
to remain neutral, fearing TO stake the
nations fate upon the success OF either
p3FtN to the great war. is recognized
III England. although it is considered
small The hopes Of the entente
powers are that popular sentiment is
wiih them. ana that the King may find
1t best To bow before the Will of the
people. as he has done before
GREEK PEOPLE GIVE
ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION
French officials declare that the
landing of the allied troops will take
its course. and that the Greek people
have given them an enthusiastic rcc.p-
ton
bulgarian reports are TO the effect
Continued on Second pagc)