New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-21
ATHENS RIOTERS
DEFYING TROOPS
Take Law Into Own Hands
Many Greek Soldiers
Desert to VenizelOS

London, Oct. 20.-The situation IN
Athens. according to reports, IS stead
lily increasing in seriousness. 1reeH
reservists have taken the law into their
own hands, despite the presence OF
strong Entente detachments Of ma
rines, who are getting virtually no as
sistance from the Greek authorities, ac-
cording to a Reuters dispatch report
ing conditions in the city on "ednes-
day night. o..
Tonight" the message reads, 1T is
evident that the reservists are out OF
hand, for despite the fact that strong
cavalry forces are escortIng the french
and Greek marines and soldiers spread
about everywhere, the reservlsts, as
sembled in groups, have taken the law
into their own hands, and the Ereek
forces for the maintenance Of order 90
not dispose OF them.
Allies to Censor Press
"The chief Of the French police CON
troll has informed the editors OF the
anti-Venizelos press that, beginning TO-
morrow. the French will exercise a
newspaper censorship, and that news
papers printing anti-Entente articles
run the risk Of suspension"
The Nationalist movement IS daily
growing in strength. Twenty-Five ON
Gers and 600 men of the Athens garri-
son are reported TO have left for Sa-
lonica to-day 20 join the de facto
forces. Newspapers report that Janina,
in Greek Epirus, has gone over to the
revolutionsts, though this is not oni-
cialy confirmed.
Several detachments Of Greek troops
have arrived in Salonica from Crete TO
ioin the Nationalist army, according 70
Reuters correspondent. NJ. Venizelos
expressed the hope to-day that the en-
tire Greek feet would follow the lead
Of the crew Of the cruiser Hydra IN
recognizing the movement.
Greeks Here Aid Venizelos
The provisional government ia to
have the support of Greeks in America,
according TO a Reuter- dispatch from
Salonica. Officials of the government
in Salonica have received pledge OF
men and funds from the Greeks in New
York. the dispatch says, and are send
ing a committee TO that city to or
ganize and transport recruits.
The claim of VeniZelists that the
United States, through its consul at
Salonca, has officially recognized the
provisional government was declared
to-day 10 be without foundation. The
newspapers of Athens had printed a
letter said to have been sent by the
American Consul to NJ. Politis, Vent
zelos's Foreign Minister, expressing
"the hope of being able to continue
with the de facto government the
cordial relations always heretofore ex-
isting between the authorities and this
consulate"
The American Minister, Garrett
Droppers, denied to-day that any con-
sui had been authorized TO do more
than cultivate essential relations with
the de facto authorities in Mytilene,
Crete and Salonica.
Washington, Oct. 20. Recognition of
the Venizelos provisional government
in Greece has not yet been considered
by the United States, according to
State Department oTciels. They point
out that the letter of the American
Consul at Salonica to the provisional
governments Foreign Minister ex-
pressing hope of cordial relations vas
purely a matter Of form. and could not
be considered as a recognition by the
United States.