The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-11-16
BERLIN REPORTS
CLASH Between
FRENCH ANDCREEkS
Claimed Troops Attempted to Occupy
Ammunition Tower; Later Pre-
tend Mistake Was Made.
SITUATION IS SERIOUS;
MAY DETHRONE CONSTANTINE
Churchill Defends Himself in ORA.
matte Address; Says Experts Ad-
vised Steps of War.


Paris, Nov. 16.-Naval fighting
between German-Austrian submar-
ines against French and British cruz
sers in Greek waters is a distinct DOS
sibility in the near future. It is ad-
mitted in diplomatic circles that the
Allies are preparing to use force,
compelling King Constantine to grant
their wishes which are essential to
the safety of the Allies troops.
May Remove King.
The Allies are determined, even If
Greece refuses to aid them in the
Balkans, that they be allowed free
hand. King Constantine has been
asked to guarantee this, but up to
this time he has not. It is limited
that there is only one way to insure
nOn-interference to the Allies troops
and that is to place another man on
the Grecian throne.
Causes Anxiety.
The intimation of the Greek gov
eminent that any entente allied
troops seeking refuge in Greek ter
ritory will be disarmed has been the
cause of considerable anxiety to the
entente powers and consequently
Field Marshal Earl Kitchener's near
east visit gains added Importance.
According to belated dispatches re-
ceived from Athens, Greece bases her
decision on International law, which
the entente ministers contend that
the right accorded troops to enter
the country through salonici permits
them to retire by the same route
should it become necessary for them
to do so. The ministers are demand
ing that Greece inequivocally defines
the attitude she will observe should
an eventuality present itself.
Reported Clash. -
Berlin reports that Greek and
French troops have clashed at Sal
onika. The French tried to occupy
the Greek ammunition tower and
were forcibly prevented. Later the
French >apologized, pretending that
they had made mistake.
Churchill Gives Talk.
Winston Spencer Churchill, who
has been the most severely criticized
member of the government and who
has been held personally responsible
for the loss of Rear Admiral Chris
TOPPER Craddock's fleet in the Pa
cific, the destruction by submarine
of the British cruisers Cressy, Hogue
and Aboukir, the Inflated Antwerp
expedition and the initiation of the
naval attack on the Dardanelles, de-
livered a speech in his own defense
in the house in London yesterday
following the resignation Of his post
in the cabinet.
Not Civilian Plan.
II won't have it said," was his dra-
matte assertion, referring to the OAR
danelles attack, "that this was civil
liam plan foisted by political anna
teum upon reluctant officers and ex-
perts."
And this sums up his reply to all
his critics. In every case he showed
that experts had counselled and con-
Cured before any of the expeditions
which had been condemned were I'M
dertaken and it was clear before he
had gone far that the house of COM
mons sympathized with him. ~
Condemns Lord Fisher.
There was nothing apologettc about
the speech of the former first lord of
the admiralty. His references to Ad-
miral Lord Fisher, the former first
sea lord, who he said, has not openly
opposed the Dardanelles undertaking,
were spoken in firm tones of condem-
nation. -s. -...~-
In the opinion of the house, Mr..
Churchill fully justified every step he
took while head of the admiralty.