Norwich bulletin., 1917-06-13

Island of Crete was carrled out, King Constantine hoisting the Hellenic flag ever the fort.
 Insisted Upon Neutrality. With the entrance of Turkey into the European war the question of the Intervention of Greece soon became 10 be seriously considered, but King Constantine insisted upon strict neu- trality. The Cabinet, headed by Pre- mier Nenizelos, which was for war on the side of the Allies, finally rendered it's resignation The Greek attitude, at least so far as the war party was concerned, was largely to the effect | that if Greece had no hand in the war, her interests might suffer when peace was arranged.
 With the commencement of the op- erations against the DardaneIIes the government believed the time had come for Greece to abandon her neu- trality. The king. however, refused to countenance this plan. It was argued that sending forces to the Dardanelles defense on the Bulgarian frontier.
 Queen Sophia Opposed to Entente. Queen Sophia was regarJed as bit terly opposed to Greece joining the war on the Entente side and it was reported that she had threatened to leave Greece if that event transpired
 Much criticism was directed against Constantine because of the complaint he failed to fulfil the terms of the treaty between Greece and Serbia un- der which Greece was, committed to ally herself with Serbia if that country were attacked by another power When Austria invaded Serbia Constantine asserted that the treaty applied only to an attack by another Balkan na- tion.
 A Storm of Criticism.
 Another act which aroused a storm Inv aaIx troops to Bulgarian invaders of sev- eral Greek forts and the surrender of large number of Greek soldiers to the Teutonic forces which were in vading Macedonia.
 Occupation by Entente Troops.
 The occupation by the troops of the Entente powers of a part of Mace donia and the seizure Of Saloniki as their base involved King Constantine in long series of clashes with the. Entente commanders during which he was accused of evasion and attempt ing to gain time in the hope that Ger many would assemble on the Mace donian front sufficient troops to over whelm the Entente forces It was charged that the King and his govern ment laid a trap for the Entente troops which occupied a, part of Ath- ens to enforce a demand for a sur render of ten batteries of Greek ar tillcry, to compensate for the surrend-
  Greek reservists fired upon the French and British forces but the King was re- ported to have ordered the firing stop ped after about 200 casualties. Six batteries of mountain guns were given up to the allies and the king reached a temporary understandin with the Entente commander. Growth of Provisional Government.
 Meantime the provisional govern ment headed by Venizelos had been growing in strength and had obtained the recognition of the Entente pow CTS. The provisional army occupied Katerina near Salonili and Venizelos continued his agitation against Con- stantine, declaring the King was a victim of bad counsel had led the Greek people to the brink of a preci- pice by an alliance with their heredi- tary enemies and by violation of the constitution in dissoIving the Greek parliament, and brought the contempt of the world upon Greece.
 Embargo by Entente Powers.
 Tn order to enforce their demands the Entente powers laid an embargo upon the supplies for Greece which famed the flame of discontent. Con- stantine was denounced by people of of treachery and demanded his de- thronement
 Protested Against Entente Occupation.
 Constantine, however. asserted that and France had reused the of the Greeks and alien ated their sympathy by interfering in Greek politics He protested against the Entente occupation of Greek ter ritory asserted that his endeavors were to maintain Greek neutrality and predicted that, if the country went to war against Germany, it would share the fate of Rumania.
 Crisis in April, 1917.
 
 In the latter part of April, 1917, when l 1t was announced that he had served l an ultimatum on the Entente Powers, 1 a guarantee against French | invasion and that he be permitted to i retain his throne. He offered, if this | was done to form cabinet agreeable ] to the Entente. His attitude was re- | garded as threatening war upon the | Entente forces, unless his demands | were granted.